Plants of the Week, August 9, 2008

Sensational Summer Shrubs   

Clethra alnifolia 'Ruby Spice' (Ruby Spice summersweet) 

Some of my favorite shrubs are August- bloomers which give our borders a mid-summer lift. I live for the moment Clethra alnifolia (summersweet) perfumes the nursery. The sweet, heady aroma of the spikes of white or pink flowers is on par with gardenias for me. Your nose may differ on its fragrance, but I wager you’ll love this shrub.

Right now I’m also in hydrangea heaven everytime I walk by our big bold colonies of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’ and ‘Kyushu’. In the nursery we also sell Hydrangea paniculata Limelight, Quick Fire and The Swan.

Don't overlook other shrubby August bloomers: Callicarpa japonica ‘Early Amethyst’, Hibiscus syriacus Blue Satin & L’il Kim, and Senna (Cassia) marilandica. Check out these beauties at the nursery!

Happy gardening, Bob Hyland, www.loomiscreek.com         

 MARK YOUR CALENDARSSeptember 5-7: Hollister House Garden Study Weekend, Washington, CT; a weekend seminar "Transatlantic Connections" with keynote speaker Dan Pearson, acclaimed English garden designer, plantsman & writer. Also includes a garden festival and connoisseurs' plant sale at Hollister House Garden, a preservation project of the Garden Conservancy. www.gardenconservancy.org to register.