flynn070

We drove up to Woodland, Washington (about 20 minutes up Interstate 5) last week to see the Hulda Klager Lilac Garden . Klager lived in this house from 1904-1960 where she propagated lilacs and developed fourteen varieties. You can read more about her and her family on the plaque below. The house and grounds had a distinct Southern feel to it. The house is only open during Lilac Days (which ended on Mother's Day) and we were a day late. We did get to peek inside through the windows though and I would have liked to have taken the tour. Maybe next year... Most of the lilacs were already spent with the exception of a few. There were other spring flowering shrubs, like rhododendrons and viburnums, that were spectacular. Weigela and Rhododendron next to the barn Rhododendron 'Blue Peter' Another stunner that I did not get the name of Popcorn Viburnum Double-file Viburnum ( Viburnum plicatum ) Exbury Azaleas Wiegela Azalea 'Tri-Lights' There were also some magnifi...

This is my first "Foliage Follow-Up" posting. I have always wanted to join in but just never got around to it. As I was taking photos for Bloom Day , I noticed that there is some very nice foliage in the garden. I hope conifers count! One of my prized possessions right now is this pine tree- Pinus contorta 'Taylor's Sunburst'. Isn't it amazing? Another conifer that I am thrilled to have is this spruce ( Picea orientalis 'Skylands'). Spanish Fir ( Abies pinsapo 'Glauca') And one last conifer - Colorado Blue Spruce ( Picea pungens 'Glauca') Now on to some trees. This is a maple called 'Eskimo Sunset' ( Acer pseudoplatanus ). I cannot decide if I like it or not. It was an impulse buy and it is certainly unusual looking. Right now is it looking pretty good so I am liking it at the moment. I know that I love the Golden Variegated Dogwood. This poor tree was pot-bound at a nursery about to go out of business and it looked rathe...

Abundant rain and a few sunny days have really jump-started the garden. Spring is finally here! Although the past few days have been rainy and very cool again, a long stretch of sunny days are predicted later in the week. The lupines, planted last year, appear to be very happy.   Last year, this Korean Lilac ( Syringa meyeri 'Palibin') was blooming a full month ahead of this year. This beautiful shrub was already here when we moved in. It was a lovely surprise.   When I first visited Portland a few years ago, I was blown away by the Ceanothus (California Lilac) that was growing everywhere. It turns out there are lots of different varieties, in varying shades of blue and growing characteristics. The first one I planted was 'Julia Phelps'.   'Black Diamond' is a ceanothus with variegated leaves. It is just starting to bloom. My friend Rebecca bought one of these at the same time and in her Portland garden, hers is three times the size of ours!   The shrub is stil...