Monday, June 14, 2010

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.

COTSWOLDS by DB 046

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…

June 20 09 049

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

May 1 2010 077

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

May 1 2010 060

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

May 1 2010 066

Upright vining Fritillaria verticilata

May 1 2010 068

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

April 26 2010-after WSJ 061

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

April 26 2010-after WSJ 055

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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