The NC Arboretum In March

Three days of rain finally gave way to clear blue skies for a long planned visit to the NC Arboretum on St. Patrick's Day. What would be blooming down in Asheville at the lower elevations?

There were anemones. I have those blooming. More every day.



A nice Saucer Magnolia was blooming down there. The one up here struggles. Right when it wants to bloom, it seems another freeze happens and zaps the flowers. The entire tree got zapped once and the plant is mostly sprouts from the base.



It sure would be a nice addition to the garden. I wonder if there is any cold hardiness breeding being done on these?



Trilliums! It still looks pretty brown on the forest floor up here. I did see the very first Hepatica blooming. The trilliums will be along soon.



No hyacinth for you. Bulbarella says they shrink over time and spends her bulb slush fund on things that are more robust.



Daffodils of course and a nice paper bark maple.



The bonsai collection is always a nice thing to see. They must rotate the bonsai so I never feel like I am seeing the same specimens over and over.



The planted Japanese bonsai garden where the potted bonsai are displayed is an integral part of the exhibit.



More daffodils.



Magnolia stellata.



There were several nice specimens of these magnolias at the Arboretum.



And they are listed as hardy to zone 4. Yippee. I can have some.

That ends our March tour of the NC Arboretum which unfortunately and it was confirmed by the gate house dude, there is a 50/50 chance the state may cut off the funds due to budget cuts for this magnificent institution and close the arboretum. That state government officials would even consider such a thing just shows how stupid and out of touch politicians can be.