Valentine's Day 2015

Tree # 95 Witch hazel (Hamamelis species)

Tomorrow the weatherman says 32 and snow covered with ice, but today is a lovely day to visit the Memphis Botanical Garden. It is sunny and no coats required for a walk around the park and a picnic lunch overlooking the lake. I am always able to find new things at the Botanical Garden. Today as we went east from the building we were shocked to see the rose garden all dug up and no roses to be seen in all the mounds of dirt. When asking about this on the way out we were told the rose garden was being rendered more wedding friendly. The gravel paths were being paved and it was all being redone. Many weddings take place there, so time to upgrade. Who knows where they stashed all the hundreds of rose bushes. 

On the way out about 100 paces from the east door we encounter a blooming shrub. It has fringy orange/red flowers with no leaves except those that have not dropped off yet from last season. I am thinking witch hazel, but no label can be found.  These shrubs appeared at several places in the gardens Including the entrance garden and some were yellow. 

First witch hazel found near the rose garden

 Here is another view of the same shrub. I have walked by this plant in the summer and never really noticed it, but now it stands out.

The whimsical tufts on the branches look like a Dr. Seuss invention.

Last year's leaves are still hanging on

Here are some of the other distinctive plants easily spotted with their unique flowers.

At the garden entrance

 

Same plant a little closer

Susan and I did stumble upon a labeled version in the woodland trail.

One of the red witch hazels along the woodland trail near the small stream that runs into the lake

Label for the yellow shrub in the entrance garden

Tree #96 Hardy orange or Trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata)

Another winter plant that caught our eye in mid February was the Hardy orange. This was a very spiky plant suitable for the brier forest in Sleeping Beauty. This one is just past the fountain and close to the sensory garden. It would be a nasty move to put this one in the sensory garden.

Poncirus trifoliata (trifoliate orange or hardy orange)

 

A little longer shot of the same thorny bush

The shrub is remarkably green and seems to need no leaves as we normally think of leaves.

Not something to fall into

Good hedge material to keep cattle in or people out

I was reminded of the osage orange that lined the original plantation that became known as Orange Mound, TN. Those plants were hedges to keep cattle from wandering. The hardy orange is not related to the osage orange Maclura pomifera. So far I have not been able to find an osage orange in Memphis. They are rather dirty trees that people do not cultivate.

Tree #97 Corneliancherry dogwood (Cornus mas)

At the border of the Japanese garden a tree was begining to bloom with small yellow flowers. This turned out to be a Corneliancherry dogwood, another tree I had not paid any attention to in past visits. But now it was quite attractive in its yellow buds.

Full view of the Corneliancherry dogwood

A view with a stream in the background

Emerging flowers look similar to typical dogwood, but they are yellow

A nice closeup view

The technical details

Tree #98 Corkscrew willow

In April 2014 I photographed a corkscrew willow at the Memphis Water Works. That picture was taken a bit late and leaves had already begun to emerge. 

Corkscrew willow on April 19, 2014

Twisted branches partially hidden by emerging leaves, April 19, 2014

We found a winter version without leaves next to the children's play area in the botanical garden. This tree is very attractive in the winter as a bare tree.

Catkins dangling in a cluster (slightly out of focus in this picture from a smart phone)

Here is another view emphasizing the curly nature of the branches.

In front of an arbor at the children's play area

A truly curly willow

An insect cocoon of some sort was attached to this mass of twisted branches. I wonder what's in there?

A pleasant day and much to see even in the bleak midwinter, though I think we got a free day today with balmy weather. We even had a chat with the Japanese bridge repairmen who are restoring the old red bridge, a symbol of the garden. They are using cedar for the under supports and cypress planking almost three inches thick for the walkway. I got tired just watching them move those 60-80 pound planks.

Katsushika HOKUSAI1760–1849
The Drum-Bridge at the Kameido Tenjin Shrine c. 1834

Feb. 16, 2015 (2 days later) out our kitchen window.

The azalea provides a haven for the sparrows as they visit the newly filled birdfeeder

About an inch of wet slushy snow has fallen during the night, Just enough to cover a sweetgum ball. Expectations are a cold day the rest of today which will freeze the slush to ice. Schools are closed. UT is closed. We got President's Day off after all.

A cardinal enjoys a few sunflower seeds

As the day was warm on Saturday I pulled out the hose to fill the backyard pond. Perhaps a day too soon.

Ice sickles forming on the hose, Rosie in the background with sweater on

The daffodils always seem to get caught in Memphis with an unexpected snow or ice storm.

The fishpond has an inch of slush over it. 

Go here (tree #51c) for a summertime shot of this pond

The ice storm of 1994 was also on Feb 16. It knocked out power in Memphis and caused much damage.