EXPERIENCING A CANOPY OF WORLDWIDE NATIVES

On a crisp fall day I found myself walking through the JC Raulston Arboretum's Mixed Border in Raleigh, NC.  It's always so exciting to revisit trees planted over 20 years ago that are still thriving.

The old trees are now mingled with a few of our own North America native species and newer specimens of cultivars and varieties ranging in origins from eastern Russia, Europe,Turkey, many Asian countries including: Japan, China, Taiwan,  Vietnam,  Korea. Look for the complete name tags (below) that identify the plants and the parts of the world where they grow naturally. 

Euonymous europeaus 'Red Cascade' (above) is naturally found in the infamous hedge rows of England but underused in our landscapes. 

Let me take you on a ramble over the a rustic stone path, through a central arbor and under this unique collection of trees with a series of images that I took a few weeks ago. 

The specimens are old enough now to enjoy the unusual bark on limbed up trees planted close to the path edge. 

I planted this Lagerstroemia limii (above) when The Mixed Border was first established in 1994-5. The seeds of this species of Crape Myrtle coming to the National Arboretum in 1981 from the Shanghai Botanical Garden , people's Republic of China were the beginnings of a breakthrough breeding program that brought the colorful mildew resistant Crape Myrtles we know today by American Indian cultivar names. The first to be introduced was the vibrant deep red flowering L. 'Arapaho'. 

Pinus wallichiana 'Zebrina' is a touch of the Himalayas in Central NC. It was another of the first trees to go in.

Below, see it on the right side of the path.

Pinus wallichiana 'Zebrinus' sprays of soft looking variegated needles hoover over the path as we continue to the central arbor. 

The central arbor seen from the east and west sides. 

The arbor is a central feature of the Mixed Border where you can sit for awhile and contemplate the framed living pictures of plants. There are many shrubs and perennials under the larger trees. Two familiar plants that grow contentedly in the shade and root competition of these trees are Gardenia and Spirea. 

Gardenias are considered an  'old timey' Southern standard. This unusual variegated Gardenia (above) surely had it's evergreen origins in China. In my limited research I found out that the pure green leaved type was first grown in Charleston, SC in 1762.  

Below, you can see a successful combination of a few of the woody plants at the west entrance to the Mixed Border. From the top down is Chinese Tulip Poplar tree and to the right of the Tulip Poplar the Nellie R. Stevens hedge with an arched passageway cut through. Progressing down see evergreen Daphniphyllum macropodum, Illicium, and closest to the ground, Spirea thunbergii 'Ogon'. 

Fine golden leaves of Ogon Spirea can be a great textural change in a mixed border of shrubs and trees. Look up this plant to understand its origins and find out how Carl Peter Thunberg traveled from Sweden to Japan to bring back  then unknown plants to European gardens. In 1775 Thunberg used the term 'Japonica' as an epithet for 254 species collected from Japan that had been introduced by the Japanese into their own country from China. How many times have you heard someone say "I have a Japonica."? 

The Mixed Border is situated opposite The JC Raulston Arboretum's renowned Perennial Border. Thus it is a stellar example of how plants perform on the north side of a Nellie R. Stevens hedge that casts a 15' to 30' shadow over the entire 200' of garden.  Homeowners can walk this border and take away ideas to implement in their own gardens that may have similar shady growing situations. 

Visit The JC Raulston Arboretum any day of the year to experience this long narrow woodland garden walk in the presence of trees from all over the world. 

Ps,  The Mixed Border garden is cared for by Garden Leader Amelia Lane and "The Border Babes".... A dedicated group of talented gardeners in their own right. Staff support ranges from interpretive signage to propagation of new plants to trial. Additional vibrant volunteer groups of labelers, mappers and construction crew and others are vital to the overall success of this garden experience. 

WOODLAND RAMBLE ON A HILLSIDE OF OAKS

Today I visited my good and talented gardening friend Rita Mercer in her garden under a mature canopy of Oaks. Her house sits at the top of the hill nestled under the canopy of these majestic trees.

The overwhelming theme at this time of the year is red with touches of chartreuse seen below with Yucca 'Colorguard', designer Abelias, Lantana, Caster Bean and cultivars of Japanese Maples with leaves coloring to red each Autumn. 

The garden tumbles down the steep south facing hill to a placid pond carved out of a gently flowing stream. 

The last dots of red Lantana bloom greet you at the street before crossing over a bridge to climb the driveway on the western edge. 

Rita has been gardening here over 20 years and still finds working in her garden a thrilling experience always experimenting with adding and editing for glorious color as the seasons come and go.  

Thanks Rita for an inspiring afternoon. 

COLD COMPOSTING AT THE EDGE OF THE WOODLAND

Years ago I picked up this two tiered compost bin with lid from a garden store that was closing in Raleigh, NC.  The compost bin sits on a south facing woodland edge of my gravel driveway. An attractive sunflower grill, a gift from my wonderful brother in law, was a welcome addition to dress it up. 

It is in a convenient location for dumping in vegetable scraps, weeds without seeds, cut up prunings, egg shells, bits of cardboard, used paper towels, leaves, small twigs in layers and even an old cotton T-shirt or two. This is cold composting at its finest for a busy gardener who doesn't rely on the compost he/she makes for the garden. I have not had to turn or move the composting for 5 years now. The bin is still only 3/4 full. 

I keep a large baked enameled mixing bowl on the kitchen counter close to the sink and behind my cutting board. It's covered with a dinner plate when I'm not cooking or chopping. I like this size because I only have to empty it two to three times a week and feel good that 1/2 my garbage is staying on my property. Some call this sustainable. See the Blog Post:  Path Making Can Sometimes =File Clearing

The bin doesn't have to be beautiful or in sight. Here is one in a friend of mine's work space.  It's also being used here as a sort of nursery with plants waiting to go into the garden stored along the inside edges. The  cement blocks as the surround are stacked three high. 

So, you can compost in a woodland,  just don't count on that compost to feed your garden for a good number of years.  In the meantime the bagged offerings of compost are a good alternative.