Bring unique beauty, interest, and diversity to your landscapes

I am twice blessed in that I am surrounded by botanical beauty at home and at work.  In the garden, there is both strength and beauty in diversity. This year’s BeFriend a Tree Sale & Fundraiser, sponsored by the Friends of the Arboretum affords you an opportunity to enhance these attributes in your garden. 

The previous year’s hurricanes left an open spot in my landscape ripe for a premier specimen tree. The Flame Thrower redbud fits the bill superbly. Developed by NC State University, Flame Thrower offers a kaleidoscope of evolving colors from spring to fall. Spring begins with light pink flowers. The new foliage is a rich burgundy, which then evolves to yellow and finally green. All these colors appear on the tree at the same time. The display continues from spring to fall. This unique deciduous gem is adaptable to many locations. At 15-20 feet tall and wide (after 10 years), Flame Thrower is perfect for any sunny spot but would be just as happy with some partial shade. Cercis canadensis NC2016-2 'Flame Thrower.’

The sunny spot near my patio where I sit to relax is perfect for a magnolia named after Judy Zuk, a former president of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Upright at 28 feet tall and 8 feet wide (after 10 years) Judy Zuk’s size allows her to tuck into any corner of the garden. Her tulip-shaped, fragrant yellow flowers with plum-flushed bases are beautiful harbingers of early spring as they perfume the air. Magnolia brooklynensis ‘Judy Zuk.’

Continuing color and interest in our Zone 8 gardens are a particular interest of mine. Need an evergreen low growing focal point for the garden?  Feelin’ Blue Deodar Cedar fits the bill and is especially vibrant in the winter landscape. While the new growth is a light green blue, the mature needles have a soft, feathery appearance and are a true blue. A classic spreader, Feelin’ Blue grows slowly to become a layered gem at five to six feet wide and a bit shorter in height. Feelin’ Blue is gorgeous centered near a water feature such as my planned Koi pond or in a Zen garden setting. Cedrus deodara ‘Feelin’ Blue.’

The BeFriend a Tree Sale & Fundraiser is now through Oct. 10.  All proceeds go to support the Arboretum's gardens. There are over 20 species of trees and some shrubs from which to choose, including the selections described above. Other choices are native trees such as Red Buckeye and Moonglow Sweet Bay Magnolia, espaliers for walls such as Camellia sasanqua ‘Kanjiro,’ four-season interest featuring the new Flipside Vitex or the native ‘Aphrodite’ Carolina Allspice, and blueberries and pecans are a few of the fruiting plants that will be available for sale. Plant sizes range from 3-15 gallons and are lovingly hand-selected by landscape professionals. 

BeFriend a Tree Sale orders are accepted online at https://thefriends.wildapricot.org/. All sales are online only. Delivery and on-site pickup options will be available. 

Carolyn Thomas serves on the BeFriend a Tree Sale Committee and is President of the Friends of the New Hanover County Arboretum. Contact the Tree Sale Committee at arboretumtreesale@gmail.com or call 910-798-7660. The New Hanover County Arboretum and N.C. Cooperative Extension Center are located at 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington. The Arboretum is free and open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. every day.