Quercus palustris 3/2022 Oak V5- (Red Oak Group) Pin Oak, Mature plant size: 70x30, Yellowish -green, USDA Hardiness Zone 4-8, Michigan Bloom Month 4, In Garden Bed V5 for 24.9 YEARS (Builder's). Planted in 1997.

Missouri Botanical Garden: Quercus palustris commonly called pin oak is a medium sized deciduous oak of the red oak group that typically grows 50-70' (less frequently to 100') tall with a broad pyramidal crown. Upper branches are ascending, middle branches are somewhat horizontal and lower branches are descending. In the wild, the lower branches of this tree are often shaded by other trees, eventually dying and breaking off leaving persistent pin-like stubs, hence the common name. Trunk diameter to 3'. Smooth gray-brown bark usually develops ridging with age. This is a tree of lowlands and bottomlands that is primarily native to the Midwest and mid-Atlantic States. In Missouri, it typically occurs in valleys, floodplains and stream margins, but is infrequently found in drier upland areas (Steyermark). Insignificant monoecious yellowish-green flowers in separate male and female catkins appear in spring as the leaves emerge. Fruits are rounded acorns (to 1/2" long), with shallow, saucer-shaped acorn cups that barely cover the acorn base. Acorns are an important source of food for wildlife. Glossy, dark green leaves (to 5" long) typically have 5 bristle-tipped lobes with deeply cut sinuses extending close to the midrib. Leaves turn deep red in fall. Pin oak is pehaps the most popular commercial oak of eastern North America, having been widely planted as both a street and a landscape tree.

Horizontal branches, bright red in fall, backyard. Leaves hold on most of the winter.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2015, 18, 21, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Tree, #Quercus, #QuercusPalustris, #PinOak

Acer x 'Northern Glow' 3/2022 Korean Maple U2- (Hasselkus, WI) Hybrid Korean Maple, Mature plant size: 20x24ft., green leaves turning orange & red in the fall., USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Michigan Bloom Month 5-, In Garden Bed U2 for 3.5 YEARS (Klehm,). Planted in 2018.

Acer x pseudosieboldianum '[Northern Glow'. Developed in Madison, Wisconsin, by Professor Emeritus Ed Hasselkus. Basically a Japanese Maple look-alike that survives in Zone 4. Deeply incised leaves emerge bronze, green in summer, then a bright orange-red to deep red color in fall. Upright that spreads when mature. Grown on own roots. aka 'Hasselkus'

Suffered from a late hard frost in 2020, recovered nicely.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2018, 19, 20, 21, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Tree, #R2J, #Acer, #AcerXpseudosieboldianum, #KoreanMaple, #Hybrid

Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' 3/2022 European Snowball bush E2- (Snowball) European Snowball bush (Wayfaring tree + Maple like), Mature plant size: 10ft., 3 in. Pom-pom like white flowers, maple-like, dark green leaves, USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Month 5b, In Garden Bed E2 for 21.9 YEARS (-). Planted in 2000.

Missouri Botanical Garden: 'Roseum' is a sterile cultivar (no fertile florets and no cranberry-like fruit) that produces 3" diameter pom-pom-like globular inflorescences (snowballs) of entirely sterile white flowers. Flowers bloom in May. Flowers acquire light rose flushing as they fade, hence the cultivar name of 'Roseum'. Plants typically grow to 10-12' tall with a rounded form. Sugar-maple like leaves are a soft green, generally becoming orange-red in fall. 'Roseum' is sold under a large number of common names. The common name of European snowball bush has been selected herein because 'Roseum' produces no cranberry-like fruit as suggested by the common name for the species (European cranberry bush). 'Roseum' is synonymous with and sometimes sold in commerce as V. opulus 'Sterile'.

Suckers. Severe trim in 2020 (E1).

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2009, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Shrub, #Viburnum, #ViburnumOpulus, #EuropeanSnowballBush

Cornus kousa 'Little Poncho' 3/2022 Dogwood Y2- (Dwarf Dogwood) Dwarf Chinese Dogwood, Mature plant size: 8x6ft., White, USDA Hardiness Zone 5, Michigan Bloom Month -, In Garden Bed Y2 for 5.8 YEARS (Duvall). Planted in 2016.

Heavily textured dark green leaves set off 2in. wide, four white flower bracts that persist for several weeks. Fruits are red, pulpy berries 1-2in. across. Fall color is dark purple to orange-red. Does not seem to be growing to its specified height.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2016, 17, 18, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Shrub, #CornusKousa, #Cornus, #ChineseDogwood

frankrichards16 said:

Beautiful.

Prunus 'Snofozam' [SNOW FOUNTAINS] 4/2022 weeping higan cherry D0- (White Fountain) weeping higan cherry, Mature plant size: 10x8ft., white, USDA Hardiness Zone 5, Michigan Bloom Month 4a, In Garden Bed D0 for 25.0 YEARS (Builders). Planted in 1997.

Missouri Botanical Garden: 'Snofozam', sold under the trade name of SNOW FOUNTAINS, is a slow-growing, weeping, ornamental cherry that is sold in a variety of forms: (1) a compact, naturally weeping tree (most other weeping cherries are topgrafted) that typically grows 8-15' tall, or (2) a compact tree topgrafted at 6' or (3) a ground cover. As a weeping tree, its cascading branches dip all the way to the ground, giving the appearance of a white or snow fountain when covered with pure white flowers in early spring. Flowers give way to small, sparse, black, inedible fruits. Dark green leaves (to 3 1/4" long) turn attractive shades of gold and orange in autumn. This cultivar is known by several different names, including 'Snofozam', 'White Fountain' and 'Snow Fountains'.



Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2013, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...[SNOW%20FOUNTAINS]

#Tree, #Prunus, #WeepingHiganCherry, #SNOWFOUNTAINS

Magnolia 'Ann' 5/2022 Magnolia S4- (National Arboretum, mid-1950s) Magnolia, Mature plant size: 9x9ft., PURPLE, Redish Purple, USDA Hardiness Zone 5, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW18, In Garden Bed S4 for 8.9 YEARS (MSU). Planted in 2013.

Little Girl Series ('Ann', 'Betty', 'Jane', 'Judy', 'Pinkie', 'Randy', 'Ricki' and 'Susan') of hybrid magnolias developed at the National Arboretum (mid-1950s) by Francis DeVos and William Kosar.

Noted for its compact shrubby habit, slightly fragrant purple-red flowers and late bloom (mid-April to early May). It is a slow-growing, deciduous shrub or small tree that typically rises over time to 8-10' tall and wide. Planted 2013.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2014, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Tree, #Magnolia, #LittleGirlSeries, #Compact

Rhododendron 'PJM' 5/2022 Azalea Y0- ( Peter J. Mezitt, late1930s) Azalea, Mature plant size: 5x5ft., pink, USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Michigan Bloom Month 4c-5b, In Garden Bed Y0 for 11.9 YEARS (Lowes,). Planted in 2010.

Missouri Botanical Garden: PJM Group is a series of rhododendron hybrids that resulted from crosses between R. carolinianum and R. dauricum var. sempervirens. These hybrids are compact, rounded, small-leaved, evergreen shrubs that generally grow to 3-6' tall and are noted for having exceptional winter hardiness. Lavender, rose or pink flowers (color varies with cultivar) bloom in clusters (4-9 flowers per cluster) in April. Elliptic, hairless, leathery, dark green leaves (to 2.5" long). Foliage acquires purple tones in winter. These rhododendrons are noted for growing well in the upper Midwest and New England climates. The original hybridization work was started in the late 1930s to early 1940s by Massachusetts nurserymen Edmund Mezitt and his father, Peter J. Mezitt, whose initials became the name for the group.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2014, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Shrub, #evergreen, #Rhododendron, #Azalea

Larix eurolepis 'Varied Direction' 5/2022 Eurorean Larch S1- (Sidney Waxman, 1985) Weeping Eurorean Larch, Size at 10 years: 10x10ft., Light Green, USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Michigan Bloom Month -, In Garden Bed S1 for 5.0 YEARS (Stanley). Planted in 2017.

A European Larch that branches erratically in all directions. Leaves are extra long and light green. Needs to be staked for height. This plant was introduced by Sidney Waxman of Connecticut University around 1985. I have planted it (2017) on a slope without any support. AKA Larix decidua 'Varied Directions'

Not staked, heading down a slope.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2017, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Conifer, #Larix, #LarixEurolepis, #Larch, #EuroreanLarch

Thanks, Frank. That's a new one to me.

Planted 2 tiny pomegranates 4-5 yrs ago, small enough to accidentally demolish with the mower. One has finally grown enough to make 2 flowers!

Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking' 5/2022 Chokeberry N3- (Chokeberry) Black Chokeberry, Mature plant size: 3x3ft., White flowers, red fall foliage, USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW19, In Garden Bed N3 for 3.1 YEARS (DiggingDog). Planted in 2019.

Missouri Botanical Garden: Viking' is an upright, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that was developed in Europe as an orchard plant. It has glossy elliptic to obovate dark green leaves (to 2-3" long) with finely toothed margins. The leaves turn an attractive red in fall. In spring, slightly earlier than the species, it has 5 to 6-flowered clusters of white 5-petaled, fragrant flowers that mature into purplish black edible berries that ripen in late summer. The berries are high in nutrients and can be used for juice, pies and jellies or to provide food for birds and other wildlife. 'Viking' grows 3 to 6 ft. tall and wide.

Digging Dog Nursery: Deemed one of the best cultivars in the genus, this small trouble-free European introduction was destined to be an orchard plant until gardeners discovered its innate beauty and various merits. Glimmering amid glossy dark green foliage, abundant scented white flowers are followed by lustrous extra large purplish black berries, which remain throughout the winter as much appreciated fodder for the birds...

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2019, 20, 21, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Shrub, #bog, #Aronia, #AroniaMelanocarpa, #BlackChokeberry

Spiraea x vanhouttei 5/2022 Bridal-Wreath S2- (bridalwreath) Bridal-Wreath, Mature plant size: 8x10ft., WHITE, USDA Hardiness Zone 3-8, Michigan Bloom Month 5b, In Garden Bed S2 for 22.1 YEARS (Meijer). Planted in 2000.

Missouri Botabical Garden: Spiraea × vanhouttei, called Vanhoutte spirea or bridalwreath, is a vase-shaped, deciduous shrub with branching that arches gracefully toward the ground. It is a hybrid cross between S. trilobata x S. cantoniensis. It typically grows 5-8' tall with a spread to 7-10' wide. It is particularly noted for its showy spring bloom. Tiny white flowers (each to 1/3" diameter) appear in late April to May in umbellate clusters (to 2" wide) that profusely cover the leafy branching. Small, rhombic to obovate, coarsely serrate, dark blue-green leaves (to 1.5" long) may have or at least suggest 3-5 lobes. Fall color is usually undistinguished, but attractive purplish hues may sometimes develop.

Genus name comes from the Greek word speira meaning wreath in reference to the showy flower clusters seen on most shrubs in the genus.

Specific epithet honors Belgian nurseryman, L. B. Van Houtte (1810-1876).

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2015, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Shrub, #bridalwreath, #White, #Arching, #Spiraea, #SpiraeaXvanhouttei

I was given this Sago about 5 yrs ago, a sad potted specimen. It was moved to this spot in the ground about 3 years ago & has looked pretty pitiful but seems to have become established finally. It grew so many gorgeous new leaves this year, I cut all of the old ones off.

Starting to wonder how tall this Gardenia can get. Smells so good!!

Syringa 'BLOOMERANG Purple' 5/2022 Reblooming Lilac f4- (Lilac) Reblooming Lilac, Mature plant size: 4x4ft., PURPLE, classic lilac purple, sweetly scented, USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Michigan Bloom Week ISO WW20, In Garden Bed f4 for 8.0 YEARS (Lowes,). Planted in 2014.

Proven Winners: Bloomerang Purple lilac is the original reblooming lilac. It blooms in spring along with other lilacs, takes a brief rest to put on new growth, then blooms again from mid-summer through fall. A bit smaller than other lilacs, Bloomerang also has a nice, rounded shape that looks great anywhere you plant it in the landscape. Star-like flowers are a beautiful shade of classic lilac purple and are sweetly scented.

BLOOMERANG is a reblooming dwarf lilac that matures to only 3-4' tall. aka Syringa x 'Penda.' Cannot see any difference between the purple and dark purple. One of the 3 seems to be somewhat smaller and lighter in color. Removed the smaller one on 8/18/2020. Two remain. Not a proliffic rebloomer. Bottom trim 20221.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2014, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Shrub, #Reblooming, #Lilac, #Syringa, #Purple

Acer x 'North Wind' 6/2022 Korean Maple U2- (Iseli) Jack Frost® Collection Korean Maple, Mature plant size: 20x15ft., green leaves turning orange & red in the fall. Grows 12-15 inches per year., USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Michigan Bloom Month 5-, In Garden Bed U2 for 3.8 YEARS (SpringHill,). Planted in 2018.

Acer x pseudosieboldianum 'North Wind'. Iseli Nursery: North Wind® 'IslNW' is the flagship of the Jack Frost® maple group. It has been unscathed in Midwest field testing, surviving temperatures of -30°F. The palmate leaves emerge red in spring changing to green by midsummer. Showy pink samaras standout against the green summer foliage. When other fall color has faded in northern landscapes, North Wind® continues the show with dramatic tones of orange and scarlet.

Some leaf damage from late hard frost in 2020.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan. Link to additional photos of this plant from 2018, 19, 20, 21, 22:

https://www.flickr.com/search/...

#Tree, #R2J, #Acer, #AcerXpseudosieboldianum, #KoreanMaple, #JackFrostSeries, #Hybrid

Planted these Explorer Series roses about 20 years ago. Developed in Canada for cold weather. Two years ago I mowed (Brush Hog) them down to ground level. They look better than ever.

Rosa 'Northern Encore'
Rosa 'Quadra'
Rosa 'Survivor'
Rosa 'William Baffin'

That's a wonderful rose hedge!

Lantana camara is almost as tall as it got last year, and definitely wider. It's at least 10 feet across the middle.


I think I got a dwarf bottle brush (Callistemon.) Had it for about 9 months and it's still only about knee high.
Oops!