Linwood Garden Visit Last Weekend

This weekend should be peak bloom, but here is a slideshow from last weekends visit:

On June 18th my friends Betty and Jim introduced me to a garden only a few miles from my Alma Mater.  Near Pavilion NY Linwood Gardens features an amazing collection of tree peonies. The micro-clime of the area features an unusual groupings of Cedars of Lebanon and a Camperdown Elm.  The Cedars do not grow in the area, but there they are in circle overlooking the Genesee Valley.  The elm is like the famous specimen in Brooklyn's Prospect Park.  A mutant growth, discovered by a gardener on the grounds of the Earl of Camperdown was grafted on to a Wych Elm.  Every Camperdown Elms comes from that one mutation and must be grafted.  In the slide show you will see it next to the pool.

Visiting this garden is like trespassing on abandoned property. In a way that is what it is.  The orginal house was in such disrepair that it was razed.  Slowly the property is being restored or at least efforts are being made to prevent further decay.

It's a charming stroll and the collection of tree peonies is amazing. Sources for purchasing peonies are listed on the website. 

Update 23 May 2013

Here's a little of what's blooming:

'Copper Classic' (E. Roderick, R. 1977)

'Electric Shock' (Virginia Messick, registered 1995)

'Exotic Isle' (G. Plough, R. 1980)

'Jesse's Song' (Bryce Williamson, R. 1979)

'Jurassic Park' (Larry Lauer, R. 1995)

'Toucan Tango' (Brad Kasperek, registered 1999)

Budding Surprise

Can you predict an iris from it's bud?  The picture a above was from 2 days ago... and the bloom below is what it looks like today.

The iris is 'Handiwork' by Joseph Ghio, 1982.

Same Iris, Honestly.

Here's 'Gibson Girl' an historic iris from J.M. Gibson, 1946.  The first two pictures were taken in the late afternoon.  The second catches the afternoon light to add a creamy glow.  Same camera point and shoot settings.

This picture was in a previous season.  Different camera.  Different lighting.  But it is the same cultivar, honestly.

WYSIWYG? Sort of...

What you see is what you get?  Well with irises not always.  First there are the colors in the photo.  Every camera imparts a pitch toward red or blue, usually called 'warmth' of color.  There are other variations in the intensity of color or saturation.  So here's a photo of 'Golden Ring' which I received from Mid-America last year.

 

 

SDB 'Golden Ring', T. Johnson, 2011

It's always a treat when a rhizome blooms the first year it is planted and this has happened often with M-A offerings.  Their rhizomes are top notch.

As the picture shows Tom Johnson describes a precise band of gold around a mahogany fall.

Here's what it looked like today in my garden:

It's clearly much paler than the picture above.  Is this a case of misrepresentation? Not at all.  The color of the bloom can be affected by soil, seasonal variations and the first bloom may not be the best. It's obviously a lovely flower and I have to comment on it's tiny nature. The entire bloom is about 4 inches wide and only 6" off the ground.

Let's see what next year brings! 

Help Me! An Unknown Iris

It's prolific, it's hardy and it's obviously an older cultivar.  I have no idea what it's called.  I transplanted two clumps last year and the are about to bloom there little brains out!  If you have any idea the name of this cultivar, please let me know.

Yellow Medians PLUS

These few days have been the days of yellow medians at Diamond Rise!

New last July from Mid-America is 'All is Bright'.  School bus yellow with orange beards its an attention getter!

SDB 'All Is Bright' Black, 2011

This much earlier Black intro (1981) is a rich golden yellow IB.

IB 'Harlow Gold' Black, 1981

 'Lemon Pop' is a 1980 intro from Larry Lauer.  A Sass Medal winner (Best IB), it is lemon yellow with more white beneath the

IB 'Lemon Pop' Lauer, 1980

And beyond yellow Starwoman continues to bloom.  It's on of two medians to win the coveted Dykes Medal as best Iris of the year.

IB 'Starwoman' Marky Smith, 1997 - Dykes Medal 2008

Blooming in my garden for a second year, 'Frisky Frolic' is performing well in upstate New York.  The increase is rapid and it is completely covered with buds.

 

IB 'Frisk Frolic' Black, 2008