I whipped down to the coast recently to take in a one-day arborist seminar and wow are things ever beautiful in the Lower Mainland right now.
In particular, the rhododendrons are spectacular.
We can grow rhodies here, but not the way they do down there. The rhodies are much bigger as they enjoy the acid conditions preferred for this broad-leafed evergreen plant.
If we drive around the Okanagan at this time of year there is certainly no shortage of colour so recently I recorded what I observed:
Lilacs: We can grow lilacs here in the Okanagan just as well as the folk on the coast grow rhododendrons. Lilacs prefer our alkaline soil so they do way better here than in the acid conditions there. The colours are mostly in the pink to mauve shades and of course white. My ’Beauty of Moscow’ has to be one of the best with white blossoms developing into pink as the season progresses and a fragrance that will blow you away.
Spiraea: The spring blooming white ‘Vanhouti’ and the ‘Garland’ Spirea are putting on an amazing show as is the double ‘Prunifolia’ all of them pure white.
Japanese Snowball: Just showing its white blossoms which will last at least a month.
Flowering Quince: Not as common as it used to be this spectacular large shrub is striking right now with its orange to red masses of flowers.
Wisteria vines: the mauve varieties are blasting away with a great show as are the less common white and pink.
Dogwood: The pink and white Florida varieties are in full bloom about a week or so early this year as they are usually peaking around Mother’s Day. A species that is becoming my favourite is one that is a cross between our white native dogwood and the eastern native. It was developed by a famous Lower Mainland plant breeder and nurseryman H.M. Eddie and appropriately called Eddies White Wonder. Not only does it show off its three to four inch white blossoms in spring it comes on with a colourful foliar display in the fall. You can see a beauty on the boulevard by the entrance to Trinity Baptist Church on Springfield.
Beauty Bush: some room is needed for this large shrub but it is appropriately named because right now it is outstanding.
Spring blooming Tamarisk: When you drive into the Guisachan Garden parking lot the most dominant plant is one of these beauties. Once again you need some space it you plant one of these in your garden.
Eastern Red Bud: This is a great follow up to the flowering plums which are just finishing up. The beautiful Red Buds will put on a show for at least a month now.
Right around the corner we will be treated with the annual display of Roses and to start things off albeit a bit early is the ‘Nearly Wild’ roses planted at the base of the Dr. Walter Anderson Building on Pandosy across from the main hospital. As the name implies this variety is a derivative of one of our native species.
In my garden several perennials are putting on a show. The yellow Trollius, Creeping Phlox, Centauria, Aquilegia, Bleeding Heart and Lewisia are all in full bloom with colour beginning to show on my ‘Red Charm’ Peony and my variegated Iris.