It was Loropetalum week in the Asian Collections

The hot pink flowers front and center are Loropetalum chinense 'Zhuzhou Fuchsia'. We have a pretty good selection of other cultivars of this species. None of them have the white flowers characteristic of the species but range in color from light pink, through fuchsia, to almost burgundy. They're fun plants that have only had a presence in the US for twenty years or so. The Arboretum played an important part in the process of their introduction.

GrayC weeding late in the Herb Garden, the renovated Rose garden, and Native North American Herbs

GrayC is working early, late, and long to stay on top of the garden sans Jeanette, and pre intern. She was way more cheerful than my photo suggests! Stefan was helping out today and I know Scott and Kevin have been there. We'll get it done.

The roses were largely replanted over the last year or so and most of them are getting large enough to put on a good display. They'll start in the next week or ten days and will be worth a trip in May if you're local.