Appreciation: Some colour at VanDusen Botanical Garden

I didn't find good examples of buds I was looking for at VanDusen yesterday, but I found some colour instead.
People have been posting Hamamelis for a while. Here is Hamamelis mollis.


This is Hamamelis japonica 'Sulphurea'. Paler flowers, and smaller, I think.



This one had no tag. I asked a master gardener (I was given an email address, am not certain that she's a VanDusen volunteer, but I think so), who thinks it's Hamamelis mollis 'Wisley Supreme', which is listed on the database as being in the nursery but accessioned in 2014. She said she knows it's in the garden, so maybe this is it. The Hamamelis mollis 'Wisley Supreme' - Plant Finder (missouribotanicalgarden.org) page says larger flowers than the species, and sweetly scented, not something I noticed (but I do still have a sense of smell).


I didn't promise all flowers. Here's more yellow - Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea', golden-twig dogwood, also called Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea'.


And here is such a beautiful Pieris japonica, noted on the label as unknown cultivar.

 

What a display, Wendy! I can't believe that Pieris japonica is starting to bloom already.

It's been so long now since I last visited VanDusen Gardens - or UBC for that matter and, much as I enjoy living on Vancouver Island for many reasons, I really miss the opportunity to see what you do on the Mainland and to have access to all the wonderful garden centres and other garden-related venues there. Just feeling a bit nostalgic I guess.

 

Here in bloom is the Pieris japonica I posted last year around this time in the West End at Pieris japonica - flowers hang down, fruits hang up | UBC Botanical Garden Forums. To me it looks similar to the VanDusen one just above. If only we knew the cultivar name of one of them ...

 

Wendy - I wonder if that Pieris japonica is “valentine”

It was very popular in the later 1990s —-
I will have to look it up

PS the yellow twig cornus are a design dream aren’t they

my arctic fire cornus is very red twig right now - the label says it’s a smallish shrub but mine nr Vanc Coast are 7feet height.

 

Wendy - here is the Pieris I was thinking of - Valley Valentine

https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/node/2003

Here is cornus - Arctic fire (i notice there’s also a gold yellow one listed too - diff name: Arctic sun)
Arctic Fire® Red - Red-Osier Dogwood - Cornus stolonifera | Proven Winners

 

The one at VanDusen looks more upright or taller than the photos on the page you linked to, but 'Valley Valentine' certainly looks like a good choice for a Pieris with that coloured flowers.

I saw new plantings of something like that yesterday, just a few bare twigs that looked very attractive.

 

wcutler

Hello Wendy (and note new pic of home grown “oriental type lily” summer 2020)

Van Dusen is amazing - I enjoyed that garden show slogging around in the muddy lawns (no doubt head gardener cringe!)

And of course the Christmas lights

In any event - the trivia I like is —
1. Isn’t Van Dusen built upon a huge concrete water reservoir ?
2. And of course it was a golf course (or a good walk thru a potential fabulous garden as golf may be — no offense, I like golf)

 

I don't know about VanDusen, but it's the case for Queen Elizabeth Park.
Award of Excellence: Little Mountain Reservoir - Canadian Consulting Engineer
The Bloedel Conservatory, in Queen Elizabeth Park, is now part of VanDusen, so maybe you get some points for that.

 

@wcutler

Proposal to use VanDusen reservoir to conserve water fails - NEWS 1130

Here is a brief mention fr 2016 drought summer

I have no idea how big the reservoir is — curious now !

 

https://bids.vancouver.ca/bidopp/RF...nservationProjectReportHerbertHsiaEvanGoh.pdf

Here is some consulting engineer info — reservoir is from 1911 apparently - and is under the stone garden

Look at page 11/19 in this PDF

Now I let you back your original lovely topic of colorful spring at Van Dusen

 

Colours of spring at VanDusen (April 17, 2021). I don't know the name of the small purple and blue flowers. D @Acerholic directed me here.

 

Water lily at VanDusen (June 2020).

 

Flower and Anna's hummingbird at VanDusen (July 2020).

 

Good morning Steven, all your photos are stunning, but the Water lily just speaks 'calm and relaxation' to us. 'Wonderful' !!

 

Good morning D, thank you for your comment. I will have to stay away from VanDusen for the next a few weeks due to BC's new travel restrictions starting Friday.

 

That's a shame Steven, but I'm sure you will find other delights in the botanic world to Wow us all.

 

Lovely photos StevenS. The red flower with the hummingbird is monarda. But I am wondering what the little blue and purple flowers are with the Tulips?

 

Good evening Eric, could they be an early Aubretia ? Can't see too well, so it's a bit of a guess.

 

Forget me nots

 

I think you got it. Here's a screen capture of a part of the original image.

 

That's what I thought, but the purple ones are redder than I am used to seeing. I was thinking it early for them, but I guess not.