GardenDesignOnline

Easter Rose -- Happy Easter

Easter Basket Rose
(Rosa 'Meipoten')

A lovely rose for Easter ... Easter Basket from Star Roses.  This floribunda was hybridized by Meilland in 2007, and it's a continuous bloomer. The semi-double ruffled flowers are yellow, edged with pink, giving them a very old fashioned look, but they only have a slight fragrance.   The foliage is medium green, and blooms are on a medium height, bushy shrub. 

A nice spring plant that would make a lovely low hedge or it could be used as an accent plant in the border.  Nice color, as well, for Easter.

 

DC Spring

I went a couple of weeks ago to the US National Arboretum in DC ... the magnolia collection was almost in full bloom ... stars, saucers, many hybrids. It's one of the arboretum's "can't miss" collections in springtime.

Magnolia 'Galaxy'

This tree was bred and introduced by the arboretum in 1980, so it's been around for awhile, but definitely worth consideration. It has an upright habit, usually flowers late enough to avoid frost damage, 30-40 feet tall, 22-25 feet wide. Zones 5-9.

Magnolia 'Ivory Chalice'

This magnolia was hybridized by the late David G. Leach of Madison, Ohio. Gorgeous 6-inch blooms of an off-white hue.  Height around 30-40 feet, hardy to zone 4.  A great tree planted as a garden specimen.

And ...it was just a short drive over to the spring-blooming camellias.

Camellia japonica 'Hagoromo'

This is said to be a compact grower, but the one we saw was at least 10' high and simply covered with glorious pale pink flowers. Zone 7-9, usually 6-8 feet high and 4-5 feet wide.  A perfect choice for smaller gardens.

 

Flower Cascades

Gardner Museum, photo Siena Scarff

If you've never been to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, April is the time to go, as you'll be able to enjoy one of the great flower displays in the country: the annual show of hanging nasturtiums.

The nasturtium show only lasts for about three weeks, but if you don't catch it this year, it's an annual tradition that starts each year around Easter time.

photo Siena Scarff

According to the museum's blog, Isabella started growing the flowers at her home in Brookline by 1913 and placed them on the courtyard balconies in honor of her birthday.  She sold the property in 1919, but museum trustees bought new hothouses in 1926 and revived the tradition, which has goes on today.

photo: Gardner museum

The vines are started from seed every June, planted in late summer, and trained in greenhouses throughout the winter.  The nasturtiums require continuous care to ensure they reach their dramatic length of approximately 20 feet in time for their museum debut.