It's Lilac Time at the US National Arboretum

This research nursery is a popular place this time of year. On still humid days the perfume is overwhelming. Unfortunately, or fortunately?., it was windy and dry today.

The Tree Peonies Have Begun to Flower

Paeonea suffruticosa 'Zhao Fen'

There are only a handful flowering now but by this time next week it'll be overwhelming. Tree peonies are addictive. You hear stories of recent aficionados with collections numbering in the hundreds. It's at least a moderately expensive hobby since $100.00 isn't an unusually high price for one named plant. I'm reworking the locations of some of our plants as they dislike both wet feet and water on their leaves at night. I'm relocating some to drier unirrigated locations.

Just because it's a research plot doesn't mean it can't be beautiful!

 Redbuds at the US National Arboretum.

Yellow isn't my favorite color either, but Kerria is so wonderful in the spring

These plants are at the bottom of the Japanese Woodland at the US National Arboretum.