J.C. Raulston Arboretum

April 18, 2010: We drove into Raleigh to visit the J.C. Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University. This arboretum is very well laid out and and also well mapped. The plants are better tagged than at many arboretums or botanic gardens. We particularly liked the way plants were grouped. For example, there was a short walk featuring a variety of weeping shrubs and small trees, one after the other.

A red lace-leaf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum'); Viburnum plicatum 'Pink Sensation' and spirea crenata:









The water feature:

A robin; and the stunning Iris 'Pure Sapphire' [It's said that there is no true blue in botany, that the blues are actually violet tones; but this iris is pretty truly blue]:

Wedding photography:









The perennial border:













A Lady Banks rose cascades over a trellis (right rear):

Baptisia sphaerocarpa 'Screaming Yellow'; Baptisia alba var. alba; and Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips':

Money plant (Lunaria annua); Poncirus trifoliata 'Flying Dragon':












Red horsechestnut; and Iris 'Starwoman':














The North Carolina native weeping winged elm (Ulmus alata 'Lace Parasol'); Chinese fringe tree in bloom:



























Wisteria floribunda 'Alba' and Bignonia capreolata 'Jekyll':









The rooftop garden:









Creeping phlox amidst a prickly pear with Dianthus giganteus on the right:
Delosperma ashtonii; Tetraneuris acaulis:













A view of the Xeric Garden of plants that thrive in dry or well-drained environments:
Sabal minor (r):