Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Dec 152016
 

Hydrangea quercifolia (oak leaf hydrangea)

Hydrangea quercifolia is native to the United States, and well-suited to the growing conditions in Roosevelt Park. The oak leaf hydrangea can grow under direct sun for limited periods, but prefers dappled sun and partial shade. It is fairly drought tolerant.

Fall Foliage

In spring and early summer it produces panicles of greenish-white flowers that change over time to light pink and brown color as the flowers age. In fall, the large, oak-like leaves can turn beautiful shades of burgundy, red, orange and yellow.

 December 15, 2016  Comments Off on Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Purple Sensation Alliums

Jun 012016
 
daffodils in Roosevelt Park

Allium in Roosevelt ParkPurple Sensation allium

Onions, shallots and garlic are all alliums, but not all members of the allium family are likely to be recipe ingredients. There are more than 700 varieties of allium, and some are quite beautiful. The Purple Sensation is named after its purple globes of flowers. This variety usually grows to be 24 to 30 inches tall.

Few animals like raw onions

Because they all have a sharp taste like onions, alliums are not usually eaten by rodents or deer. Alliums do well in full sunlight, but they can tolerate shade. They don’t need a lot of water, and they do best in well-drained soil.

Plant alliums in the fall and enjoy them for years

Allium bulbs are planted in the fall so they have time to grow roots in temperatures that are cool, but not freezing. They usually bloom in late spring to early summer. They are long-lived perennials, and some alliums can reappear annually for more than a decade.

 

 

 June 1, 2016  Comments Off on Purple Sensation Alliums

London Plane Tree (Platanus x acerifolia)

Nov 242015
 

London plane trees 533 x 300

The London plane is a very common street tree in New York City. It is resistant to insects, disease and air pollution, making it well-suited to an urban environment.

The London plane tree is a hybrid of the American sycamore and the Oriental plane tree. London plane trees grow quickly, and their mottled look comes from the shedding of older bark, revealing newer, lighter bark underneath. One benefit of losing the outer bark is that it allows the tree to shed the pollutants that may have accumulated on the bark, which helps the tree avoid damage from pollution.

 November 24, 2015  Comments Off on London Plane Tree (Platanus x acerifolia)