Allium albopilosum

Though yesterday I posted some photos of Aster simplex growing on a roadside in Virginia, I'm not quite done with Blithewold, up north in Rhode Island.  Here's a small bed in the display gardens. with a lovely Agave serving as focal point and anchor for the blue-toned plants surrounding it, including kale and marjoram, to name a few.

 

And perhaps most striking are the Allium albopilosum, or Star of Persia, in front of the Agave.  Like giant onion and chives, the flower on this onion consists of a round ball of smaller individual flowers.  Another name for this species is christophii, though albopilosum refers to the small white hairs that surround the flowers.

 

These flowers dry fairly well - I've encountered them rolling through gardens in early fall, looking a bit like fancy tumbleweeds.  Like the other Alliums this plant is a bulb that can be planted in autumn.

 

I thought it was also worth posting a photo of the detail above.  Corten steel beams shape the bed and the grass risers.  It was a surprise to see such contemporary vocabulary in a garden that is otherwise quite traditional.

Aster simplex

Here are a few shots from this morning's run.  Aster simplex, or panicled aster.  The more current botanical name for this plant is actually Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, but its older name can still be applied.  As I've mentioned before, I think the word 'Aster' is decidedly less of a mouthful than Symphyotrichum. 

 

This specimen was found growing along an unmowed roadside and is very common this time of year.  It blooms in mid to late summer until the first frost.  It's not as showy as other asters, but you can buy seeds of the native plant from various sources.  To me, it's a great addition to a wildflower meadow and the small white flowers would be a great alternative to baby's breath (Gypsophila) for cut flower arrangements. 

Finally, like all members of the Asteraceae family, this flower structure is composed of disc florets and ray florets.  The disc florets are the very small yellow petals that compose the inside 'eye' of the flower.  They are the seed-producing flowers, whereas the ray florets (in this case, the white petals) are decorative; primarily present to attract pollinators.

Blithwold Display Gardens

Certainly, my favorite part of the Blithwold Estate's grounds were the Display Gardens.  These are tucked behind an original 1901 Lord and Burnham greenhouse, that is still being used to propagate the collections today.  The smaller structure below would typically house gardening tools, though equally important, it anchors the garden beds and also provides a structure upon which a pergola can be set.  The gardens were once populated with only vegetables - it was a proper potager - but today it is used to herald the worthiness of various herbaceous plants. 

 

Rare vines such as Nepenthes grow on the pergola with shade-loving ferns (Asplenium, for instance) crowd the stone path. 

Outside the pergola, tables of orange, geranium and Euphorbia milii are lightly touched by the cascading grape vines.

Here's a shot of the display gardens.  It's basically a reverse-view of the first photo in this post.  I think what makes a garden like this a success is not over-planning it.  As a designer, I probably shouldn't admit that, but the joy of a garden like this derives from its unbridled profusion of colors, textures and sizes.  After seeing so many variations of these types of gardens, I think I've become a bit fine-tuned to spot out the ones that are too carefully constructed.  Look at the heights alone: the beds below are lop-sided.  If a designer was obsessively selecting plants, they'd mirror heights, or would have some kind of alternating rhythm (tall-medium-short-tall-medium-short).  Instead, this looks like the person who picked out the species was too excited about the lovely selection to worry about 'coloring in the lines.'

Blithewold and Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea'

This week and next I'll be posting a few photos from Blithewold in Rhode Island.  Blithewold is a mansion outside of Providence that was finished construction in 1896.  I went there in August while visiting a friend and took scads of photos.

The first I'm sharing is of Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea.'  I saw this majestic specimen towering next to the mansion no sooner than two days after teaching it to my students.  The words still haunt me: 'Filifera Aurea Nana' is the dwarf cultivar of this plant, and is most common.  'Filifera Aurea' can get very tall - up to 80' - but not around here.  Perhaps in Japan you can find the species getting that tall, but not here.

Yep, nevermind. As you can guess by scaling the workers, this specimen is well on its way to reaching 40' plus.  When I saw it, I think I actually blushed with shame!

In my defense, this is a rarity on the east coast and I suspect the plant was installed shortly after the mansion was built; it only grows a few inches a year.  If we said the plant was 40' high (480") and grew at 6" a year (optimistic), we could age this tree at about 80 years.  I'd say it grows more slowly than 6", too.

That said, Blithewold is located on a peninsula near Bristol Harbor and the water would create milder winters and more humidity, both of which would suit this plant well.

Above is another specimen - in a size you're more likely to encounter - in Bryant Park in New York.  It's clear from the long, threadlike branchlets why this plant is called 'Filifera' and the gold color easily accounts for 'Aurea.' Pisifera literally means "bearing peas" and is referring to the very diminutive cones that the species will bear. Chamaecyparis is derivative of the Greek word chamai which means "on the ground" and kuparissos which is the Greek word for cypress.

From Australia: Christmas Bells

First up, let me introduce Planted Cloud's Australian correspondent, Garry Thomas. 

Garry Thomas is a practicing ecologist with over 20 years of field survey and scientific reporting experience.  Living on the Sunshine Coast in South East Queensland he specializes in plant ecology and his research work involves extensive travel throughout Australia, often to remote locations.  Garry has a comprehensive understanding of the Australian flora and is particularly interested in the ecology and distribution of regional ecosystems, threatened species as well as the environmental impacts of naturalized species.  In the field of conservation biology his discoveries have helped secure key biodiversity areas.  Some specific examples of his outstanding botanical achievements include the discovery of the most northerly populations of the threatened species Eucalyptus conglomerata, Triunia robusta and Baloghia marmorata, as well as the rediscovery of Romnalda strobilacea in Kin Kin, another threatened plant which had not been recorded from the area since 1917.  In addition to his extensive field experience, Garry has successfully tutored in plant identification and ecology.

This is Garry's first contribution to the blog -- I'm happy to have him here so he can keep us up to date on Australian botany!

Christmas Bells - Blandfordia species

During the summer festive season here in Australia, around December to January, small herbaceous plants belonging to an endemic genus of only 4 species burst into flower.  These species, which are often difficult to separate morphologically, belong to a genus that was named by English botanist James Edward Smith in 1804 as recognition of George Spencer-Churchill’s (1766-1840) contribution to botany, plants and landscaping in general.  This aristocrat, who became the 5th Duke of Marlborough, was given the title Marquis of Blandford at birth.  Hence the plant’s name Blandfordia (bland-FORD-ee-a); the only genus in the family Blandfordiaceae.

Blandfordia grandiflora growing amongst the wet heath land plants in SE Queensland

 Small remnants of the Marquis of Blandford’s historic and famous ‘fairy-tale’ landscaping can be seen in what is now known as the Whiteknights Park in Berkshire England.  The park is situated within the largest campus (Whiteknights) of the Reading University and includes a large lake, a grotto and scattered old trees.

Christmas Bells are geographically restricted to southeastern Australia; predominately they are found in coastal regions, but also occur on the nearby ranges and extend from Tasmania in the south to around Fraser Island (SE Queensland) in the north.  Generally they inhabit areas of high rainfall; but to some extent, specific ecologically restrictions can occur; these include south facing slopes; sandstone substrates; sandy, wet, peaty heath land; clayey sands with moderate acidity and so on.

The species, Blandfordia cunninghamii, B. grandiflora, B. nobilis and B. punicea, are slow-growing, grass-like plants.  They have narrow strappy leaves arranged in a clump; the much sought after, brightly coloured, red and/or yellow bell-shaped flowers arise on stems springing from the centre of the leafy cluster.  The plants are repeatedly visited by honey eating birds for the nectar contained in their flowers.

From time to time Blandfordia species are cultivated as garden features in Australia, North America and Europe; they are also very popular as cutflowers.  Interestingly, Blandus is a Latin word meaning caressing, flattering.   Perhaps a species of Christmas Bells, tolerant of cooler climates such as B. punicea, would be a fitting addition to the landscaping within the fairy-tale gardens at Whiteknights.  Whitenights Park was once a renowned attraction, a desire of kings and a place harboring many rare plants.

American Smoketree

Last week I was tagging some plant material for a property in the District and spent the better part of the day at wholesalers in Maryland.  When I was at Manor View Farms, I was lucky enough to start a conversation with one of the owners.  It went something like this,

Me: "I think I checked on your inventory and saw you're out of Amelanchier but that's what I was hoping to get.  Something small, multistemmed, with good fall color."

Him: "Well, you could go with a crape myrtle..."

Me: "Yea...I really don't care for that plant.  There's nothing wrong with it, really, but I'm just sick of seeing it everywhere.  Maybe a Stewartia, or..."

Him: "Franklinia?"

Me: "Oh, for sure.  Love that plant!"

It turns out John and I had pretty similar tastes in plants.  We discussed our admiration for black gum, yellowwood, American hornbeam and others.  Soon enough, he was giving me a tour of their hundred-acre farm.  While driving around, I pointed out the tree below and inquired about it.

Turns out the tree is a native species of Cotinus, Cotinus obovatus.  I never knew there was such a thing.  As you can see it's more tree form and less of a large shrub.  Occasionally these leaders will fail, at which point the nursery cuts it back to the ground and starts growing it as a multistemmed shrub.  The flower set is not as heavy as Cotinus coggygria, but the fall color is reportedly far superior.  I was intrigued.  The plant's native range is is primarily in the mountainous regions of northern Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, though it reaches as far west as Oklahoma and Texas.

I have blogged about Cotinus on NYPAOS a few times, I'm always a touch ambivalent about it because it seems so alien to our indigenous landscape.  I have to say the tree-form habit of this species makes me warm to the genus considerably.  I will definitely look forward to an opportunity to use this in a planting.

Clematis paniculata

I have a fond spot in my heart for Clematis paniculata, or sweet autumn clematis, since it was one of the very first plants I learned in my ornamental plants class at Virginia Tech, way back in 1993.  

It's a lovely fall-blooming perennial vine, which is somewhat unnoticeable until this time of year. 

Below, it is growing near the boardwalk in Southern New Jersey. 

 

I have blogged about Clematis before, though those species were crosses of Clematis x jackmanii.   As you can see the flowers below are far different.  They are smaller, with strappier petals and only occur in shades of white. 

 

There's some debate as to whether this plant is invasive or not (some simply call it "vigorous").  I haven't seen this invade woodlands or pop up along highways but inevitably I will start to see that now that I've posted this.  What about you?  Any chance you've seen this plant where it shouldn't be?

 

Let's go back to Oahu for a moment, shall we? 

Here we are at the lagoon by the Hilton Hawaiian Village.  And what's that growing in the sand?  Ipomoea pes-caprae or beach morning glory, or goat's foot vine. 

 

These are pretty sad looking iPhone pictures (taken with a poorly abused iPhone, no less), but it's impossible not to appreciate how this plant thrives in the shallow sandy soil.   A member of the Convolvulaceae family, it's related to the morning glory I blogged about here. 

  

This plant can be found on the beaches of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans.  It's tolerant to salt and wind even in its infancy - the seeds of this plant float on the water and are unaffected by the briny waters.  Ipomoea literally means 'wormlike' - referring to the plant's coiled flower bud.  Pes-caprae as you may have guessed, means 'goat's foot' and refers to the leaf shape, which resembles a cloven hoof.

Helianthus annuus

I was in Maryland last week, scoping out plant nurseries and setting up accounts when I saw a flash of yellow on a hillside in the distance.  As I approached the field closer, it was evident that I had stumbled upon a sunflower farm. 

The last time I saw this many sunflowers growing in the landscape was in 1996, when I was driving through Kansas.  It's hard not to think, Kansas=Corn, but Kansas is one of the top three sunflower crop producing states in the country (along with North and South Dakota).

Sunflowers were first cultivated by Native Americans at around 3000 BC.  Over the years, the plant  has been hybridized so that it yields as many seeds as possible, since that is its valuable resource.  However, the specimens above have fairly large ray florets and the area of disc florets is relatively small, leading me to speculate that these plants may be farmed for cut flowers, and not for sunflower seeds.  Though I just don't know...Maybe the next time I'm nearby I will go and ask!

Alcantarea odorata

I can't yet show photos of this plant being used in the Hawaii project, but I am going to share this pic of Alcantarea odorata, taken at a plant nursery in Oahu.  

I love the soft, silvery hue of this plant, a member of the Bromeliad family.  Like other bromeliads, this plant is very drought tolerant, as it can survive off of water it collects in the vase-like base of the rosette of leaves.

This species is endemic to Brazil, and is found on rock, dry mountainsides.  The species name, odorata, refers to the fragrant, chandelier-like flower that grows from the center of the rosette.

Araucaria heterophylla

Not far from the Lodge at Koele in Lanai is a road that follows the ridgeline of the island's mountains. When the road first begins to climb in altitude (ultimately reaching 3000'+) you pass a modest cemetery for the local residents of nearby Lanai City (population 3,164).  Flanking the cemetery are Cook's Pine, or Araucaria columnaris.   At first glance, I would have assumed they were Araucaria heterophylla, or Norfolk Island Pine.  Indeed they are quite similar, though local lore states that only one Norfolk Island Pine stands in Lanai, and it is located in the front yard of the Lodge.

 

As you can see, this specimen is more than a little majestic.   Both species of Araucaria are quite similar.  There's a great site that details the differences among A. heterophylla and A. columnaris here.

 

The plaque below indicates this tree as Norfolk Island Pine (coincidentally enough, Captain Cook named Norfolk Island himself, and consequently the Norfolk Island Pine.  When A. columnaris was deemed a different species, the common name was based on Cook.).

Both species are common enough in Hawaii and are often used to flank roadways and orchards.  You can see a shot of them along the pineapple farms of Oahu in a NYPAOS post here.  While Araucaria is in the pine order, Pinales, it is not a member of the pine family, Pinaceae.

Orchids and Lanai

Lately I have been doing a lot of traveling to Hawaii.  I have a project reaching completion in Waikiki and like any good addict, I am looking for my next Hawaiian fix!  That's why I was so happy to visit some new friends in Lanai, to discuss some landscape issues.

While I was there, they were generous enough to give me a tour of the island.  I'll post a few other photos in the weeks to come, but for now, I'll just share a few images of this little jewel box: the orchid greenhouse at the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele. 

The orchid house sits at the rear of a large, formal garden with unmistakable Asian influences.

  Collections are rotated regularly.

You can see the orchid house directly beyond the gazebo. The flowers in the background are bougainvillea but I was struck by how much they reminded me of azaleas, given their use in this composition. It reminds me vaguely of the Asian garden at the BBG.

This sculpture welcomes you as you leave the Lodge building (which feels like an English hunting manor) and move into the gardens.

Welcome to Planted Cloud!

Hello!  And welcome to Planted Cloud, the new home for me, Jennifer Horn, the blogger who wrote "New York, Plants and Other Stuff."

Summer 2010 has been eventful for me.  I quit my job, moved to DC and started my own landscape architecture office.  I am still teaching in New York and am working on a few jobs in that area, too.  I've also done a bit of work in Hawaii, Philadelphia and New Jersey.

When I announced that I would be shutting down NYPAOS, I had written that my new blog would be (sensibly enough) "DC, Plants and Other Stuff."  But I've since changed my mind.  Too often, my old blog posts were about places other than New York.  And my horticultural interests are not bounded by political or ecological boundaries.  So I've started Planted Cloud.

The idea is simple: I want this site to be a site where plant enthusiasts can learn about what is happening in the worlds of horticulture, botany and landscape design on a global scale.  I am looking for correspondents to contribute on a monthly basis.  If you love plants and live in a continent other than North America or Australia, please contact me.  My Australian contributor, Garry Thomas, will be introducing himself soon enough and I'm happy to have him join me in this endeavor.

This site will no doubt evolve in the upcoming months.  When I started NYPAOS, I had no clear conception of what the site would ultimately become and I am similarly unsure with Planted Cloud.  If you have suggestions or comments (or requests), please email me.

Until then, dear reader, I hope you are enjoying the plants around you, be they a majestic oak, or a dandelion!