iversity is good, especially in the landscape. In the church, now, the issue is a bit more complicated. I’m not even going to go there. Let me just put my theological plug in and be done with it. Then we can get back to the landscape.
If you concentrate on faithfulness to the main purpose of Christianity, everything else, including how God wants your congregation to look like, in time will fall into place. Determining what that purpose is seems to be the big hang-up for most body of believers. Get the core question right, and you will have far less trouble all the way around. Now, go get digging and find out what the cheif end of man is.
Diversity in the landscape is not fraught with so many moral tangles. The end game is to stretch out your floral attraction. This week’s selections are prime examples of adding species to already-existing genera.
Chinese dogwood, Cornus kousa
Chinese dogwood, Cornus kousa, has a number of advantages over its cousin the flowering dogwood, Cornus florida. To begin with, it blooms nearly a month later, making it less susceptible to late freezes, which can knock out or cut short it bloom period. I forget what disease it is, but the Chinese dogwood isn’t susceptible and the flowering dogwood is. Don’t get me wrong. I would never substitute the Chinese dogwood for the flowering dogwood. They both fill a gap in the calendar. Notice the similar leaves and blossoms, yet the blossoms of the Chinese dogwood don’t have the typical “notched” look at the terminals of each petal.
This specimen is another of our “wedding” dogwoods, marking the marriage of our second daughter. They now have two beautiful daughters, who live near by.
arrowwood viburnum, Viburnum dentata
The variety found in the genus Viburnum is massive. There are many natural species, and many more cultivars (cultivated varieties). It seems to be a favorite of quite a few plant breeders. Viburnum dentata, or arrowwood viburnum blooms fairly concurrently with the Chinese dogwood. This year its creamy white blossoms have covered it. For ten days it is the center of attraction out front. Don’t get too close, though. The smell is not what I would call lovely. This one needs a bit of space. Not meant for a small yard, it reaches about eight feet in all directions.
Have a wonderful weekend. If it is dry enough in your area, get out and hoe your garden. It’s going to need it. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.
