White flowers in my garden; not so much

I'm frequently accused of not liking flowers, however nothing could be further from the truth. I love flowers. If I could afford it I would buy fresh cut flowers weekly. I just don't garden for the flowers. Meaning I chose plants for the foliage, the flowers are a bonus. 

There is one kind of flower I wish I could avoid though, plants that bloom white (bet you thought I was going to say pink? nah, they're fine in the right context). I don't care for white flowers in my garden, or white variegation, or especially white containers. White is extremely stark, too bright. It commands attention through the absence of color, almost reading as a hole in the garden. Yes, I know, technically white is all the colors, but that's not how my eyes see it. If you asked about white flowers I'd tell you there are only two, my magnolias; Magnolia macrophylla (which won't be blooming for several weeks) and M. laevifolia...

However I've realized that's simply not true. This spring I've been paying attention, and there are more white flowers in the garden than I realized. This Rhododendron laramie for example...

And Erica arborea var. alpina...

The flowers of Citrus trifoliata are white.

And rather perfect with the bright green new foliage and a blue sky background (yes, I am full of contradictions).

Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Mist' has white puff-ball flowers.

And my lone trillium, T. albidum is most definitely white.

The flowers of Podophyllum peltatum almost escape my eye, hidden as they are beneath the foliage.

The smallest white flowers also may be the ones that make the largest impact in the garden, the tiny blooms of my many saxifrage (this one S. × urbium 'Aureopunctata'). There are literally hundreds of them (maybe thousands?) around the garden right now. 

They are a bit much. I will have to start cutting them back soon before they really start to irritate me. Yes I know. But it's my garden not yours, and that's how I feel. 

Do you mind white in your garden? Maybe there's another color you try to avoid? (for many people I suspect it would be orange)

One morning a few weeks back—on a bright sunny day—it looked like snow was falling in the garden. White petals from a neighbor's tree were drifting down, it was kind of magic (I'm not completely lacking in romantic imagination). 

Enough about white, I also want to talk about how my mahonia are thrilling me this spring. The new growth on Mahonia oiwakensis ssp lomariifolia v tenuifolia started out as a bight red bud.

That bud exploded into this...

The red remains, for now.

But the new foliage is the show-stopper.

New growth on Mahonia eurybracteata 'Cistus Silvers'.

And another (they're seed grown plants so there's some variation).

Mahonia eurybracteata 'Indianola Silver'

And Mahonia x media 'Marvel'.

My oldest mahonia, M. x media 'Charity' (planted on the north side of our house), has reached ginormous proportions. The wind, rain, and heavy fruit load had it leaning into the neighbor's driveway so I trimmed it back last weekend.

But not before taking photos of the fruit...

I love the many shades of blue, purple and green, as well as the subtle powdery "bloom" on the individual fruits. Mother nature can be quite the artist. 

The Bit at the End

Speaking of art, and nature, enjoy this gift article from the NYT. At the very least click through and scan the photos: In the German Countryside, a Farmhouse Turned Lush Cultural Retreat.

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