Bogturtle's Garden- November 2024

Another 'Blue Shadow' Fothergilla. Nicely backed by dark green of a Leucothoe and Rhododendron. 

A shrub that would challenge the noted 'Burning Bush' Euonymus alata, seen everywhere. Shown not coloring as it should, being in considerable shade. This is Enkianthus perulatus, and even while not colored the scarlet, it seems brilliant and somewhat fluorescent.

Very much surprised that the Japanese sort of Cornell, C. officianalis, has colored nicely. In the photo, the dark green, in the distance, is the more commonly known European Cornell, or Cornelian Cherry, C. mas. 

Shown before, Acer planatum 'Fjelheim' is taking on its usual Fall apricot color.

I would not have planted either of the Halesias on the property for their Fall color, but they do turn a fine gold. This is Halesia triptera.

The Hamamelis trio again, with Cornus mas to the right.

The brightly colored, to the left, is a Sassafras tree. Certainly not welcome in the border of where we park. The brightly colored shrub to the right is the old Oakleaf Hydrangea, shown year after year. Always beautifully colored in Fall. Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'. 

Nandina 'Harbor Dwarf' always colors nicely. Not to be compared with the unbelievable fire engine red of N. Fire Power'. A small one of that shrub did not endure. I may try it again, while common sense would dictate that I should just care for what is here. 

The white Camellia continues. Very different from other years. Many buds opening over a very long period. So many blooms are fading, while unopened buds remain.

Pleased that Mahonia 'Winter Sun' has formed flower buds, even though in total shade from the Carolina Hemlocks and others. It will bloom in the Winter, but never like it does in Ireland, where it was  hybridized

 

Blue or silvery green toned foliage is always a favorite, and at the furthest corner of the house the Korean Arbovitae and the Chinese tree, Cunninghamia lanceolate 'Glauca' grow. C. lanceolata has sharply spiny needles, as does our Blue Spruce. From experience, the Blue Spruce is a terrible choice as a Christmas Tree because of those spiny needles. If this were an arboretum, someone might go in and trim out the dead parts I see. 

One 'Heavenly Blue' morning glory, of a number still ready to bloom on the landing to the addition. And the mass blooming on the neighbor's mailbox. 11/6, An unusually warm November day.

The little Morning Glory, Orange Noah, from Africa, originally, I think, is still blooming heavily. But on the little landing, they have all died. It has been colder there than against the house, where the ones shown above are blooming. Seeds are already saved for next year.

Orange Noah has gone, but Heavenly Blue Morning Glory seems able to stand cold nights better than many a Summer annual. And the color, here is accurate. As I have said before, I will be seeking the form called 'Clarks Early Heavenly Blue', hoping blooms will come earlier, and, perhaps, I will have the time and energy to start plants early enough in Spring, using the little plant box on the potting bench with the heating pad active. I will have to check if that even works. 

The 'Last Rose of Summer' is a song with a nice melody. I see this and a few buds on the Red Knockout Roses, here on 11/8. No longer protecting them from the Deer, as I will cut the shrubs down to a foot from the ground in Winter.

Big yellow leaves on the Hamamelis, or Witch-Hazel 'Jelena' or 'Copper Beauty' over the little pool. It carries both names, as the Van Belder family, in Europe, began naming clones after members of their family. Unfortunately, to prevent disease, roots of resistant sorts of Witch-Hazel are the grafting on base for most of the wonderful hybrids. As a result, not too beautiful sorts will sprout up from the roots and must be cut out, if they appear. The bark is different, and the unwanted sorts are often more vigorous than the preferred de Belder plant. 

Wonderful to see in the worst of Winter, but not without detraction. Many hold the sad brown leaves all Winter, hiding the flowers. The de Belder family needs to breed sorts that don't hold the leaves. Charts exist that show leaf retention for different sorts. 

Stewartia or Pseudocamellia japonica is a beautiful small tree. And I notice that many, selling it, add the peeling, multi-shaded bark as another +.  Not important to me, but nice enough.

I imagine the strange name of this species of birch, Betula saposhnikovii, is after the botanist that first described it. And the super positive owner of the place where I bought it gushed with enthusiasm for the colored bark. I find the tree underwhelming, while I don't recall it having the bad damage to its leaves that other Birches display. 

If I had seen a specimen, in real life, I wouldn't have bought it.

 

The chief beauty of Cupressus arizonica 'Blue Ice' is the grand color of the foliage. The candle shaped growth, that is normal, is missing in mine, and that's too bad. The original, quite candle shaped, suddenly died, but I had successfully rooted 3 cuttings, and this one is thriving, but misshapen. A lot of fallen leaves are, temporarily in the foliage.

The tree should be planted so it is not influenced by competing plants. Alone, it should grow in its best candle shape.

In the yard every night, lately, now that nobody is sleeping in the big addition room. A number of does, with no buck sighted yet, although several have been found by other cameras, here. And I am not spraying repellent, as they are not doing damage to plants that are going into Winter. I will be pruning the roses down, anyway, to a foot in height. Most evergreens are repellent, if not downright poisonous to the deer. If they are starving, I will see damage, but they are putting themselves in real danger, munching on various evergreens.

Just opening, and surely to be shown again. This is the unique clone of our native Witch-Hazel, Hamamelis viginiana 'Harvest Moon'. Usually, the blooms are hidden by the Fall foliage. Really a big tree, now.  Most of the bloom hard to see, with the blooms high up, and difficult to photograph. 

Some Camellia blossoms past, but really a show, as frost is around, while maybe not yet at our shore area. Camellia sasanqua 'Autumn Moon'.

What I think is Mahonia bealii is almost fully in bloom. The other, shown earlier, M. 'Winter Sun' is not as far along. 

So annoying. Someone wanting progress has deleted the instruction 'cut' and I cannot get rid of this one photo that, somehow got in the wrong place

These two photos are of the American Witch-Hazel, now with tiny spider-like blooms fully open. Perhaps, early in the morning, the sun would make the flowers easier to see.