2010-03-29 Yard, Crystal Springs and Japanese Garden

First, they're taking their sweet time getting a letter to me about tenure...

Second, we had a very nice break. We dug.



We leveled. The yard is, more or less flat on top with a bit more to do. Still gotta finish digging the pond and bog and move the pile of dirt from the front.



Thanks Terry & Stephanie, couldn't have done it without you!

We also went to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Lots in bloom.

Entryway.



Various Rhodies.











Some bulbs


Erythronium


The 15 minutes that Berberis looks good each year...


And a bird on the water.


Visited the Japanese Gardens. Enkianthus perlatus, I think...



They have the best kept pines!


Reflections.



The raked flat garden.



A tulip that I like.



Last, Rhododendron jasminiflorum var punctatum is blooming in the sunroom.

2010-03-07 Early Spring Repot and New Rhodie

I repotted about 40 Protea this weekend. I noticed that all the plants had formed thickets of roots called Proteoid roots. Imagine the photo below in 3D and you should think of something that looks a lot like milfoil. Supposedly, these roots help the plants uptake nutrients in low nutrient environments.



And also a Rhododendron spinuliferum from a friend (thanks!). This is not your average garden center Rhodie...



In case you're wondering, the flowers are fully open.