Cornus officinalis and Chionodoxa sardensis are the perfect companions in the April garden. Cornus officinalis is a close relative to Cornus mas which has showier exfoliating bark and flowers about a week earlier. I have planted it in front of a yew hedge and Pinus koraiensis 'Morris Blue' to accentuate both the bark and spring flowering. Chionodxa sardensis forms a bright bluish carpet which faultlessly compliments this extraordinary dogwood.
What a beautiful combination!
ReplyDeleteDear Michael, Blue and yellow is, I believe, always a winning combination and, as is shown here, works particularly well in the spring. In addition to the Cornus, I particularly like the balls of box.
ReplyDeleteFor my part I should allow the yew to grow taller to form a dark green background to the Cornus and dispense with the Pine which, I feel, carries the eye off in an odd direction.
But then, I do not like conifers at all [apart from yew].
Tim,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it!
Edith,
Many thanks, as always, for your comment. A friend of mine says that the best gardeners are opinionated and I heartily agree with her! I also like the box. The yew hedge (the dowood too, for that matter) are juvenile and will be getting taller. I wasn't sure they were ready to sent out into the blogoshere yet but I did it anyway. I planted the hedge about 10 years ago as 8 inch rooted cuttings (Vita said that is the way to do it; my pocketbook agreed).
So far, I like the pine. It adds contrast and a different texture and will create more privacy. I placed the it there in the bigger context of the garden as whole. It has a secondary function as a backdrop for the dogwood. I would like to think it is working. Time will tell if does....
Just to add my own "two cents," I think the pine may become superfluous when the yew ultimately grows taller. For now, though, the house behind would be a major eyesore in the overall combination.
ReplyDeleteEven if the yew grows to a much taller size, I personally think the pine adds a "sense of place," making it more New Hampshire and less generic.
I guess that's why the world has both vanilla and chocolate....
Tim,
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly why I planted it- to echo the New Hamphire white pine, but in a more refined and smaller scale. I personally like heath bar crunch! Thanks for your thoughts. I really appreciate them.
I really like that kind of pinus... great privacy tree
ReplyDeleteDGG,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog and joining in the discussion! Another attribute of Pinus koraiensis, as a screen, is that it tends to retain its lower branches unlike many other pines.
The Cornel looks like a Tree Hanukkah! I love those pom-poms! Nice effect.
ReplyDeleteChandramouli S,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. Cornus officinalis has great timing. I'm not sure, even with the pom-poms, it could compete favorably with the the crabapples and other flowering trees that are about to bloom.