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plantblog
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by Dandy Lion |
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Pressed Flowers
(The Archives)
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May 9, 2008
WOW! I’m sorry I’ve not been able to write lately, but I’ve been on the run for the last several weeks. I thought with only two eagles in the garden (and now a smaller third), I wouldn’t have much worry about being spotted, but I didn’t count on the eagle eyes of this gardening staff. Every time I think I’ve found a great spot to settle down one of  those darn gardeners comes around pulling weeds so I’ve had to skedaddle. All their hard work has made the gardens absolutely beautiful, but my life absolutely horrible.
There has been a silver lining to this terrible storm cloud. I have seen a lot of the Garden during a beautiful time of the year. I’ve been to Mirror Lake twice, where thousands of azaleas were in bloom earlier and now mountain laurel brightens the shady areas. Both times the gardener Tom chased me away with his methodical, machine-like weeding efficiency. The Flowering Arboretum has featured many beautiful trees including the red buckeye, fringetree and now the Japanese snowbell with its hordes of dainty white flowers. But Bob, the gardener there, almost stomped me flat three times. Across the way in the meadow, the flowers are just starting to pop open and I can see the beautiful five-spot and the cheery California poppy, but Theresa patrols the open space with a determined vigilance. I think she’s mostly looking for mugwort, but I fell under her gaze once too many. I moved over to the Native Plant Garden just in time to see the beautiful coastal azalea in bloom along with the bright yellow ‘John Clayton’ honeysuckle, but Theresa followed me like a bad nightmare. For several nights I had a horrid dream about giant hands reaching to pluck me from my beloved earth, so I had to find a new spot.
I enjoyed Baker overlook for a few days, where the amsonia is flowering nicely, but Carol chased me away. I went to Statuary Vista which is full of many different flowers including false indigo, peonies and irises. I tried to  hide under one of the many hostas, but Melissa spied me and came after me with a mean looking trowel. She is the same gardener who had chased me away from the Sensory Garden a few days earlier while I was trying to enjoy the sights and smells in there. I even went to the shady Rhododendron Glade, where azaleas and giant flowering rhododendrons are in bloom. But nothing seems to escape the sharp eyes of Sabrina, so I left.
One of my favorite gardens I stopped at too briefly this spring was the Border Garden. Drifts of daisies, columbine, foxglove and a variety of interesting perennials make for an extremely colorful display. Unfortunately, Kathy seems to hang around too much, making sure all is tidy. So I moved down to the Colonial Garden and she popped up there like a bad weed. I did not have nearly enough time to enjoy the old roses, lavender, pot marigold and foxgloves there. The Sarah Lee Baker Perennial Garden looks great this spring with a variety of irises, evening primrose and other glorious flowers bursting open. But I had to leave, Ann is one gardener I don’t want to tangle with. I thought I could enjoy the thousands of roses in bloom earlier this week. The gardener there, Jim, has his arm in a sling, but I forgot his eyes still work and he has strong fingers on his left hand.
So I’ve had to go into hiding. All the gardeners I mentioned, plus all the rest who work diligently with the plants, just won’t leave me alone. They all want this garden to look its best for the visitors and seem to think I don’t belong. Hopefully this weekend with all their attention focused on the plant sale I will get a chance to relax. I think I found a good spot, though. I noticed as the gardeners leave the greenhouse, they all head left, to the main part of the garden. I’ve gone right, into the Beautiful Gardens™ trial beds. Maybe they’ll leave me alone there, or, if they do spot me, think I’m part of the trial. Keep your sepals crossed.
April 17
I have moved across the canal, through the barricaded area around the eagles’ nest (something people can’t do – ha ha) and I have set up under a tree across from the Matson Garden. Here I have a great view into Renaissance Court, so I will be able to see the coronation of the Azalea Queen tomorrow morning. Yep – it’s Azalea Festival time. This can be a very tricky time for someone like me. The Garden staff is crazy getting ready for all the events this week so you have to be careful where you try to set your roots. Gardeners are fine tuning all their hard work and making sure that everything looks just right. That means they are keeping a sharp eye out for the likes of me. On the other hand, they are so busy, they may not even notice me if I find the right spot.
This spot is a pretty good one. I am right under the tree where the old eagle’s nest is. Lots of people are walking by on their way to and from Renaissance Court. They are so caught up in looking at all the flowers that they surely won’t notice me. Azaleas and  camellias are just about everywhere. Spanish bluebells form a nice blanket on the ground behind me. Across the road, in the Matson Garden, people can find plenty of interesting plants, from large flowering shrubs such as salt cedar, stachyeurus and viburnum to the small ground hugging flowers like bloody crane’s bill, mazus and skullcap.
Only a few people venture off into the woodland area behind me to find some special treasures. Several different types of epimedium are scattered amongst the leaf litter. An Asian Jack-in-the-pulpit sits almost unnoticed in the dappled light. A hybrid hardy orchid flowers quietly under the shade of a Japanese andromeda. A viscously prickly butcher’s broom grows nearby, all by itself. A variety of ferns are coming to life as the weather warms. Because so few people visit this peaceful path, it would be a great spot for me if only it were a little bit more sunny.
So I will just sit here under this pine tree and get ready for the ceremony tomorrow. People hustle by, entranced by the floral beauty around us and rarely notice me. My only worry is that sometimes the eagles like to perch on the branches above and . . . SPLAT!
April 9
It has been cool and damp for four or five days now, but I have found the hottest spot in the garden. I'm in a small planting bed on the east end of NATO bridge, at a very busy crossroads in the garden. If I were a little taller, I could stand here like the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz and point people in the right direction. I have the golden straw coloring and the great personality like him. Just like the scarecrow, I would point in all directions and each choice would be a good one.
 From here, if you went west over the bridge, you would be heading to the Colonial Garden. It is one of the most picturesque scenes in the garden. Rich green in the background and foreground (made more so by all the rain) with brilliant white dogwoods, gazebo, fencing and oyster shell paths. Pot marigolds and candytuft are blooming in the garden. The only thing lacking are some vibrant dandelions – something those wise colonials cherished. Beyond the Colonial Garden is the Rhododendron Glade which is filled with a dazzling array of blooming azaleas that make the Emerald City look dull. People often wonder when is the “peak” time for azaleas and that’s hard to answer because so many different types bloom at different times. Some are already beginning to finish blooming while buds are just showing on others. All I know is right now lots and lots are in bloom.
Perhaps I’ll point you to the east. You first pass by the Children’s garden (munchkin land?) where bright blooming Carolina jessamine is just about to cover the caterpillar tunnel encircling the entrance plaza. Many other plants are starting to come out to entertain you, but I haven’t seen any ruby slippers sticking out from underneath the yurt that has landed in the garden. Beyond the Children’s garden is the arboretum, filled with cherries, crabapples and redbuds. The variety and colors are amazing. Other flowering trees and shrubs join the fun, including a dogwood, a Washington hawthorn and snowball vinburnums. Truly adventuresome folks might continue to the wildflower meadow to see a beautiful serviceberry and the “good” witch alder. Or they might even discover the daffodil trial beds beyond the greenhouse with its wonderful array of golden charms.
From this little crossroad I might just point you south. NATO tower is just ahead. A few hardy souls have ventured up in the wet weather, but on sunny days it can be  filled with the “eagle-razzi” – photographers all vying to get a photo of the bald eagles in their nest across the canal. The photographers' attention is focused on one side of the hill, so I wonder how many have actually bothered to turn around and look at the beautiful flowering purpleleaf sandcherry that is on the eastern slope of the hill. The rich purple foliage combined with the bright pink flowers is a great combination. As the road wends it way further, you could end up in the rose garden where most roses are waiting for warmer weather but the bright yellow Lady Banks rose is already showing off on the entrance arbor. Just beyond that is the sensory garden filled with a plethora of spring blooming plants.
The final direction to select would be north. Way ahead on Baker Overlook, spring flowering trees beckon, drawing you forward just like Emerald City in the distance. But the real show stopper can be found in the AAS beds just ahead. In the summer they are filled with the All-American Selections plants, but right now they are brimming with over 8,000 tulips. It is part of a trial for Van Bourgendien Bulbs so the over 230 different types have created a rainbow of colors. It is a good way to evaluate the different features of all the bulbs. They include the tall and elegant single late tulips (Menton is my favorite), the graceful lily-flowering tulips (Temple of Beauty is a good one), the joyously full double tulips (Angelique), the colorful triumph tulips (Lucky Strike – politically incorrect but a beauty), even a few species (Tulipa clusiana ‘Lady Jane’ is a classic) and so many more.
So I will just stay here, in the middle of the crossroads in a bed of lavender and white creeping phlox – it’s more of my size than a field of corn. I’ll pretend to be the scarecrow and sing and dance and point you in the right direction. If I only had some legs.
April 1
Happy April Fools! I thought about writing a nice blog about how Scott’s had come out with a new Weed N Feed product that killed everything but dandelions and how the green industry hailed this revolutionary new breakthrough, but instead I threatened the webmaster that I would stop writing blogs if he didn’t post my picture on the home page with the headline as NBG’s most popular plant. What else could he do?
 The warm weather last week and the wet weather of the last few days has really encouraged a lot of plants to start blooming. Everywhere you go in the garden something is bursting out. Azaleas, camellias, cherries, crabapples, daffodils, tulips, magnolias, andromedas, epimediums, hellebores, pot marigolds, and phlox. You could find all of these and more in just a ½ hour walk!
I’ve moved over to Statuary Vista today and the variety of plants blooming here is fantastic. Most people notice the 11 sculptures when they walk down the vista, but I find them too tall and they give me a crick in my stem when I try to look up at them. Instead I enjoy all the plants coming into bloom. Several shrubs are the first thing that will catch your attention as arrive in this garden. Greenstem forsythia is still brilliantly in yellow flower while the more traditional types have long gone to green leaves. Across the way a loropetalum contrasts nicely with bright purple flowers. A little farther up the border a doublefile viburnum has started to bloom. This one is known as Popcorn has tight little balls of white flowers. Nearby is an unusual weigela cultivar known as Canary and is just starting put out some pale creamy yellow flowers.
Shrubs are not the only thing in bloom. A wide variety of daffodils sprinkle the border,  highlighting garden with shades of yellow and white. The pale blue mazus runs along the ground, forming a nice mat in spots and ties together the different clusters of flowers. Here and there are sprinkled small clusters of epimedium (or barrenwort) with their delicate stems boasting small white flowers tinged in pink. The real star of the border today, however, is an early blooming tree peony. The plant is about three feet tall and right now has three large white flowers that feature a red center and a ring of yellow stamens. It is most stunning, but you can’t see it from the road by the lake or the path behind coronation court – you must walk down to the middle of the vista. Along the way you might see me as well. I hope so, because you know I am the most popular flower of Norfolk Botanical Garden. It says so right on this website.
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6700
Azalea Garden Road
Norfolk,
Virginia 23518
(757)
441-5830
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