But Wait!!!

If you're a fan of cheesy infomercials and large potentially invasive vines that attract hummingbirds and can give you a rash (albeit a fast disappearing one), then this is for you: https://www.hummingbirdvinesoffer.com/

BTW, the vine is Campsis radicans, a member of the Bignoneaceae family (the same family that brought you the Pink trumpet tree, Tabebuia impetiginosa).

Tabebuia's In Bloom Now

You know spring is really here when the Tabebuias start blooming. Native to South America, they do very well here as moderate growing shade trees up to 50-60 feet tall. . Most of our specimens made it through the wind, although one very early blooming tree was severely damaged. We're keeping the tree, but it's not pretty. All that's left is a stump but hopefully that will grow back sufficiently to provide us material enough to make some cuttings. Before the wind snapped it in half you could see it blooming, always several weeks before all the other Tabebuias, behind the wedding gazebo located at the north end of the event lawn. Still the view from the lawn is spectacular, and a smaller Tabebuia located next to the carnivorous plants greenhouse has taken up the slack.

Foot Wide Magnolia Blooms in the Herb Garden

*Magnolia x   veitchii? in bloom in the Herb Garden

Magnolia x veitchii?  being admired by staff. (l to r) Arboretum herb garden curator Theresa Rachau and Irene Chang.

 Located in the herb garden, this large flowering Magnolia is blooming right now. The monster flowers can be up to a foot across, and they have an odor much like peppermint. The identity of this beauty is a little bit of a puzzle, as it was accessioned . It has  some characteristics of Magnolia campbellii (the large bloom and pleasant odor) but was accessioned as Magnolia x veitchii, a cross made by British horticulturalist Peter Veitch between M. campbellii and M. denudata in 1907.

* At first I thought this was Magnolia campbellii var. albe 'Stybing White'; but it turns out that this Magnolia was accessioned before M. campbellii var. alba 'Strybing White''s introduction in 1962.