Golden Chain
It’s now June! I’ve watched the metamorphosis of my favorite botanical garden, Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, throughout the spring season. I feel somewhat melancholy each June as I say goodbye to the wilting and dying, spring blooms in the garden. After all, this is what this particular garden specializes in—Rhododendrons and Azaleas. And let’s not forget the Blue Poppies! There are still a few stragglers about.
There are a few Rhododendrons blooming in the Rutherford Conservatory, including this lovely, yellow species.
Here are images taken throughout the main, outside garden.
Deerberry Plant
Deutzia
Chinese Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
Below are images of some Rhododendrons and Azaleas still in bloom.
The Victorian Stumpery is full of fern species and woodland flora as shown below.
Umbrella Plants
A new bloomer, a beautiful, golden yellow Korean Lily.
I came across this blooming plant and I do not know what it is. Any thoughts?
The Kousa Dogwood is in glorious bloom, at last!
Cornus kousa
And lastly, as I was making my way back to exit the garden, I spotted this wilted and faded, giant Chinese Magnolia blossom that somehow was still clinging to its branch, a bittersweet memory of glorious, spring blooms gone before.
All photos property of Peggy A Thompson
northwestphotos 
That unknown flower looks like a Cestrum newelii or Cestrum elegans, but not quite. It could be related. I wish I knew what that first unidentified plant is, posted just underneath the Deerberry photo. It did have a label attached, but I did not have some note paper to jot it down. It was something I had never heard of before. Started with the letter “D.”
No, it is not that. The images don’t look alike. The flowers are quite different.
Well, I am sorry that I can not identify it.
I identified one of the images! It is Deutzia. The pinkish-white, blossoming shrub in the first unidentified photo. I went ahead and added the name below the image.
That is something that I never would have guessed.
Amazing how long some blossoms hang on. We’re hoping to make a trip up in the hills to see if the wild specimens are blooming yet. I suspect altitude may play a part on when they show up. It hasn’t been all that long since there was snow on the roads up there.
Beautiful blooms!
Thanks so much!