At the south end of the garden along the east side of Belknap Hall is our earliest blooming Redbud {Cercis canadensis}. This native tree has very showy reddish purple buds that open to pink flowers. In the same bed is a group of ‘Molly Fordham’ Rhododendrons {R. x Molly Fordham’} that have white flowers above small evergreen foliage. Further north in the same bed is a group of ‘Olga Mezitt’ Rhododendrons {R.x ‘Olga Mezitt’} that have deep pink flowers and small evergreen leaves. Both of these hybrids as well as the previously mentioned ‘P.J.M.’ Rhododendrons were hybridized at Weston Nursery in Hopkinton, Massachsetts. On the southeast side of the Russell House is our Flowering Dogwood {Cornus florida} with large white flowers [bracts]. This very desirable tree has a very attractive layered branching structure, bright red fruit as well as great red fall foliage. At the southeast corner of Prospect Hall we have our first ‘Carol Mackie’ Daphne {D. x burkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie’} blooming with very fragrant pink flowers above its attractive green foliage with cream colored margins. There is a very large group of these Daphnes along the north side of the HUB Snackbar. Just to the left of this is a Purpleleaf Sandcherry {Prunus x cistena} that has fragrant pinkish white flowers as well as dark red foliage. This is the hardiest red leaved flowering shrub available.
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- Redbud
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- ‘Molly Fordham’ Rhododendrons
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- ‘Molly Fordham’ Rhododendrons
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- ‘Olga Mezitt’ Rhododendrons
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- Flowering Dogwood
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- ‘Carol Mackie’ Daphne
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- ‘Carol Mackie’ Daphne
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- Purpleleaf Sandcherry
Overcast. Temperature: 58; Wind: ESE at 3; Conditions as of Tue May 21 at 11:00 AM EDT