Monday, November 21, 2011

Woodland Garden in Park Slope

I shouldn't have waited until the end of November to photograph this garden, but nonetheless, it looks pretty good, especially compared to most other gardens at this time of year.

I love the woodland feel of this space. In front of the garden on the east side and across the street on the south side are two large london planes. Their leafed-out canopies, combined with that of the dogwood in the center, make for a fairly shaded garden. Hence the hellebores, the epimedium, and the azaleas.

One hellebore is in bloom now, the little renegade.

There are three different types of hellebores.

Here's one.

Here's another.

The epimedium is also doing quite well.

Some of the epimediums are turning purplish.

There are two types of azaleas: one big-leafed and one little-leafed planted right next to each other to accentuate the contrast.

Now, looking from the back of the garden toward the street, you can see the hydrangea in the foreground and another in the front of the garden.

This grouping of two hydrangeas, as opposed to three or five, invites the passer-by to continue around the corner.

A slim, multi-stemmed tree with gray bark provides structure before the break.

The narrow strip on the side of the house begins with a climbing hydrangea on the wall and a young paperbush.

The paperbush buds have grown and the flowers provide winter interest long after the foliage falls.

Hakonechloa edges the bed.

The fall color of the Amsonia hubrichtii brightens the space.

I can't wait to see this garden in spring.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Los Angeles County Arboretum, Part 2


Peahen and three chicks. They watched her as she scratched the ground. Then the family started pecking away.



Jacaranda.





White silk-floss tree, Chorisia insignis, Bombacaceae. S. America.



Friday, August 12, 2011

Los Angeles County Arboretum, Part 1









Queensland silver wattle, Acacia podalyriifolia, Fabaceae. Northeastern Australia.

Bat-wing coral tree, Erythrina vespertilio, Fabaceae. Australia.




Camel thorn, Acacia giraffae, Fabaceae. S. Africa, Rhodesia.

Paperbark thorn, Acacia sieberiana 'Woodii', Fabaceae. S. Africa.