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GARDENER'S
READING ROOM
The Art of Gardening
Mother's
Favorites
Spring
is the period of rebirth. What better time to celebrate Motherhood?
For me, Mother's Day evokes thoughts of the plants beloved
in my mother and grandmothers' yards. Let me share with
you what some would call "Old Favorites".
 The
scent of a lilac awakens memories and feelings that we attach
to who we are. Sky Nursery now offers a large number of hybrids
with wonderful scent. White, the symbol of purity, brings
to mind Miss Ellen Willmott.
This variety is one of the most fragrant!
Adeline Dunbar is deemed the most purple.
Charles Joly
is one of the best of the reddish purples. The bicolor Sensation
offers purple flowers with white edging. Sky has many more
varieties, so pick a sunny spot in your yard and come choose!
Both
my mother and grandmother loved cutting hydrangea blooms to
brighten their homes, adding the hydrangea to my list of "Mother's
favorites". The standby Nikko
Blue comes as close to a true blue as you
can get. Nigra's
black stems make it ornamental even when it's not in
bloom. If you want something more delicate, take a look at
the lacecap varieties, such as Blue
Wave and Variegata.
The serrata varieties are renowned for their long blooming
period, lacecap flowers, and wonderful fall color.  Try
Bluebird or
Golden Sunlight.
Come grab a copy of this year's list with descriptions
of over 50 different varieties; one of them is sure to please
the mother on your list.
Dogwoods
- eastern and native - bloom around Mother's Day, making
them also natural "Mom's favorites". The
eastern dogwood is our typical flowering dogwood. It becomes
a rounded, spreading, fairly large tree. Cherokee
Brave is an excellent pink. Sky is also offering
many others, including the variegated, white-flowered Daybreak
and Crimson Curls
with unique red curly flowers. Our native dogwood, Cornus
nuttalli, is represented by 4 varieties this
year, including the anthracnose-resistant hybrid Eddie's
White Wonder.
 I
can't say enough about the Asian dogwood. Although it
blooms later than the other types (late May into June), its
versatility in the landscape is endless. A smaller tree with
an interesting "layered" growth habit, it provides
flowers, fruit, and wonderful red fall color. We have varieties
that are pink-flowered (Satomi),
white-flowered, variegated (Autumn
Rose), weeping (Elizabeth
Lustgarden), and more! Once again, come in
for a complete list, as there are too many to mention.
Come
celebrate the rebirth of spring with us. We will happily assist
you in picking out one of Mother's Favorites.
By Bill Bloomfield, W.C.P.H.
Skylights Spring/Summer 2003 Vol. 17, No. 2
Other
articles on the art of gardening
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