As observed during April 2011
26/4/2011
Spring wedding week
Exochorda x macrantha a garden hybrid between E. korolkowii and E. racemosa introduced c. 1900.
At this time of year the leafy growth is
covered in racemes of white blossom. The plant is vigorous and often collapses
under its own weight resulting in a tangle of twiggy growth. An improved cultivar
‘The Bride’ was raised in Holland
in 1938. This is a more compact growing shrub usually reaching 2m x 2m at
maturity.
Breeding has continued and ‘The Bride’ has
now produced a range of progeny more floriferous and of a habit suited to
smaller 21st century gardens.
Remnants of last year’s flowers can be seen in the form of the seed pods. Of distinctive shape with the five divided compartments as seen in the image, star shaped in cross section.
19/4/2011
Perfect petals
Rhododendron campanulatum ssp. campanulatum is found throughout the Himalayas. Seeds were collected in Nepal from a collection made at c. 3500 metres. This seed has grown into a four metre high evergreen multi-stemmed shrub with similar breadth.
Flowering profusely at present it is a magnificent sight covered in trusses of large white blooms. As the growth
buds expand to open the bud scales colour and drop. These vary in colour and are an added seasonal feature of the plant. Protecting the emerging leaves which are themselves protected by a covering of delicate silver hairs. 
All these Himalayan Rhododendron species benefit from a cool moist climate and the addition of a light mulch of leaf mould. The root zone is a mass of fibre and should be treated with respect, avoid cultivating over the area.
12/4/2011
Colour in the copse
The path leading into the copse from the south is the most colourful approach to this area of the garden.
The mass of of yellow with a comparable heavy scent is Corylopsis sinensis var. calvescens. The blue ground cover is Pulmonaria angustifolia ‘Munstead Blue’. Lift the gaze and take in the white canopy of the Magnolia kobus and Magnolia salicifolius.
Deeper in the copse the deep red's of Rhododendron neriiflorum ssp. neriiflorum and Rhododendron sperabile var. weihsiense were both collected in SW China.
This image shows the floral parts of Magnolia salicifolius with three of the six pure white petals removed.
A native of Japan where the mature tree will exceed 6m x 6m in height and canopy spread. It prefers full sun with the root run through a dry stony medium loam. Here it associates with broadleaved woodland composed of Fagus, Betula, Sorbus and Acer species at an altitude of c.900metres.
4/4/2011
Three stunners to herald spring
Pulsatilla turczaninovii is a native to the grassy slopes of E & N Asia into Siberia. It is a herbaceous clump former
amassed with flowers. The sepals a blue / violet colour with contrasting yellow anthers. Magnificent 
as a mature plant on the alpine wall. The foliage is covered in a multitude of tiny silver hairs,
preventing damage from desiccating winds and bright sunlight.
Rhododendron recurvoides an evergreen shrubby species collected by Frank Kingdom Ward in Arunachal Pradesh, India where, I quote from his notes he found it “scattered on the sunniest slope of steep granite screes.” That gives us an idea of its preferred requirement in cultivation.
Growing in the rock garden flushed with mottled pink trusses of flowers.
Erythronium dens-canis “The Dog’s Tooth Violet” colonises peat banks amongst shrubby ground cover in
the Catalan area of Spain. It has a Eurasian distribution. Loves a deep moist woodland soil where the bulb can extend downwards to vaguely resemble a fang hence the common name. The leaves are
heavily mottled brown and set opposite in pairs giving rise to flower stalks terminating in a single flower. Reflexed pink petals with prominent extended flower parts. The silver grey anthers shed a similar coloured pollen.
For previous years' highlights during this month, see the April Garden Highlights Archive page.