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Last week I shared the spiky side of the Kennedy School gardens, but there is so much more to see! Walking the grounds is always a mix of checking in on old friends, to see how they’re doing, and discovering new things. Sometimes I have a pretty good idea what they are, other times I don’t have a clue.

For example I’m smitten with the bright green ground cover in the photo below, does anyone have a guess as to what it might be? (update: Santolina, possibly S. ‘Lemon Fizz’)
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Here’s a close up, it pained me to crop out that beautiful Yucca.
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A walk about is also a great time to pick up on combinations that work well. I went home after this visit trying to think of what plant with chartreuse foliage I could plant near my Loropetalum chinense.
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Many times I end up adding to my want list, for example why aren’t I growing Leonotis leonurus?
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I like to leave my dried Acanthus flowers in place too, they’ve got such great structure (mine are A. mollis, not sure which these are update:  A. spinosus).
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If anyone is tempted by this planting of Tetrapanax papyrifer at least they have an idea of what it can become, if allowed.
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Fabulous Persicaria, but which one? Maybe Tovara virginiana ‘Variegata’? (aka Persicaria virginiana)
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I remember the first time I saw this tree in fruit, I was blown away.
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I’ve learned it’s a named variety of Cornus kousa, but that’s all I know.
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An Echium seedling, perhaps Echium pininana, I’ll be watching to see how it does over the winter.
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Seeing how good this planting of Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’ looks gave me the determination to stick with my plant a little longer. It was almost yanked out after a couple of years of non-performance, now it’s looking as good as these.
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The foliage of this Hydrangea quercifolia makes me a little weak in the knees. Would it be wrong to plant a Hydrangea and cut off the flowers?
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Another favorite Mahonia, this one M. gracilipes. It doesn’t photograph particularly well, but is a stunner when you come face to face with it.
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The latest swath of lawn to be removed and planted up.
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And a new discovery! Can anyone ID this guy? (update: Pachysandra axillaris)
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I stopped to photograph the majestic Eriobotrya japonica but was shocked by what I saw planted in front of it.
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Pseudopanax laetus. The label under-which I bought mine claims it’s hardy to USDA Zone 7. Yet I was warned by many a knowledgeable friend to not put it in the ground, as it wouldn’t make it through a typical Zone 8 winter.
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Once again the Kennedy School gardeners are doing plant trials for me! (I’ll be watching)
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Oh, and that Loquat I mentioned (Eriobotrya japonica), there isn’t just one, but a pair. Planting to excess, it’s a style I appreciate!
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Will you think me odd if I confess to liking some Hibiscus better after the flower has fallen away?
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Another ID request, any idea on the small dark leaf plant tucked under the (I think) Darmera peltata? (update:  Cryptotaenia japonica f. atropurpurea)
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You’d think I could remember the name of this one since I lust after it frequently, and have been told the name over and over again (update: Bupleurum fruticosum. Which reminds me, there is one more lesson I learn from visiting the Kennedy School gardens. Occasionally I see a plant in it’s full grown size, and know it’s better to enjoy it here than to try and fit it into my tiny garden.
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