[Glory-of-the-Snow today]
This afternoon Carol Long, Assistant Curator of the Garden, let me put her on the spot. I asked her to write up her prediction of when the March Bank’s famous ‘blue phase’ would reach its peak, so that we could let staff members and guests know when to expect the best display. Here is what Carol wrote:
Come out and experience the glory-of-the-snow. No, not the white stuff that covered the March Bank but the blue flowers that are making their display now. The warm weather last week hastened its appearance and the continued mild temperatures will make the blue peak by late this week. The color changes throughout the day, with richer tones in the morning and evening and also with cloud cover so visit often!
Thank you Carol. Walking through the March Bank this time of year is an almost surreal experience. The blossoms litter the ground like blue popcorn, but in some areas the flowers are so thick that they look like drifts of blue snow. I hope you will come out this weekend and see the spectacle for yourself.
[Scilla and Chionodoxa last year]
A question – as of March 25 there is a very early blooming Chinese Rhododendron in bloom west of the far north reaches of the March Bank. I got from the tag – “Rhododendron F…” – but the rest escapes me. Can you give the name of this plant & retail sources?
PS – It’s JUST LOVELY!!!! Flowers are most extraordinary – pink, tubular, down-turned….
I have checked in with Linda and the plant is Rhododendron fargesii. Thank you for the question. Chris