Archive for April 2009
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
Chaenomeles, or flowering quince, are a group of flowering shrubs that are almost in full-flower at the Scott Arboretum. The flowering quinces are one of those old-fashioned shrubs like lilac, hydrangea and spirea that are enjoying resurgence in popularity right now. Maybe the reason is that most of the plants in these groups are tough as nails, and to a new generation of home gardeners, they are “new” plants.
The quince collection by Bond Memorial Hall. photo credit: J. Jabco
The types of flowering quinces mainly used in landscaping are from three groups: Chaenomeles speciosa (common flowering quince), C. japonica (Japanese flowering quince) and…
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Friday, April 10th, 2009
This time of year I find myself outside amongst pink and white tepals bursting forth on bare branches and floating in a gentle breeze over fresh, green, spring lawns. The first magnolias to bloom at the Scott Arboretum are the Magnolia stellata cultivars, M. kobus and M. salicifolia. A few weeks later and finishing up this week, Magnolia denudata, M. ‘Candy Cane’ and M. x loebneri selections contribute to the symphony of color and fragrance. The Magnolia x soulangiana cultivars are in full bloom this week as well. I am praying we don’t get a late spring frost anytime soon that could shorten the magnolia display.…
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Thursday, April 9th, 2009
Now is a good time of year to scout your trees and shrubs for insects because there is no foliage present to hide insects living on the stems or branches. An insect not known to survive Pennsylvania winters, except for the Philadelphia region, is Indian wax scale, Ceroplastes ceriferus. Bill Costello, IPM coordinator, has been seeing these insects on Callicapra and cherry laurel in the John W. Nason Garden for the past three years. For the first time this year, he found them on Japanese maples outside of the Harry Wood Garden.
Indian Wax Scale on the stem of cherry laurel.…
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