Plant Pick of the Month: Cornus elliptica

Taxonomically confusing and undecisive, but I am so enamored by this small tree from China.

We have this stunning specimen growing at the UW Botanic Garden's Center for Urban Horticulture and, each June, I stare in amazement at the glossy evergreen foliage blushed in deep red and bronze with a smattering of star-like bracts that cover almost the entire tree from top to bottom.







This tree has been referred to as:

Cornus angustata
Cornus capitata
C. capitata ssp. angustata
C. capitata var. angustata
Cornus kousa v. angustata
C. kousa v. angustifolia
Cornus elliptica
Dendrobenthamia angustata

Potential graduate work to sort all this out? Oh you betcha...

Now, there's a plant in commerce called 'Elsbry' trademarked EMPRESS OF CHINA. that was selected by John Elsley. While I secured a few plants, he's worried that we might not have the heat in the summer to get this plant blooming here in the Puget Sound area, but with our evergreen dogwood at UWBG, perhaps that's the one that we should be propagating and distributing to gardeners here.

From a disgruntled landscaper...

Had to share this email from a colleague of mine:


"So last week I special ordered some Juniperis chinensis 'Spartan' for a client from a large and reputable nursery. $69.97 for 5 gallon trees about 4' tall.

Tonight at HD they have huge ones in decent shape for $26.88!! They're 3 feet wide and over 6 feet tall and would've totally matched the existing trees.

Bugs me that the real nursery don't have them in any size and any price but the orange guys have huge affordable ones.

There's a lesson in there someplace.

fuckers."

Happy Belated Birthday to moi!

Almost showtime... HPS Plant Study weekend

Ok, this needs to STOP!! $18 for 2 gal pot of a horrible invasive in our area.

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Honoring A Horticultural Guru!

Last Friday was a gathering for an event I won’t soon forget. After 41 years, Walt Bubelis is retiring from full time teaching at Edmonds Community College’s horticulture department. He basically started it from the very beginning and helped spearhead it as one of the best horticultural programs in the region.

I’m trying to remember how I was introduced to Walt as I ran into so many people I knew that night. The lobby of Brier Hall was decorated with fresh flowers and plant material from various home gardens and a remarkable diversity of food. It was also inundated with colleagues, fellow faculty, Walt’s family, friends, and most remarkably, so many of his former/current students all there to honor and reminisce about not only an instructor, but a nurturing mentor to so many people.

Walt is certainly one of a kind. He excelled as an instructor, but what really sets him apart from everyone else is his humble quality and faith in every student who is eager and willing to be challenged and learn. He genuinely cares about his work and his pupils. Many big names in Pacific NW Horticulture worked under Walt’s tutelage. The most famous probably being plant explorer, Dan Hinkley.



We were asked to write down our “favorite Walt moment” for a scrap book and after touching words and an emotional ovation after his speech, he created a moment for me as I never was a student of his, but to see everyone stand, applaud and hold back tears as he graciously acknowledged everyone in attendance and even those who weren’t able to make it, I looked up in admiration and my own eyes began to fill up as I witnessed a brilliant man be acknowledged for his dedication and passion for what he loves most.



I am in debt to this man for taking my career to another level by asking me to teach at Edmonds and believing in my abilities to share my knowledge, experience and love for plants and horticulture.

My sincerest best wishes for all of his future endeavors.

R

BTW, A Horticulture scholarship will be established in Bubelis' name through the Edmonds Community College Foundation. To contribute, call 425.640.1274 or email foundation@edcc.edu.

Learn more about the Hort Program:

And so we begin... Landwave Gardens gets a driveway redo and a eventual new design.