We just love the Japanese Gymnaster savatieri ‘Edo Murasaki’, and they have truly been exceptional this spring. As constantly happens, recent taxonomic work has kicked this out of the gym…or more accurately, kicked the gym out of the aster. After years of being a Gymnaster, new DNA tests move it back into the genus, Aster. Whatever you call it, this amazing 15″ tall x wide perennial flowers consistently from now until September, except for very short breaks. It’s one of the most satisfactory perennials we grow, requiring virtually nothing in terms of maintenance. We grow this both in sun, part ..read more

We’ve been fascinated by mayapples of the genus Podophyllum, ever since first studying them in my NC backyard over 60 years ago. It was always a bit disappointing that they went dormant in late May, and often seem to be afflicted by several foliar diseases. It was not until three decades later (mid-1990s) that I was finally able to acquire our first of the Asian species. We would soon discover that these didn’t have the disease problems of our natives, nor did they romp the same in the garden, or go dormant in May. The hunt was on to collect all of the species and evaluate their performance in ..read more

This year, two families of house wrens, Troglodytes aedon, decided that our Pyrrosia fern baskets were the perfect place to raise their young. Two of three baskets outside our bedroom are filled with the sounds of youngsters, constantly bugging their parents for another happy meal. It usually takes less than two weeks from birth to flight, so perhaps they’ll soon be on their own and the constant chatter will diminish. At least the baskets will be organically well-fertilized. House wrens, Troglodytes aedon, nesting in a hanging basket The post Finding Home with a Bunch of Ferners appeared first ..read more

We hear from so many gardeners that the abundance of deer have been a significant limiting factor in their gardening, by restricting their plant palette. For those who want to continue gardening, there are four options: 1) Grow only deer-resistant plants, 2) Exclude the deer, 3) Hunt the deer, and 4) Use deer deterrent products. We have produced a list of plants that are deer resistant in most situations, but like people, all deer aren’t going to consume the same foods when given a buffet option. Some, like us, opted for exclusionary deer fencing, which works quite well, but there are certainl ..read more

North Carolina State University has long had a commercial peach breeding program, but every now and then, a seedling emerges that may not have store quality fruit, but has instead good ornamental traits. Two of my favorites from their program are below. The first is Prunus persica ‘NCSU Dwarf Double Red’. I first saw this amazing plant when I was in school there in the 1970s. Maturing around 10′ tall x 12′ wide, it looks like a giant azalea on steroids when it bursts into flower in mid-March (NC). Interestingly, it comes completely true from seed. The second ornamental from the program are the ..read more

Arum ‘Chui’, a purported hybrid between Arum italicum (unspotted flowers) and Arum dioscoridis (heavily spotted flowers), is hard to miss as it puts on it’s early spring flowering show. Bothe leaves and inflorescences are heavily spotted on this excellent selection. This gem comes from UK plantsman extraordinaire, John Grimshaw. We’ll probably be chopping into our clump later this spring, in the hopes of getting this in nursey production. Arum ‘Chui’ The post Easy to Spot appeared first on Juniper Level Botanic Garden ..read more

Jeremy Schmidt’s amazing collection of Aesculus sylvatica, that he named ‘Sylvan Glow’ is looking quite spectacular in the early spring garden. The new growth emerges a screaming coral pink. Now four years old, it’s finally approaching 3′ tall. We’ve taken in few cuttings this spring, in the hopes we can get this to root, so we can share. Aesculus sylvatica ‘Sylvan Glow’ The post Sylvan Glow appeared first on Juniper Level Botanic Garden ..read more

While many people grow acanthus (bear’s breech) in their garden, I’m betting not many folks have grown the Syrian, Acanthus hirsutus ssp. syriacus. Frankly, we didn’t think this native to Turkey, Syria, and Jordan, would be winter hardy here, but after a decade in the ground, our specimen continues to be quite happy. This is a much smaller, more compact species that any of the others we’ve trialed. We’re still waiting on our first flowering, so fingers crossed for this year. Acanthus hirsutus ssp. syriacus The post From Syria with Serious Spines appeared first on Juniper Level Botanic Garden ..read more

Here’s a shot from JLBG this morning of the gardens in front of our Botanical Gardens and Nursery staff building…so many plants (Cercis, Phlomis, Agave, Yucca, Abies bornmuelleriana, Daphne, Chamaerops humilis var. argentea), so little time. The post As the garden awakens appeared first on Juniper Level Botanic Garden ..read more

Can you imagine living your entire life, looking forward to only one sexual encounter, which will only happen just before death? Such is the life of an agave (century plant). In botanical terms, this is known as being monocarpic. Growing monocarpic plants is the ultimate mixed emotional undertaking. It’s exciting to see them finally flower and hopefully set seed, but sad to know that this means impending death for non-offsetting selections, and starting over again with smaller plants in the garden with offsetting plants. With our extensive agave collection, we get to witness these amazing even ..read more