Silk Floss tree in flower

Folks - 

I was down at the Lake Merritt Garden Center this afternoon, discussing the
details of the planned Mediterranean Garden Society display we're working
on.  The backdrop to this section of these display gardens is the Palmatum,
a maturing planting of some really terrific palms and some companion
plants.  Adjacent to the area we'll be working with is a rather sadly
pruned Silk Floss Tree (Chorisia) which I suspect was butchered so that it
would not grow straight up and spoil the view of the palms.  Despite this,
it is currently in full, riotous bloom, with a deep magent pink flower with
white center.  It is really quite handsome.  Behind it is a clump of a
Cassia (Senna) species this charteuse-yellow cluster of flowers.  Far
behind is the very tall Caroyta 'Fish-Tail' palms, which their chains of
fruit developing.  There are also various other tropical-esque plants
nearby (though they stand a fair deal of neglect in this garden and peform
well anyway!).

In front of all of this is the newly open space containing the Easterbrook
Wellhead, an white Italian marble bird-bath fountain donated to the City of
Oakland in 1914.  This almost forgotten landmark will be the center piece
of the MGS plantings, which will be low mounds bathed in full sun,
containing a variety of plants which are well-suited to our mediterranean
climate conditions and should be better know and more widely planted.

After some particularly frustrating and difficult situations of late in
dealing with the city over this planned garden, I found I was still able to
recall WHY we were doing this project - it's going to be absolutely
gorgeous!!!!  My excitment rekindled, I thought I had to let those of you
in the immediate area know to come down and visit this garden soon, at
least to see the Silk Floss tree before all of the flowers fall.  Its not
much yet, but those of you with even modest imaginations will be able to
understand the potential in this plot!

While there, the succulent garden is looking pretty well also, and the
Vireya rhododendron collection is also worth seeing as well (in the
lath-house).

Regards,
Sean O.
 
 Sean A. O'Hara                       sean.ohara@groupmail.com
 h o r t u l u s   a p t u s          710 Jean Street
 'a garden suited to its purpose'     Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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