March 17, 2011

the Arboretum herb garden circa March 12, 2011

While the DC area's gesneriad society met indoors, spring was well underway in the herb garden of the U.S. National Arboretum.

Prunus mume 'Peggy Clarke' (Japanese apricot)
Prunus mume 'Peggy Clarke'

Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry)
Cornus mas

Abeliophyllum distichum (Korean abelia-leaf)
Abeliophyllum distichum

Tradescantia xandersoniana (spiderwort) shoots - I have a soft spot for these shoots every year.
Tradescantia x andersoniana 'Zwanenberg Blue'

I was saddened to see that the big Chionanthus retusus var. serrulatus (Fringe tree) has been cut down. Last month, there were a pile of leaves under it - as documented:

Chionanthus retusus var. serrulatus

This was the tree in May 2009:

Chionanthus retusus var. serrulatus

and now there's just a stump.