APRIL'S LAST WHAT'S IN BLOOM

This week's picks by Mary E. represent her last WIB as an active MGV.  We will miss her and Denis' dedicated work for the Master Garden Program.

HERB GARDEN:

1.  Mahonia bealei (Leather Leaf Mahonia)

5.  Allium schoenoprosum (Onion Chives)

CHILDREN'S GARDEN:

2.  Wisteria frutescans (American Wisteria)

MEMORIAL GARDEN:

3.  Rosa meiswetdom (Sweet Drift Rose)

PERENNIAL BORDER:

4.  Baptisia alba (White Wild Indigo)

BUTTERFLY GARDEN:

6.  Baptisia sphaerocarpa  'Screaming Yellow' (Wild Indigo)

7.  Achillea sp (Yarrow)  Also found in Perennial Border

10. Coreopsis grandiflora 'Early Sunrise' (Large Flowered Tickseed)

WILDFLOWER GARDEN:

8.  Amsonia hubrechtii (Arkansas Amsonia)

9.  Phlox pilosa (Native Downy Phlox)

Photos by M. Endres🌻

THINKING TOMATOES?

At our upcoming Plant Sale (May 18) we will have tomato plants for sale.  Several weeks ago some Master Gardener Volunteers started seeds of disease resistant tomatoes.  They will be ready to put into your garden.  Need a refresher on how to grow the best tomato?

Click here:  GROWING BETTER TOMATOES

Carolina Silverbell Tree

Flowering Halesia carolina

A native tree growing in our Butterfly Garden is the Halesia carolina (commonly known as the Carolina Silverbell Tree. ) This is a spring flowering understory tree.

This tree is a host plant to several butterflies.  Honeybees and bumblebees enjoy nectar from the blooms.  Birds eat the buds and flower clusters.

More information on this tree may be found here:

Carolina Silverbell

Photo by C. Christian

WHAT'S IN BLOOM

This week at the Arboretum:

Plant / Location

1.  Zizia aurea (Golden Alexanders)  / Wildflower Garden

2.  Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' (Little Leaf Sage) / Perennial Border

3.  Baptisia alba (White Wild Indigo)  / Perennial Border

4.  Allium schoenoprasum (Chives)  / Herb Garden

5.  Syringa 'Penda' Bloomerang (Reblooming Lilac)  / Mixed Border

6.  Lonicera sempervirens (Trumpet Honeysuckle) / Children's Garden

7.  Baptisia x 'Carolina Moonlight' (Wild Indigo Hybrid) / Mixed Border

8.  Hyacinthoides hispancia (Spanish Bluebell) / Shade Garden

9.  Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina Jasmine) / Children's Garden

10.  Rose Wekphorn (Pink Homerun Landscape Rose) / Rose Garden

Photos by C. Christian

BLOOMING AMARYLLIS

Photo by J. Christianson

All our plants are divided and potted up, and the seeds we planted are sprouting.  Master Gardener Volunteers are tending them so they become well established plants for the May 18th Plant Sale.  We are shooting for last year's count of close to 4,000 plants.  This Hippeastrum sp (commonly known as a red amaryllis) has decided to bloom a bit earlier than expected.  It and many more will be available at the sale.

Click here for growing information:

GROWING AMARYLLIS INDOORS OR OUT

THE HUMMINGBIRDS ARE BACK IN TOWN

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
CLICK HERE FOR GROWING INFO

The ruby-throated hummingbirds have arrived.  You could fill up feeders and tend to them all summer.
(Find all the directions here for that:  HUMMINGBIRD GUIDE ) Or you could add flowering plants to attract them to your garden.  One such plant is Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'.  We will have this plant at our PLANT SALE on May 18th.

MASTER GARDENERS ANSWER QUESTIONS

Photo by J. Christianson

Several Master Gardener Volunteers were at the Senior Health Fair last week to answer gardening questions.  Starting May 4th, and then for the first Saturdays of the summer months, they will be at the Leroy James Farmers' Market from 8:00-11:30 AM.