What's In Bloom?
Kousa Dogwoods
Cornus kousa
The Kousa dogwood blooms later than the native flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), which means that it's blooming just as many Chautauquans are returning to the grounds, a lovely welcome.
You can find a nice grouping at the Sculpture Garden behind Strohl Art Gallery and in the Braham Garden on the north side of the Post Office Building. But right now, the one worth a little walk to see is blooming in the Arboretum. It's a weeping cultivar called "Weaver's Weeping" and this year the little shoulder-height tree is loaded with blooms (photo below).
The fruits on the Kousa dogwoods are small and green now, but by late summer they will ripen to a stunning pinkish-red and will persist late into the Fall...if they don't get eaten by birds or animals. Humans can eat them too, and they have a nice tropical taste, but some find the fruit slimy or mealy and say it's best in a smoothie. Whatever your thoughts are on the mouthfeel, there is no doubt that the brilliant red fruits make for a spectacular landscape feature - they look like big raspberries dangling from long pendulous stalks.
The Kousa dogwood is generally more cold tolerant than the native variety. Introduced from Asia in 1875, the Kousa now has over 100 cultivars - this tree went platinum!
Other names: Chinese, Korean, or Japanese Dogwood.
* If you are considering this tree for your own garden, please remember the 80:20 rule and strive for 80% of your plantings to be native plants. Also please note that the Kousa is now considered invasive in New Jersey so may soon be added to the Naughty List everywhere.
The point of this column is to answer the questions most asked of the Garden Team about what's blooming now in Chautauqua and the Kousas are certainly the show-stopper this week.
Jonathan Townsend, pictured above at a talk last season, is returning to Chautauqua this summer and will be part of two events for us this week: the Lake Walk on Monday and the Tuesday Native Plant Sale at the Bestor Plaza Fresh Market.
Monday, June 24 | 4:15PM Lake Walk: Plants Along the Shoreline with Jonathan Townsend Location: The Pier Building |
Tuesday, June 25 | 9:00AM Native Plant Sale Location: Bestor Plaza Fresh Market Learn more in our June Newsletter or at the link above. The sale will end whenever we sell out - come early if you can!
12:15PM BTG Brown Bag Lecture: Unique Habitats of Western New York with Marisa Riggi Location: Smith Wilkes Hall |
Wednesday, June 26 | 8:00AM Gloves-on Gardening Lessons with Betsy Burgeson Join us for a short lesson followed by gardening together. Bring gloves if you have them; we'll provide the tools. Location: Secret Silo Garden. Meet at the corner of Massey & Hawthorne and we will lead you to the entrance of the garden (spoiler: it's under a baby willow arch!)
12:30-2:30PM Shipman Garden History & Horticulture Tours Location: Miller Cottage (24 Miller) The gardens are open to the public on Wednesdays during the season. There are docents in the gardens to answer your questions and provide historical and horticultural information. There will be a historical tour at 12:30PM followed by horticulture Q&A at 1:30PM.
4:15PM Tree Walk with Jack Gulvin Location: The patio behind Smith WIlkes Hall |
Thursday, June 27 | 7:30AM Forest Bathing with Kate Mayberry Location: Secret Silo Walking Path. Meet at the corner of Massey & Hawthorne.
4:15PM: Purple Martin Talk with Jack Gulvin Location: Purple Martin Houses just north of the Sports Club |
Friday, June 28 | 9:00AM Nature Walk with Jack Gulvin Location: Meet on the patio behind Smith Wilkes Hall. We will walk toward the South Ravine.
12:30PM Trees 101 with Betsy Burgeson Location: The Arboretum, corner of Whittier and Wythe |
BTG Commemorative Plate Pick-Up Times
Pre-ordered plates can be picked up:
Sundays June 23rd, June 30th, and July 7 12:00 - 1:30pm at the BTG Table in Bestor Plaza during the Chautauqua Activity Fairs
Tuesdays June 25th, July 2nd, and July 9th 12:00pm-1:00pm at our Brown Bag Lectures on the patio behind Smith Wilkes Hall
TOUR DAY: Thursday July 11th in Miller Park
If you failed to pre-order and are feeling angsty now, don't worry! - we ordered some extras. Plates can be purchased for $50 each or $535 a dozen. Supplies are limited.
House & Garden Tour Tickets
July 11
House & Garden Tour tickets are still available! Tickets can be purchased (and pre-ordered tickets can be picked-up) at the following times and locations:
Sunday June 23rd, June 30th, and July 7 from 12:00 - 1:30pm at the BTG Table in Bestor Plaza during the Chautauqua Activity Fairs
Tuesday June 25th, July 2nd, and July 9th from 12:00pm-1:00pm at Smith Wilkes Hall during the BTG Brown Bag Lectures
TOUR DAY: Thursday July 11th from 7:00am-1:00pm at the BTG Welcome Table located in the Pedestrian Tunnel at the Main Gate
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