Well, here we go plunging head first into a new year. What horticulture delights are in store for the future? Will we have last Spring’s incredibly long show? No way to know. Will we have a late freeze that beats the crap out of tender new plant growth (and leathery old horticulturists)? No way to know that either. A year ago at this time we were having temperatures in the 60’s, fabulous for us humans that tire of winter after a spell but not good for plants at all. So I think while we plant people (professional and amateur) are forever optimistic – we put a little seed in the ground and actually believe it can become an 80 foot tall tree – we also make sure to appreciate what is in front of us right now.
Because we know, do we ever know, that a squirrel or a freeze or a lightening strike can take it away in a blink of the eye. For instance, on true wintery days like today we are very appreciative of plants with colorful twigs and berries.
Deciduous hollies are probably my first pick for a good berry show. This group of plants consists of mostly Ilex verticillata (winterberry) cultivars and hybrids and Ilex decidua (possumhaw – you gotta love that name) cultivars and hybrids. The fruit is usually red but cultivars are available with gold and orange as well. While these will tolerate a little shade the more sun they get the better they fruit. They will also tolerate wetter than average soils and are not as sensitive as evergreen hollies to our sometimes bitter winters. As with other hollies you need both male and female plants (Prop 8 would pass very easily in Hollyfornia) but you can have several females for one male (every male holly’s fantasy no doubt – what happens in Holly Vegas stays …) or you can just rely on a male from somebody else nearby (like in Desperate Hollywives).
Most of these plants get quite large, 6+ tall and wide in less than 10 years, with some eventually getting well over 10 feet tall and wide. But some dwarf forms are available, including the very beautiful ‘Red Sprite’ planted in Nonie’s Garden and on the tunnel as you approach our main entrance. There is another group of these near the parking garage. The taller ones in Nonie’s Garden are ‘Cacapon’.
Nonie's Garden
As you leave the property at 40th street look to the south between the 2 signs and there is another group of deciduous hollies. The pale orange ones are ‘Wintergold’ and the reds are ‘Afterglow’.
Wintergold
The ones without fruit are the male, ‘Jim Dandy’. Two other male cultivars are named ‘Southern Gentleman’ and ‘Red Escort’. Can you believe those names? Sounds like a male stripper’s convention.
When I said the hollies were my first pick I had forgotten the Viburnums. I’ll give you some names. Sorry, there’s a limit to what I can do here so be good and do your own research. For great fruit in viburnums I like V. dilitatum (‘Asian Beauty’ ‘Michael Dodge’, ‘Cardinal Candy’), V. setigerum, V. sieboldii. Other fruiting shrubs of interest include the native Symphorocarpos (coralberry) and the not native Callicarpa (beautyberry).
I’m out of time and space to cover the colored twigs! I will try to do something on them at a later date. Before I forget, I saw a red fox in the gardens today. How great is that. I hope it sticks around and eats lots of voles. Of course, the fox is just pretty to look at regardless. Just like a well placed deciduous holly outside your biggest window. Gotta go folks. Is that hot chocolate ready yet?
January 9th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Almost takes the chill outta my bones!
January 9th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I just looked at the 10 day forecast. If it’s right you better get every drop of chill out those bones. Holy crap, it’s ugly.
January 11th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Dear writer, I’m not a prude and have been known to use “colorful” language in my speaking vocabulary. But your using the word “crap” in this written article detracts from the overal classy tone of the work.
January 14th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Sara, thanks for commenting on the blog. I’m glad you found it classy overall. I like classy. I tend to write the way I speak and those are the same words I would have used if speaking to a local garden club or a regional greenhouse/nursery association. In each blog I strive to deliver some useful horticultural information in a way that, hopefully, no one else is. Please, keep reading, and when so moved, commenting.
January 15th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I find your blog very colorful and fun. I’ll bring the hot chocolate to Columbus!
January 15th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
See you there Jo Anne.
January 16th, 2009 at 5:59 am
Your current blog entry makes me want to take a winter stroll, but the temperature makes me want to stay inside. I wonder which side of me will win. Thanks for brightening my day.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:46 am
Oh Avonell, this morning is no time for a walk. Of course you are in balmy Maryland so maybe if you bundle up.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Irvin!! I just found this blog and I can’t tell you how excited I am to get to hear a bit about what’s happening in the gardens! Your posts are delightful and I’m looking forward to new entries as well as catching up on all those that I missed! Please tell everyone hello for me!
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:31 am
Utah!!! You’re alive! So good to here from you. Hope all is well and am glad you enjoyed the blog. To further catch up on IMA folks check out Facebook. Please visit often Melissa. I’ll let everyone know you found us.
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