My latest “holy grail” has me looking for French mulberry shrubs, also known as beauty berry, specifically the Callicarpa americana var. lactea or French mulberry white cultivar. For some bizarre reason which I cannot explain, all of the shrubs in my landscape have white blooms – I didn’t intentionally start out that way, but that’s the direction its headed. Plus french mulberry attracts birds and is very easily propagated despite their relatively short lifespan (8-10 years). I’ve been calling nurseries and searching websites, but this shrub described by Dan Gill in his Louisiana Gardener’s Guide has proven elusive. So I thought perhaps I could get more information or even find a vendor selling this plant at the City Park Garden Show this morning, and brought my camera along for the ride.
The parking lot across from the Botanical Garden has been paved!
One of the beautiful entry gates, by Enrique Alférez
More sculptures by Mr. Alférez
At the entrance to the botanical garden was a table where volunteers were offering Friends of City Park memberships
To the right of the entrance were sections where vendors were selling flowers, garden supplies and garden decorations
Boudreaux’s Woodworking Shop was there – I own one of his comfy porch rockers
Bonsai!!!
A pretty shadow box of flowers
There were children’s activity tents, and a section where volunteers with the Botanical Gardens were selling plants
Bromeliads and orchids were available for sale
LSU Ag Center was holding gardening discussions – this mornings presentation was on bee keeping, and there was a table where attendees could ask gardening questions and obtain a soil sample mailing for $10.00.
I then strolled around the gardens to take in the beauty…
The Rose Garden
The cactus greenhouse
Tropical rain forest greenhouse
The butterfly garden
Still no luck on finding the white Callicarpa, but now I have a few more leads…wish me luck on my quest!
Amy
bayoucreole
Charlotte
coldspaghetti
emofalltrades
judyb54
laurabergerol
liprap
nolanotes
Pistolette
shercole
maringouin
tkaupp
Thank you for posting these great photos! I was sad that I couldn’t make it this spring but you made me feel like I was there.
Thanks – you don’t happen to have some white French Mulberry growing in your beautiful garden that I could have a clipping or two? Thought I’d give it a try
No, but if I did I’d surely share it. Good luck!
How I miss the Botanical Gardens!! My spring has been spent moving: packing and unpacking and looking for things that I packed. Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos.
Did you move far? I’ve been wondering if you were OK, hadn’t seen you post in awhile. Hope you have a smoove move
I love the century plant. When I lived in NOLA, I remember a century plant at Freret & Fern (if memory serves) somewhere near that cool Prairie-style house that sticks out like a sore thumb. (I used to bike by both on my way home from long hours in the Tulane library!) It bloomed one year I was there – literally a rare treat.