Hip Hip Hooray for Hydrangeas
Heronswood Hydrangeas at their Finest
In these dusty days of summer, the heat can feel relentless, so what better way to spend a day than wandering the Woodland Garden at Heronswood. Enjoy dappled shade beneath a canopy of evergreen conifers, …
Scented Sentinels of Summer
Lilies of Summer
The heat is on. Summer is here and all around Heronswood, flowers are doing their thing, producing a dazzling display. While undoubtedly attractive to us, flowers are actually sending a message to pollinating insects and birds. They’re …
Geum: Tales from the Old Country
The Gorgeous Genus of Geum
Geums – I love them! And if you’re uncertain how to pronounce this little Latin name, then split it in two: Gee-Umm.
The genus Geum is a member of the massive rose family (Rosaceae), which …
Illcium anisatum; Beyond the Stars
Good Foliage Amongst a Richness of Flower
Foliage First.
Far more people are familiar with the genus Ilicium than the nerdy gardener. Authentic cuisine in SE Asia has long relied on sweet, spicy aroma of star anise, the star-shaped seed …
Our inaugural flowering of Philesia maglellanica
Philesia Navidad!
During my first tour of S. Chile in 1998, there was a single shrub I wished to see more than any other. Related to the national flower of Chile, Lapageria rosea, Philesia magellanica is less a climber and …
The Spotted Orchids of Heronswood
A taste of the tropics
Orchid flowers evoke exotic locations – tropical trees bedecked with these glamorous blooms, standing above palm-lined beaches, a waiter brings a cocktail… While most orchids are indeed native to the tropics, a small number make …
Tales of Geum
Tales from the Old Country
Geums – I love them! And if you’re uncertain how to pronounce this little Latin name, then split it in two: Gee-Umm. The genus Geum is a member of the massive rose family (Rosaceae), which …
A Dule of Doves
The Dove Tree; Davidia involucrata
The near mythical Davidia is in full splendor this weekend at Heronswood. Its unique and fanciful floral display always draws commentary by those who see it for the first time. Hailing from the mountains of …
The Primitive Charms of Saruma henryi
Primitive, yet pretty
Amongst the mass of spring flowers, some less showy perennials are easily overlooked. This is often the case with Asarum, or wild ginger, a genus of evergreen ground cover. Indeed, by calling it ground cover, I’ve …
Rues Rock
The Rue Anemone; Anemonella thalictroides, or Whatever
First, always first, lets start with the name, shall we? A charming woodlander from much of eastern North America, its true place in the botanical kingdom continues to be in flux. First described …
