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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Chanticleer's Dogwood Corner

Chanticleer in April: Walk through the dogwood trees.
My series on Chanticleer continues this week with a look at a garden that epitomizes all that is nice about April!

Spring would not be spring in North America without our native dogwood tree, Cornus florida. Dogwood trees are found in the wild at the edge of the woodland, reaching their branches through dappled sunlight. Chanticleer has sited these dogwood trees close to a woodland, following nature's example (which is usually the wisest idea for any gardener!). Shade plants surround these trees; you might find a few new plants to add around your own dogwood tree for next spring!

Cornus florida flowering above a tapestry of flowers: Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) and just-blooming foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia River Series).
Cornus florida, Mertensia virginica and Tiarella cordifolia River Series.
Glistening white dogwood flowers over foam flower, Tiarella cordifolia River Series.
This is an incredible display of Tiarella cordifolia! Our tour guide (and fellow blogger) Carolyn said that these foam flower are from the newly bred 'River Series' by Sinclair Adams. The grooved bark of the Shagbark hickory tree (Carya ovata) is a beautiful foil for this sea of white.
On our way down the hill to the Cutting garden, we saw this enormous stand of pink bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) and variegated Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum 'Variegatum'). Garden bliss!

A view to a group of trees in this area with a more pastoral mood. Daffodils are just out of flower in this area.
Deep purple Geranium 'Springtime' and a pink, candy-striped foam flower similar to Tiarella 'Pink Skyrocket.'
Under the pink-flowering dogwood, white Trillium grandiflorum is spreading nicely, along with a bit of Phlox divaricata.
If you are making a visit to Chanticleer this spring, look for this garden at the bottom of the hill from the Entrance house, just past the Cutting garden.
Purple-leaved Geranium maculatum 'Espresso' under the Cornus with Heuchera, ferns and Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica).
Cornus florida, Mertensia virginica and Tiarella cordifolia River Series.

See more of the Chanticleer Series on WMG!

18 comments:

  1. Lovely images of spring! What struck me was the beauty of the mass under-planting, such an inspiration.

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    1. I agree, Christina. Chanticleer is a garden that is so beautiful for all of the detail they have added to it. Each gardener there is in charge of their own area of the garden, and I think that helps to give each area the extra attention they need to be detailed.
      Glad you are enjoying the series!
      ~Julie

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  2. That is my style of gardening - just loved it!!! Like Christina, I think the underplanting is amazing, lots of ideas here for my bit of woodland.

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  3. I continue to be amazed by the beautiful photos chanticleer that you are sharing in these posts. The Dogwood plantings are absolutely spectacular and something that I only can dream out here in the upper Midwest. You have ascertained that Chanticleer must be in my future. It is an absolutely amazing place... Thank you for sharing these pictures, Larry

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    1. So glad you will visit, Larry! Be sure to drop in and see Carolyn's garden when you get to the area... another beautiful garden for spring!
      ~Julie

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  4. What an absolute delight to read - this blog is full of inspiration, I've just increased my plant wish list 10 fold!!
    Wow! - I'm so pleased I found your blog.

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    1. Thanks Angie! Looking forward to reading your blog as well!
      ~Julie

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  5. What a beautiful images of Chanticleer, the dogwoods look like a fairytale, gorgeous soft colours.

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    1. Thanks Janneke! Glad you are enjoying the series. I have a few more posts coming soon - hopefully!
      ~Julie

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  6. Hi, I just clicked the link to your blog from a French list, and the first thing I see are the marvellous dogwood trees, which are my favourite ! My heart just skipped a beat and I was breathless for a few seconds ! I'll keep your blog in my bookmarks. Have a nice day !

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    1. Thanks for your comment, yes, it is a spirea Goldflame that you see in the background. Very colourful and pleasant as a background or a border.
      Have a nice day !

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  7. Oh, those flowering dogwoods are so beautiful. We have plenty of shrub dogwoods, but there is no comparison. I planted a flowering dogwood last spring, though I was nervous about anthracnose. It has one flower bud this year, and I hope for many more in 2014.

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  8. Now that is a stunning spring garden...I hope to plant a native dogwood this year...

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  9. Stunning post! Cornus florida are about to burst into bloom here along with Wisteria. Some of mine are bird-planted.

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  10. What an incredible garden! The dogwoods are breathtaking. The massed plantings of Tiarella cordifolia are so beautiful. There is a lot to be said for mass planting. I also noted down the name of the Geranium maculatum 'Espresso'.

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  11. What a beautiful garden. Amazing photographs.
    Susan

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  12. Gorgeous...it's all so gorgeous! You captured some lovely landscape shots, along with the closer views of the blooms. I would love to just hop on over there for a visit!

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  13. I have to catch up with all these photos! Wonderful, the ones I've glanced at so far! I love dogwoods.

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