THE SCOTT ARBORETUM’s Garden Seeds

Connoisseur Plants

Thursday, September 8th, 2011

Connoisseur plants are often hidden gems for passionate gardeners. Plant enthusiasts delight in the discovery and experience of growing these unique plants. They provide wonderful conversation points and make your garden stand out from the average hum-drum landscape.

A comical moment at the Plant Sale with Eve Thyrum and her husband, Per. photo credit: D. Mattis

I consider connoisseur plants to be:

• rare new plants that are available only through small specialized nurseries, or
• hard to find choice plants long known in horticulture literature but rarely available in the trade.

Below are some wonderful examples of connoisseur plants, all of which I have grown except…

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Irate Irene

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

Hurricane Irene’s fury delivered 6 inches of rain and wind gusts reaching 52 mph, but no heartbreaks. While we lost a large Catalpa speciosa in the Catalpa Collection, the rest of the campus suffered minor damage with broken branches and scattered leaves.

Fallen Catalpa in the Catalpa/Magnolia Collection. photo credit: R. Robert

The Crum Creek flowed through its flood plain including Rogers Grove and the newly established riparian forest buffer, cresting at the feet of the James R. Frorer Holly Collection.

The Crum Creek flowed into its flood plain bending these saplings in the newly establish riparian forest buffer. photo credit: R. Robert

The hurricane…

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Dreaming of Fall?

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

To help you envision fall colors and cooler weather, here is a delightful video developed by WHYY about the Scott Arboretum. Look for this video to appear on your local WHYY TV station.

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