A Short Week Coming With Lots To Do

Above is the arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) in full bloom at Boerner Botanical Garden (Hales Corners, WI). This is the variety 'Northern Burgundy' or 'Morton' (developed at the Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL). The rose in the picture above is the 'Knock Out' rose, developed and introduced (1988) by former Boerner Botanical Garden director and rose hybridizer, William Radler. He's since introduced many more low-maintenance rose selections that are available. The viburnum above will soon form clusters of blue berries and will also get a nice, reddish/orange fall color.

With the Fourth of July coming up this Friday, we'll have four solid days to finish our plantings (I hope). Most of our largest areas are planted but we're now filling in smaller areas and putting the final touches on the areas that receive seasonal planting. Some consistent rain last night was timely and that soaking should help thru the week that looks to have cooler temperatures.

Another great perennial for damp, part shade is below. This bigleaf ligularia (Ligularia dentata 'Britt Marie Crawford') has deep maroon, large, tropical leaves with burgundy undersides. In mid to late summer, orange/yellow daisies bloom above the foliage. This species in native to mountain meadows and forest clearings in Japan and China. However, this variety was selected in Australia as a darker-leaved version of the popular variety 'Othello'. This plant benefits from compost and enriched soil. The trick in not letting this plant dry out.