MISS HUFF LANTANA

Lantana camara
'Miss Huff'

The Arboretum's Mixed Border has a long hedgerow of 'Miss Huff' Lantana where over the growing season it will grow 5-6 feet tall and equally as wide.  This is one of the lantanas that comes back year after year with the right care and spreads gradually over time.  It likes a sunny spot and will attract butterflies and hummingbirds.  Miss Huff will produce flowers all summer long up to the first frost.   The best way to ensure its return each year is to wait until you see new growth at the base before cutting it back in the spring.  Follow this link:  'Miss Huff' for more information.

It was time this week at the Arboretum to cut our Miss Huff back.  Here are pictures of the Master Gardeners who took on the task.

All hands on deck

Victory!

Hauling away stems for composting

Worker photos by AS

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING

Loblolly Pine

Photo by TS

What's in bloom this week at the Arboretum?  And all around town for that matter?  Yes, it must be spring with everything covered in a yellow dust.  So where is it coming from?  It is from our beautiful pine trees.  However, this is not the pollen that usually makes you sneeze.  Read this article for some interesting discoveries:

  Pine Pollen

So there is nothing to do but wait for the rain to wash it all away.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR DIRECTOR

Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum

The Arboretum's Director, Danny Lauderdale, has received the 2011 Kim Powell Outstanding Contributions to the Horticultural Industry Award from the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association.  Click HERE for the full article in today's Daily Reflector.

HOMESTEAD PURPLE VERBENA IN BLOOM NOW

In several spots around the Ag Center you will find this purple blooming ground cover. Due to our mild winter, its blooms have gotten off to a great start.  Once the first blooms fade, we will shear it back for continued color throughout the summer and into fall.  It prefers a sunny spot with well drained soil and will quickly create a nice mat to compliment other perennials and annuals.  Click here for a little history on this perennial.

Verbena canadensis 'Homestead'

Photo by TS

THINGS ARE BEGINNING TO POP!

A number of plants have started to bloom at the Arboretum.  The two below can be found in the beds in front of the Ag Center.  All are low maintenance, easy to grow plants that make that first impact of color after a dull winter!

Iberis sempervirens
Evergreen candytuft
Click HERE for growing information.

Naturalizing Daffodils
Click HERE for growing information.

Photos by TS

Meet Mr. MacGregor

Here is our new 'planting' in the Vegetable Garden.  

Do you think he will keep PiCoBo Bunny out of the vegetables?

Photo by AS

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES

It's time to take down the old!

A recent workday in the Arboretum's Perennial Border found these Master Gardeners cutting back the dead blades of grass.  Soon new growth will sprout out from the base.  We use the cut dried, dead grass to line pathways.  Here is a link that will take you to a list of ornamental grasses that do well in our area: Ornamental Grasses. Take notice of the small yellow flowers on the plant close to the wall.  This is our winter jasmine, Jasiminum nudiflorum, and it has been blooming for several months.  The Jasminum nudiflorum Fact Sheet describes this plant as having a fountain of arching, willowy stems.  It is certainly has a bright, cheery presence in this border.