Bloom Day! Camera in hand, an opportunity to ponder… Above a double Kerria a share from my friend Deb.
A sweet little girl statue that once resided in ‘Big’s Garden in Chatham, Virginia – a gift from Big’s daughter Jane.
Behind the house against the stone kitchen wall…
Epimedium x Youngianum ‘Roseum’
I first learned about Epimedium from my garden mentor Amelia. A charming little tough woodland plant.
The common name is Fairy Bells delicate and lovely in foreground…. variegated Fatzia japonica leaves behind.
According to Wikipedia “Epimedium, also known as barrenwort, bishop’s hat, fairy wings, horny goat weed, rowdy lamb herb, randy beef grass or yin yang huo (Chinese: 淫羊藿), is a genus of flowering plants in the family Berberidaceae. There are about 50 species, the majority of which are endemic to China.[2]”
“Epimedium species are deciduous or evergreen hardy perennials. The majority have four-parted “spider-like” flowers in spring.”
The plant contains icariin, which is a PDE5 inhibitor like sildenafil, the active ingredient of Viagra. It is therefore used as an aphrodisiac and a treatment for erectile dysfunction.”
Who knew… I will never look at Epimediums the same again!
Cornus florida ‘Rubra’
Pink Dogwood a little behind the native whites, a gift from my friend Connie.
In the Woodland kitchen garden…
Helleborus x ballardiae Gold ‘Coseh 930′
A new addition called Mahogany Snow – I am partial to any Hellebore cross with ballardiae – lovely large egg shaped buds that emerge and hold for a long time. My first Ballardie was ‘Potter’s Wheel’ which always brings to mind my friend Juan who is a potter.
At the top of the front path headed south a relatively new introduction that is named for plant breeder Richard Hartlage and J.C. Raulston… who inspires us from above…
Calycanthus x raulstonii ‘Hartlage Wine’
Although no bouquet on ‘Hartlage Wine’ – this Calycanthus is a showstopper. A gift to participants who attended a a JC Raulston Symposium. Note to self – rejuvenate this year. This was from a JC Raulston Symposium.
Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’
‘Mariesii‘ doublefile viburnum greats visitors at the top of our driveway… the blooms line up in a double file:
Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’
The delicate blossoms of native Black jetbead (below) float through the woodland garden…
Rhodotypos scandens
This was a quest after reading ‘Passalong Plants‘ by Felder Rushing and Steve Bender
A relative to Kerria japonica that needs no attention. Growing in full shade, it requires no additional water. In some areas it may be a problem as the red berries turn into black jet beads, but after 14 years in the garden, last year, after a very mild winter, was the first time I had any to share. Note to add a seedling to the back woodland garden.
Below a Tiarella or foam flower plant. Tucked in between a Holly seedling, which needs editing, Hellebores and Euphorbia robbiae ‘Rob’s Spruge’… time to get back to work!
Tiarella
