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Polysemous words like so “artistic” and “how did you think of that?” were bandied about… and lots of oohs and aahs were dispensed by the cultivated people who came out on a perfect spring day expecting to see beautiful things. The first arrival (waiting long before the appointed 10AM bell) struck just the right note: is that Cornus controversa she asked! ? ! Why Cornus controversa of all things…very impressive, but the Garden Conservancy audience is a sophisticated one, so it was not so astonishing. I have been trying to track this tree down ever since I saw it at the fabled Rosemary Verey’s Barnsley House in Gloucestershire.

Rosemary Verey’s old and magnificent Cornus conrtroversa Variegata

It felt wonderfully enlightened to have my Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’ mistaken for the very same tree and set just the right tone for the wonderful day…

Of course, the old deutzia in full bloom makes my graceful but puny ‘Wolf Eyes’ look more important than it is.

Other big hits of the Conservancy Garden Tour…………..May 1

Clashy combo of purple (Black Parrot, Queen of the Night, Orange Favorite, Annie Schilders etc) and orange tulips brought out the spectrum of new growth nearby

Mount Tacoma and Semper Maximus under glorious new growth of Japanese maple Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Red Select’

Upright vining Fritillaria verticilata

Breathtaking color play of new growth of various Japanese maples, Orange Dream, dissectum, lion's head and palmatum (or the full moon types)

Melange of Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’, Petasites variegata, Arum italicum Winter White and one Jack in the Pulpit rising very early in the season just for the Garden Tour

And, of course, everyone tittered over this because it is as close as one is likely to get to garden porn

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The devotees of the Garden Conservancy have come and gone from this garden, every square inch of which had been lovingly and painstakingly considered for the May 1 anticipated Conservancy Open Day.  I like deadlines like Garden Tours and big parties and editorial crack-downs, so I fluffed and raked and puttered and planted and must admit that the vagaries of global warming made for a perfect day.  You just have to believe me that 24 hours later it was not that great.... the Silverstream tulips gave out…the puffed-up Muscari plumosa began to flop --- but usually you hear from a gardener "You should have seen it yesterday."  This is just the reverse and I've nothing to whine about...

The Southampton Press published a very nice story about me and the family and the garden: these pictures were taken mid-April,  two weeks before the garden tour.

SH Press Print story