a handmade garden

cultivating a good & delicious life

  • Home
  • Newsletter
  • Store
  • writing
    • My Books
    • Garden Rant
  • Learning
    • Creativebug Classes
    • events & workshops
    • Hire me!
  • about
  • contact
0124 Grow1.jpg

Forget the Forsythia

January 26, 2021 by Lorene Edwards Forkner in GROW

Instead, consider the Cornelian cherry: It’s technically not a cherry, but it sure is cheery

Starved for color in the landscape after months of drab weather, many gardeners eagerly welcome the brash, chrome-yellow flowers of forsythia. Even though, in the watery light of early spring, the blooms have all the subtlety of a clashing cymbal interrupting a string quartet. I confess, I have a personal soft spot for this botanical blowhard—just not in my space-challenged garden. With a motley growing habit, mostly unremarkable foliage, and little to no fall interest, forsythia is a bit of a one-hit wonder; great for celebrating the end of winter but what do you do with it during the other months of the year.

I have a suggestion that offers plenty of cheer and far less clamor. Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is actually not a true cherry, but a member of the dogwood family. This small tree is woefully underutilized in Pacific Northwest gardens.

Read the entire story in the link below

GROW in The Seattle Times

January 26, 2021 /Lorene Edwards Forkner
Special to the Seattle Times
GROW
  • Newer
  • Older

a handmade garden

Contact

© Lorene Edwards Forkner 2024
Disclosure: this site participates in affiliate programs

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions