A Capital Adventure 2006 ARS / ASA Joint Convention Gregg Garden (Tour #1)

Description:

Dianne and James Gregg have lived on this 2/3 of an acre in Potomac, MD, since 1965. Located one mile north of the Potomac Village, the Gregg garden was inspired by the beautiful azalea garden next door, which had been transplanted from an older property in Bethesda. Features include tall white oaks in the front and tulip poplars and hollies in the back. The azalea planting strategy is to have a long bloom period and to have the widest range of hybrid families and native deciduous azaleas possible, consistent with climate and landscaping principles. The season's first color is from Rhododendron dauricum in March. One of the first evergreen azaleas to bloom is the Chinese Sims derivative 'Vittatum' with purple, white, and striped flowers on the same plant. Next comes 'Pink Pearl', the gorgeous and weather-proof Kurume. 'Pinocchio' is an early, dependable Glenn Dale near the front door. The fuzzy leafed R. oldhamii, which is unusual this far north, blooms later. During the middle of May, the Robin Hills bloom, and the pink 'Laura Morland' is a favorite. 'Madame Pericat', blooming with the late Glenn Dales and Robin Hills, is relatively uncommon locally. The last group to bloom, the Satsukis, are at their peak the second week of June. 'Johga' with its distinctive form and colors has a place of honor near the garden shed. The last reliable color is R. prunifolium in August. The most successful native azaleas have been R.periclymenoides, R. calendulaceum, and R. prunifolium. In recent years, the garden has survived two terrible storms that have toppled trees and destroyed many plants. One was 8 years ago ( a "microburst," which is like a straight line tornado. The second storm was a hail storm on June 30, 2003, in which every broadleaf plant was stripped of foliage, and all the evergreen azalea bark was pitted. It looked like November in July. The big 'Narcissiflorum' took a severe hit both times and barely survived. The azaleas in the garden are complemented with other woodland plants and a summer garden near the road where there is more sun. Special plants include an umbrella pine, a Stewartia monadelpha, a Chamaecyparis nana gracilis, and a large naturalized colony of Mahonia bealii.

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