Lady Banks

This is one of my favorite nostalgic roses, and a real Southern beauty it is! In the Pacific Northwest they are few and far between, but I am finding an abundance of these beautiful roses here in the Southeast. The lack of constant drizzling rain here contributes to their stunning spring display. Unlike the more popular repeat bloomers this variety only blooms once, and we are seeing them at their peak right now. I just love those small creamy yellow blooms covering the fine textured branches of this rambling climber. Enjoy!

Name: Rosa banksiae 'lutea'

Family: Rosaceae

Other: Thorn less evergreen climber; quite vigorous. Little to no fragrance on the yellow variety, thought the 'alba' (white) variety is fragrant.

Bulb I.D.

Provided Information:

1. Photo:

2. Date: April
3. Location: Kingsland, GA
4. Plant type: Bulb
5. Environment: Home garden
6. Exposure: Filtered shade
7. Scent: none
8. Other:

Identification:

1. Name: Hippeastrum (Amaryllis)
2. Family: Amaryllidaceae
3. Origin: Central and South America
4. Random facts: Most of what are grown and sold commercially are known as "Dutch hybrids." These can be from any combination of species and are typically developed by hybridizers in America, Europe, or South Africa. This is a non-hardy bulb, and must be taken indoors in cold parts of the country. They are also commonly forced for indoor bloom during the winter holiday season. They come in a wide variety of colors; from white to orange, pink, red, or streaked.

Monday Plant Feature

Featured Plant:

Name: Pyrus calleryana (Ornamental flowering pear, Callery pear)

1. Family: Rosaceae
2. Plant type: Medium sized tree
3. Exposure: Full sun
4. Branching pattern: Alternate
5. Habit: Species has an upright habit, to about 45-60 feet tall. Different named cultivars take on different habits; some are more spreading while others are narrow.
6. Foliage: Simple leaves, light glossy green in spring, emerging as flowers are blooming. Scarlet red in the fall. branches also sport thick thorns here and there.
7. Flowers: 5 petaled white flowers, unpleasant smell may be present.
8. Fruit: Small round ornamental pears. Persistent through winter, attracting birds.
9. Similar species: Pyrus communis (common pear), Pyrus pyrifolia (Chinese Sand Pear), Pyrus ussuriensis (Ussurian pear)
10. Other: Extremely tolerant of adverse conditions; heat, drought, and compacted soils. This makes them a suitable street tree. This tree looks great while in full bloom, then as the leaves emerge. The fall color is also vibrant, which is particularly notable in areas with less spectacular autumn colors. This tree is not a favorite of mine, but this is definitely the time of year to enjoy them!

Monday Plant Feature

Featured Plant:

Name: Cercis canadensis (Eastern redbud)

1. Family: Fabaceae (legume family)
2. Plant type: Small tree
3. Exposure: Sun or filtered shade
4. Branching pattern: Alternate, with a sort of zig-zag tendency at the branch tips.
5. Habit: Small tree, rounded but spreading canopy. Tree reaches 20-30 ft tall with a slightly wider spread.
6. Foliage: Cordate (heart shaped) leaves that start out a rosy red, purple, or bronze color but typically darken to a dark green, depending on the variety. Leaves are about 4-5 inches long/wide.
7. Flowers: Pink or white.flowers with a unique shape that is typical of plants in the legume (pea) family. Blooms early in the spring before leaves emerge. Flowers all along the delicate branches, and even on old wood (trunk and older parts of the branches)
8. Fruit: Much like flat pea pods, and about 3-4 inches in length; may be a bit messy.
9. Similar species: Cercis chinensis (Chinese redbud)
10. Other: Though the name suggests this tree is from Canada, it is really native to the United States. It exhibits good heat and cold tolerance, allowing it to be grown in zones 4-9.