JUNE, p. 6: wada?, spirea and korean dogwood

• 4/5/12 - Started  SJG bloom 2012 here:  http://sjgbloom2012.wordpress.com/
• PLUS  the link to main Seattle Japanese Garden Community Blog here:  SJGCB




• Caught in bloom: 
Kathy asked that before:  it this Rhododendron Wada hybrid, azalea?

Area O lists 3 of them as 32", corolla white...  I actually counted 4 of them on in the area O, 3 at the bottom of on the path to Kobe lantern, and one higher up L side of the stone path.  When you look closely, they are actually not quite white, as they have pink blotches/lines here and there (see pics below), but overall look IS white.

SJG • 6/29/11 - Rhododendron Wada hybrid, azalea?

SJG • 6/29/11 - Rhododendron Wada hybrid, azalea? close-up

SJG • 6/29/11 - Rhododendron Wada hybrid, azalea? close-up

• Spirea japonica 'Alpina', Alpine spirea:

Pattie, the SJG Gardener,  was on the ladder and clearing the spent azaleas' blooms on the end of E path, where I noticed some purple blooms, about knee high. I asked her if she knew the name of them, and she said 'yes, spirea'.

SJG • 6/29/11: Spirea japonica 'Alpina', Alpine spirea; almost on the end of E path, Area M

SJG • 6/29/11: Spirea japonica 'Alpina', Alpine spirea; close-up, Area M

• Philyrea latifoliamedia media , Philyrea:

While I was consulting the 'Plant Book' about spirea, Pattie said she always wondered about the weird plant next  to illex creanata (Japanese holly) on the end of the E path - what is it? So we looked and found this description:  'opposite serrated leaves'.  That's it!

SJG • 6/29/11 - Philyrea latifoliamedia media , Philyrea
(L bush, next to Japanese holy R); Area K

SJG • 6/29/11 - Philyrea latifoliamedia media , Philyrea - close-up, Area K

• Viburnum plicatum, Japanese snowball bush:

SJG 6/29/11 • Viburnum plicatum, Japanese snowball bush;
W side of the E path, Area F

SJG 6/29/11 • Viburnum plicatum, Japanese snowball bush, flower

• Comus kousa 'Chinensis', Korean Dogwood:

SJG 6/29/11 • Comus kousa 'Chinensis', Korean Dogwood, E side of the E path, Area D

SJG 6/29/11 • Comus kousa 'Chinensis', Korean Dogwood, flower, Area D

• Rhododendron ?, azalea:

Found it blooming, thought it would be easy to identify, but not - about 4 azaleas roughly matching on the list, have no clue which one is it. Googling images didn't help, because many come in several colors - to be checked next year - here just a proof it bloomed the end of June:

SJG 6/29/11 • Rhododendron ?, azalea, Area Z

SJG 6/29/11 • Rhododendron ?, azalea, Area Z

• Also observed today:  'Jindai', Azalea - progressed in bloom (i will post it also where it was originally noted): 

SJG  6/29/11 • Rhododendron 'Jindai', Azalea - corolla white with pink sectors;
Area X.

•  Ro getsu azalea also progressed:

SJG 6/29/11 • Rhododendron 'Ro Getsu', azalea - corolla white with pink sectors;
Area O

• Jindai & J. T. Lovett azaleas also progressed:

SJG 6/29/11 • 'Jindai'  (close) and 'J.T. loved (far) finally blooming;
Area H

6/29/11 • Jindai, up-close, Area H

6/29/11 • Jindai, up-close, Area H

SJG 6/29/11 • J.T. Lovett, close-up, Area H

• More unidentified azaleas half-way on the path to Kobe lantern, now in bloom, kind of two-tone, some flowers white, some pink:

SJG 6/29/11 • Unidentified azaleas, Area O

SJG 6/29/11 • Unidentified azaleas, Area O, close-up

SJG 6/29/11 • Unidentified azaleas, Area O, close-up

• On Japanese iris: 

our previous Master Gardener, Kathy, provided a list of Japanese iris added last winter:

Gracieuse

Shogun

Double Delight

Geisha Girl

Temple Bells

Picotee Wonder

Cry of Rejoice

Henry’ White

Jedojima

variegate

My Fuji

Asked for help to identify which is which,  Kathy wrote:

We many different varieties and mixed them up in all the beds as per Masa’s suggestion. Some varieties were too delicate and died off. To make accuracy more difficult, when I ordered them, there weren’t any photos and they weren’t blooming. I tried to make sure that the combinations matched by the descriptions so the planting would stay harmonious. So it would be very difficult to get an accurate count on what is there. If you want to list the varieties I would suggest that there are “iris beds containing the following varieties ---, ---,----, etc. .“

I just wanted this info to be preserved, which is why I'm posting it here, but  I'll leave it at that for now, and perhaps research it some time later.

JUNE, p. 5: maples and the meaning of indumentum

• Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira', Lion's Mane Maple:

SJG 6/16/11 • Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira', Lion's Mane Maple;
E side of the top N path, Area N

SJG 6/16/11 • Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira', Lion's Mane Maple;
close-up, very dainty leaves, Area N

This on the plant from Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden:

Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira‘, commonly called the lion’s head maple, is a very popular and striking cultivar. This is a slow upright grower with dense tufts of crinkled deep green foliage on each branch, looking somewhat like the mane of a lion. The leaves are resistant to burning in full sun and develop a good golden yellow fall color brushed with red-orange. It tends to be one of the latest Japanese maples to color in the fall. Shishigashira makes a great container plant . When placed in the garden it has a sculptural feel that only improves with age.
More here...


• Acer palmatum, Japanese maple:

SJG  6/16/11 • Acer palmatum, Japanese maple - leaves cinnamon shade;
on the E path, by the water, Area H

SJG  6/16/11 • Acer palmatum, Japanese maple - leaves cinnamon shade;
Area H

SJG  6/16/11 • Acer palmatum, Japanese maple - leaves cinnamon shade;
its color caught our attention from across the pond, so we walked there, to look at it;
Area H

No clue what type of japanese maple this exactly is, but here a few websites, if you'd like to hunt:

• Information on Japanese Maple Trees
• Fair weather gardens (looks similar to 'Iijima Sunago', but not sure about the green spots, need to look closer)
• Acer
• Amber Hill Nursery


• Rhododendron 'Jindai', Azalea:

SJG  6/16/11 • Rhododendron 'Jindai', Azalea - corolla white with pink sectors;
W path, S of waterfall, by the crab apple tree; Area X

SJG  6/16/11 • Rhododendron 'Jindai', Azalea - corolla white with pink sectors;
Close-up, Area X

13 days later:
SJG  6/29/11 • Rhododendron 'Jindai', Azalea - corolla white with pink sectors

 • Rhododendron yakushimanum, rhododendron:

SJG  6/16/11 • Rhododendron yakushimanum, rhododendron - corolla pink, fades to white,
suede leaves; 3 of them on the service road, Area ZZE

SJG  6/16/11 • Rhododendron yakushimanum, rhododendron
- corolla pink, fades to white; Area ZZE

SJG  6/16/11 • Rhododendron yakushimanum, rhododendron;
suede leaves underneath, the white new growth is leaf, NOT flower, Area ZZE

Kathy commented:
'Also, the term for the soft, velvet-like brown underside of the Yakushimanum is 'indumentum'. - soft hairy covering.'

From wikipedia on the subject:

The indumentum is a covering of fine hairs or bristles (rarely scales) on a plant[1] or insect.
In plants, the indumentum types are:
pubescent
hirsute
pilose
villous
tomentose
stellate
scabrous
scurfy
The use of an indumentum on plants can be pollen-related to propagate the plant or simply protective, or even decorative due to mutations. The use of an indumentum on insects can also be pollen-related, as on bees, sensory like whiskers, or for varied other uses including adhesion and poison.


On the plant from 'Journal American Rhododendron Society':
Rhododendron yakushimanum, known outside Japan for just 50 years, was quickly accepted as one of the most beautiful rhododendrons in the world, and its popularity becomes ever greater. This species is found wild only on Yakushima, an island about 26 kilometers (16 miles) in diameter, located 60 kilometers out in the ocean from the south tip of Japan. At latitude 30° north, the coastal part of this island is subtropical enough for sugar cane and a mangrove swamp, yet the central mountains are high enough to provide a good rhododendron environment. The tallest peak, Mt. Miyanoura, reaches 1935 meters (6348 feet), but Mt. Kuromi, at 1836 meters (6024 feet) is more rocky toward the summit, making it a better rhododendron peak. These and all surrounding mountains are composed of granite, which decays to an open, porous soil favored by rhododendrons in southern Japan.




• Acer palmatum 'Inazuma':

SJG  6/16/11 • Acer palmatum 'Inazuma' - leaves bright like lightning;
right past entrance to the garden and  Garden booth, E side of the path, Area C

SJG  6/16/11 • Acer palmatum 'Inazuma' - leaves bright like lightning;
close-up leaves, Area C

On the plant from Shoot:
'Inazuma' _ 'Inazuma' is a mid-sized, deciduous tree or shrub with deeply divided leaves that are rich deep purple red in spring and early summer, turning dark green, then red-crimson in autumn with green veins.




• White water lily - will have to research that tomorrow, now just a pic:

SJG  6/16/11 • water lilies

• A visitor asked us about the ground cover at the entrance: definitely not not moss, so what else could that be? Turned out corsican mint - Mentha requieni,  in area C:

Corsican mint, close-up

JUNE, p. 4: poor Camellia sinensis & what about 'Williamson' azalea?

• Pinus thunbergii, Japanese Black Pine:


"The trees need not be too tall, but they should be old, splendid in form, and laden with deep green needles".

Kathy shared this quotations from 'Sakuteiki, Visions of the Japanese Garden', 11th century scroll as translated by Jiro Takei and Marc P. Keane - the scroll is among the oldest surviving guides to gardening or, more precisely, the Japanese art of “setting stones.”;  Kathy said she uses this quotations while discussing the Yamasaki black pine on her tours - an idea I want to steal (the tree looks much better in real life):

SJG 6/16/11 • Pinus thunbergii, Japanese Black Pine;
NW of the pond, where the W and N path meet, Area P

SJG 6/16/11 • Pinus thunbergii, Japanese Black Pine; it was already candled this year
-  one new growth on the end of the branch was allowed to stay, the other was pinched

The 100+ year old Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) was donated to SJG in 1993 by Richard Iwao Yamasaki of Seattle, before that it was tended to by him and his father. At its spot northwest of the pond, near the stone wall, this beloved pine confers an abiding strength. Mr. Yamasaki's long association with Seattle japanese garden dates to 1959, when he worked under landscape architect Juki Iida of Japan who supervised the Garden's installation.


• Rhododendron 'Gosho-Zakura', azalea:

SJG 6/16/11 • Rhododendron 'Gosho-Zakura', azalea - corolla white with pink sectors;
under Yamasaki Pine, Area P

SJG 6/16/11 • Rhododendron 'Gosho-Zakura', azalea
- bud and flower close-up; Area P

Info on the plant in BackyardGardener.com:

Rhododendron hybrida (Gosho Zakura Satsuki Azalea)
Compact, low-growing, evergreen shrub that is twiggy and dense with a spreading to rounded form. Leaves are lance-shaped to elliptic and notably smaller, 1/2 to 2 inches long, than other azalea hybrids making it the wonderful bonzai plant that it was originally bred to be. Showy, funnel-shaped, ruffled, lilac-pink flowers with whitish throats, 2 to 2 1/2 inches wide. Flowers are borne from May to June. [...]
Important Info: This Japanese azalea is a hybridization between Rhododendron indicum and Rhododendron simsii.
More here...


They separately list plant Rhododendron (Gosho Zakura Kurume Azalea) - I don't know what is the difference.  One is 'Satsuki', the other 'Kurume'.


• Rhododendron 'Garda Joy', azalea:

SJG 6/16/11 • Rhododendron 'Garda Joy', azalea - corolla (coral) red, semi double;
E side, at the bottom of the hill, Area O

SJG 6/16/11 • Rhododendron 'Garda Joy', azalea - close-up, semi double flower

Info on the plant in BackyardGardener.com:
Rhododendron kaempferi (Garda Joy Kaempferi Hybrid Azalea)
Spreading, cold hardy, semi-evergreen shrub. Leaves are glossy, lance-shaped to ovate, 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. Flowers are borne in showy trusses of 2 to 4 per cluster. Bloom time is midspring to early summer. Foliage turns beautiful red hues in fall and winter. Plant as you would any of the other azaleas: high and in well-drained, acid soil, rich with organic matter.
More here...


• Rhododendron 'Ro getsu', azalea:

SJG 6/16/11 • Rhododendron 'Ro Getsu', azalea - corolla white with pink sectors;
top W side of steps leading to Kobe lantern, Area O

Ro Getsu 13 days later: SJG 6/29/11

SJG 6/16/11 • Rhododendron 'Ro Getsu', azalea
- close-up of different colored flowers, Area O

SJG 6/16/11 • Rhododendron 'Ro Getsu', azalea  - another close-up

Info on the plant in BackyardGardener.com:

Rhododendron (Rogetsu Satsuki Hybrid Azalea)
The Satsuki Japanese azaleas are believed to have originated several hundred years ago from natural crosses between R. indicum and R. tamarae. (R. tamarae was formerly known as R. eriocarpum and before that as R. simsii var. eriocarpum.) Later, horticulturists continued the crosses between these two species as well as others. Compact, low-growing, evergreen shrub that is twiggy and dense with a spreading to rounded form. The small leaves (1/2 to 2 inches long) vary widely in shape, usually lance-shaped to elliptic. Flowers, often multicolored in various patterns, are borne from May to June and also vary in size (from less than one to more than five inches) and shape. Satsukis are the most popular azaleas in Japan, especially for bonsai culture. In the garden, this is a front of the border shrub because of its lower height--perfect for the smaller garden.
More here...


• Camellia sinensis, Camellia (Tea Plant):

SJG 6/16/11 • Camellia sinensis, Camellia (Tea Plant); Area O
Are we meeting its cultural requirements?:(

  USDA Plant profile shows the plant present only in FL, GA, NC, SC.  Other sources say it can be grown outdoors in Zone 8 or above;  if  colder than that, one can grow it in a greenhouse or a pot that you bring indoors in the winter. National Gardening Association Zone Finder  (type 98112) shows that SJG is in Zone 7B, and SJG being in the lowest part of Arboretum probably has its own, cooler microclimate.  Looking through available info (below) indicates  that our Tea Plant's  present location  seems to full-fill its climatic requirements and sun exposure, but it's on the hill, so I wonder about 'plenty of water' requirements - irrigation or terrace needed?

American Camellia Society is of opinion that Seattle is  perfectly zoned to grow it:

Growing Camellia Sinensis
Camellia sinensis can be grown in most moderate zones in the United States. Zones 7, 8 & 9 provide the most suitable outdoor climates althought it can be grown in greenhouses and/or protected areas in colder climate zones or used in containers where you could protect it from severe freezes. Camellia sinensis will perform well in areas in bright light or full sun with balanced nutrients and plenty of water. Species Name: Camellia sinensis (Large Leaf - White Flowering cultivars) Growth Habit: Upright, bushy growth Bloom Time: Fall Maintainable Height: 3-4’ or larger Soil Conditions: Moist, well drained acid soil Light Conditions: Full sun to part shade.
More here....

 Found this info on Imperial Gardens website, which mentions importance of preventing soil erosion:
Tea bushes are planted from three to four feet apart and planted in rows which follow the natural contour of the landscape. Tea is also grown on specially prepared terraces to help irrigation and to prevent soil erosion.

More here...



International Camellia Society has this to say:

They love warm wet summers and moderately cold dry winters, but can prosper surprisingly well in a range of adverse climatic conditions, tolerating dry summers and wet winters. Frost hardiness is -5°C (25°F) in pots and about -15 to -20°C ( 0 to 5°F) in open ground. Research is presently done on hybrids with improved cold-hardiness.
More here... 


Finally, checking the GardenWeb forums brings WA state experiences in growing Camellia sinensis, some successful, but most resembling  rather poor results we are achieving in SJG:

I grew one for about 12 years. It got barely over 4 ft. tall with small blossoms. Somebody wanted it more than I, so I sold it. Unremakable is the best way I can describe it. 
I never missed it. [...]

Camellias in general do quite well here - tea camellias benefit from our damp, rainy season but would appreciate partial shade and regular deep irrigation during our dry summers. And they grow rather slowly. Quality teas are harvested from only the buds and top two leaves of any stems, so don't plan too many tea parties any time soon :-) [...]
More here...


• Rhododendron ('Williamson', azalea?): 

Questionable find:  we weren't sure which of the plants in the area meets description from the Plant Book: 2 Rhododendrons 'Williamson', azalea, 1' high.  There was no other plant information to go by, so  we think it is this one, and decided to research it further:

SJG 6/16/11 • Rhododendron ('Williamson', azalea?)
- Area Y, one by the lantern, and the other some 4 m away

SJG 6/16/11 • Rhododendron ('Williamson', azalea?) , Area Y

The research so far turned up big fat O. Nothing on google under Rhododendron 'Williamson', nothing under 'Williamson' azalea and nothing under combo of the two.

American Rhododendron Society (go to Plant Data and do search through rhododendrons and azaleas database) lists nothing with that name on its list of  azaleas, and only Rhododendron williamsianum (Williams rhododendron) on its list of rhododendrons - different animal, not azalea.   Giving up for now.


While searching came across A MONOGRAPH OF AZALEAS - by BY ERNEST HENRY WILSON AND ALFRED REHDER, issued April 15th, 1921 (paper copy in Berkeley Library, U of California).  A perfect time waster for azalea lovers, among others has info on:
THE AZALEAS OP THE OLD WORLD. By Ernest Henry Wilson . 1
THE AZALEAS OF NORTH AMERICA. By Alfred Rehder .... 107
DOUBTFUL NAMES 197
OAQ

Enjoy.