Stewartia malacodendron

Well the garden in Maryland has gone from dry to super wet over the last month, making this GBBD as green as I can remember.  But what always stand out for me at this time of year is the Stewartia Malacodendron.  Also known as the Silky Camellia this is one of the most exotic tree flowers you can grow.  It is fundamentally an understory plant and seems to be quite happy where it is situated now beneath our Metasequoia.  I would guess there are 30-40 flowers on the tree this year.

Stewartia malacodendron

We have several other Stewartias now including a little Stewartia rostrata down in the pasture which is showing it’s first flower buds this year.

Stewartia rostrata

Another species added to the pasture arboretum this year is a Magnolia.

Magnolia figo ‘Serendipity’

This was from Hazelmor nursery at the Stonecrop annual Alpine sales event.

While mentioning our nice trees I should cite the Frisia Locust which is beginning to show the lovely yellow-green leaves that make it different than other locusts.

‘Frisia’ Black Locust

We first saw this at the entrance to Chanticleer Gardens near Philadelphia.

And while I’m on trees I should note that the Chinese Dogwood in our backyard is fully in flower at the moment.

Chinese Dogwood (Cornus kousa)

You would have to climb on the roof to fully appreciate the hundreds of flowers on this tree.  And if you were to do that you would see even more flowers on the 50 foot tall Tulip Poplar which dominates our backyard.  I am surprised that everyone doesn’t have a Tulip Poplar to litter their yard with flower petals.

Speaking of flower petals I should note that the Pink Evening Primrose, that accidentally ended up in our pasture, has continued to spread across the hillside with it’s lovely flowers.

Pink Evening Primrose (Oenothera specioosa) on the hillside

Pink Evening Primrose (Oenothera specioosa)

A few other items of note.  Last year I added a Mountain Laurel to the forest and it continues to do well.

Kalmia latifolia ‘Minuet’

So I’ve added 2 more…

And back in the forest I also put in a a Carolina Allspice last year.

Carolina allspice (Calycanthus floridus)

And the flowers are gorgeous.

Carolina Allspice flower

Just a few more things to note…

The True Indigo by the back garden gate is very nice.

True Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria)

And the red Bletilla is quite striking again this year.

Bletilla striata

Two Azaleas are reminders that Rhododendrons can dominate the landscape in May.

Azalea ‘Visco sepala’

Rhododendron ‘Klondyke’

Lastly it is good to remember that one needs to eat something besides flowers.  We finally got the vegetable bed plant in time for all the rain we’ve been having.

Laying out the garden