New Cuttings

Our mist house is slowly filling up with newly made cuttings!

Just Wierd

Platycarya strobilacea flowers a just a bit weird! These obscure members of the Walnut family are growing in an out of the way corner of the the Hoyt Arboretum. The central cone like catkin is the female part of the flower surrounded by the male pollen producers.

Not your old Ohio Buckeye!

Had a chance to spend a few hours at the Hoyt Arboretum yesterday afternoon & a couple of Summer flowering Buckeyes really stood out! In the foreground is Aesculus californica & in the background Aesculus wilsonii from China. Though very similar the Aesculus wilsonii had the better shape & form.

Star Anise

Star Anise are small evergreen trees that are native Asia, South Eastern North America & the West Indies. They should not be confused with the Anise herb Pimpinella anisum. 

Japanese Star Anise Illicium anisatum is one of the more commonly seen species. It is used to make incense in Japan but the fruits are toxic if eaten! 

Flowering for the first time in our garden this year is the very cool Illicium henryi from Southern China.