- Our garden does indeed have an endless variety of surprises; day by day! One walks and discovers new blooms that were not there a couple of days ago.
- But by mid April it was this year the most yielding time of year, as far as blossoms. Exactly at the time we were about to leave for Florida.
- BUT we took some photos before and one by one (by subject) you will get to see them here. Aesculus pavia by its botanical name or Red Buckeye by its common name is from the Family: Hippocastanaceae (horse chestnut Family).
- They do produce large nuts but those are poisonous to humans if mistaken for true chestnuts!
- If you click the hyperlink you get to see the nuts as well. Their blooms are so pretty in red; have a look! Join me for a Garden Tour.
- This photo I took on April 8.
- This was even taken before, on April 2nd.
- The entire shrub, near our gazebo next to the wooden walking trail.
- Introducing one more member of our botanical garden. This one is a native that we purchased also from the former Caroll Gardens, Maryland. It's name is Calycanthus floridus L. or Carolina Allspice, Strawberry Shrub and in German it is called: Karolina-Nelkenpfeffer.
- So now you all know! Deciduous shrub with 2" reddish brown, very fragrant flowers. borne at the tips of short branchlets in May and June.
- Well, ours bloom in April... This is the old fashioned shrub from which Grandmother used the flowers tied in her handkerchief.
- When squeezed, an unforgettable sweet fragrance was emitted. Attractive glossy, deep green, corrugated foliage. So here she is (it HAS to be a she...)... Join me on a Garden Tour.
- This photo I took on April 2nd of this year! Very early bloomer.
- Pieter took this one on April 14, of this year.
Already since February 1996 we do have our
Bletilla Striata Alba Orchid, or Chinese Ground Orchids as they're called. They are native to Japan and China. The hyperlink also gives shipping information, for those of you who would want to know. Also there is the Japanese Bletilla striata 'Kuchibeni' offered from
Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. in a purple lip variety. Both are equally pretty. Ours grow in the wood garden and yes, they are winter hardy as well! We got them from Carroll Gardens, from Westminster, Maryland who unfortunately are no longer in business since June of 2009. They always were an excellent source of rare plants and shrubs with high quality plant material.
Even though it is called 'Alba' it is still showing a hint of purple. This is last year's blossom, photo taken on April 27. Join me on a Garden Tour.
That is their foliage, broad green leaves. We have them next to our Ginger lilies and that foliage is still on the ground. This photo is taken on April 8 and the last photos with the blossoms completely open are from April 12.
A close-up of our teenage Orchids... 15 years old!
April 27, 2010
April 12, 2011
It is a beautiful Orchid and I can only recommend it!
