GardenDesignOnline

Green Driveways

If you're tired of looking at that black tongue of asphalt, go green ... it's all explained in this NYT article on turning your driveway into an oasis.  Complete with tips on landscape architects, sources for "green pavers" and more.

Nifty New Lilacs

Just out -- two new lilacs from the US National Arboretum. Syringa 'Old Glory' (left) has been in testing for 25 years.  It has fragrant, bluish-purple blooms, a rounded growth habit, and foliage that has better than average tolerance to powdery mildew (a particular problem in warmer climates) and it's also tolerant to Cercospora blight. This lilac is 11.5 feet tall and 13 feet wide, so give it plenty of space.  Zones 5-7.

Syringa 'Declaration,' (right) was selected for its fragrant, dark reddish-purple flowers and its flower clusters, which are nearly one foot long.  It has an open, upright growth habit and is slightly smaller, about 8.5 feet high and 6.5 feet wide.  It would be perfect for urban gardens, sited near a patio where the perfume will be readily apparent.  This lilac is recommended primarily for the traditional cooler lilac-growing regions where diseases are not such a problem. Zones 5-6.

Both lilacs are the result of a cross between Syringa 'Sweet Charity' and Syringa hyacinthiflora 'Pocahontas.'

These two lilacs have been released to wholesale growers who are now propagating them for public release.  A limited number may be available from wholesale nurseries this year.  In 2007, a few mail order and specialty nurseries should have them; and they'll be in retail stores in 2008.  Old Glory and Declaration follow the release of the 'Betsy Ross' lilac in 2000. a disease-tolerant fragrant white lilac that resulted from a cross between a Chinese lilac (Syringa oblata) and an unidentified lilac collected from Highland Park in Rochester, NY.  Betsy Ross is well adapted to warmer climates (zones 5-8) and has shown good tolerance for powdery mildew.  Almost 10 feet tall and 13 wide at 16 years.

The lilac trials have been going on at the Arboretum for some years, and they are a sight to behold (left).  According to Dr. Margaret Pooler, scientists basically are looking for liliacs with "disease and pest resistance; reliable, showy, fragrant blooms; and a compact plant habit."  Dr. Pooler says several advanced selections are now in the testing stage, but it'll be several years before more are released.

(photos: new lilacs: US National Arboretum: trials: Jane Berger)

Texas Treasures in El Paso

Roses, roses, roses, and a fabulous view of the city below.  The Galvin/Lingle garden (left) is just one of six new gardens on view in and around El Paso this weekend on The Garden Conservancy's "Open Days"  tour May 6th and 7th. It's fun, it's small, and it's crammed with roses, perennials, and shrubs that the owners have managed to establish, despite the heat and the wind.  And an entry allee of apricot, apple, and fig trees sounds absolutely delightful.

Don't miss the Davis Garden designed by landscape architect Martha Schwartz, who's known for her very unique, very funky landscapes.  This one features separate garden "rooms" with ponds, a rill, a topiary garden, cacti surrounded by deep rose walls. 

Other gardens on this two-day tour include one with xeriscape plants certified as a Texas Wildlife Habitat;another with a trio of tiered patios; the Harrawood garden, with a rock garden and a miniature fruit tree orchard;and the Woody garden with many native plants and a secret garden behind a blue door.

See the GC web site for directions & places where you can buy the "Open Days" directory.

(photo: Garden Conservancy)

Rule of Three - Let it Be?

They came buzzing in fast for the members only sale at the US National Arboretum last Friday ... quickly scarfing up whatever unusual plant they spied first.  One young gentleman was lucky enough to get the last of just a few available Fiveleaf Aralias -- (Eleutherococcus sieboldianus 'Variegatus') and a lot of people were following him around, asking if he'd reconsider and give it up for something else.  This plant, a PA Horticultural Society gold medal winner, of course is showy enough to be a single specimen in the garden ... that is, if you place it right.  Most designers adhere to the rule of three: three of anything looks better than two or one.   But plant aficionados are a different breed.

Working as a volunteer "plant expert," I asked one woman if she wouldn't like to add a few more of the same plants she already had in her grocery basket. She replied that she knew all about the "three plants" rule, but she wanted one of everything. She then opted for a new China Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata 'Glauca') and when I told her that Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) is a conifer that drops its needles in winter, she had to have one of those, too.  At least she has a big property.

There was one family -- a Japanese group -- that had three or five of everything in their cart, including three Hardy Oranges (Poncirus trifoliata).  They were totally dumfounded when they discovered that someone else had already bought the rest of the Weigela 'Wine & Roses.'  There was one left ... they pondered the situation for a long while over much discussion ... and then decided that one would do.  To plant collectors, rules are there to break. 

(photo: PA Horticultural Society)