Archive for October 2008
Thursday, October 16th, 2008
In my last post I focused on the nefarious weed, Pinellia ternata. So this month I’d like to balance things out and discuss a plant far more pleasing to the eye, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’ formerly known as Aster oblonifolium ‘October Skies’. At the Scott Arboretum, this aromatic aster cultivar graces the perennial bed of the West Garden and is also the newest addition to our naturalistic Biostream.
‘October Skies’ is a shorter, bluer, and bushier relative of S. oblongifolium ‘Raydon’s Favorite’, found in the Terry Shane Teaching Garden. While its cultivar name is said to be attributed to the deep blue…
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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008
Keith Wiley was the head gardener for The Garden House in Devon, England for over 25 years where he developed a style of gardening based on modifying natural landscapes from around the globe. He has also written two notable books: On the Wild Side: Experiments in New Naturalism and Shade: Ideas and Inspiration for Shady Gardens. Keith will be speaking at this year’s Perennial Plant Conference as well as our 2008 Fall Festival. I chatted with Keith earlier this week and thought I’d share with you some of his words on gardening.
EH: In Dan Hinkley’s forward to your book On the…
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Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
“Cutting edge” is a phrase, especially in the plant world, that is not easily defined. For the Scott Arboretum, it represents plants that are not very well known in public gardens, private gardens, and the horticulture trade.
I first saw Edgeworthia chrysantha growing at the state fairgrounds in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1993. We were being given a tour of the gardens and collections by Tony Avent, who now owns Plant Delights Nursery. It wasn’t until several years later that we added it to the collections at the Scott Arboretum. Many sources (i.e. catalogs, books, etc.) would lead you to believe that…
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