@MariposaMaid I'll have to look that one up - thank you!!

John - thank you as well!!!

FYI placed an order thru a nursery I found here on east side of the states Quakin' Grass Nursery https://www.quackingrassnurser... for the 'Mohawk' (sadly the VIBURNUM FARRERI was sold out) and a Crinum x 'Fragrant Lady' to keep the Crinum 'Ellen Bosanquet' I got from Sally company. I'll let you all know how everything looks when I get it. Very prompt and helpful email responses from owner.

Bottlebrush Buckeye - Aesculus parviflora - is a fabulous plant for summer bloom and fall color. Quite the insect attractor, it is also pleasantly fragrant on sultry summer days.

This plant has graced the Valley since 1992, and I've continued to expand the holdings through growing out seedings, by division of layering stems, and addition of a few choice named selections. Both the species and variety Aesculus parviflora var. serotina are pretty much problem-free here, though they appreciate some supplemental watering if you are beset with an extended drought period.

These plants do very well in shade, and fuller exposure to sun will reward with really heavy flowering. Here are a few pictures of the species from my landscape:

Settled in, in June 2005:


2001 Camry 'Old Blue' for scale:


Winter dormancy character, at Gratz Park in Lexington KY:


Beginning to swallow the driveway, June 2006:


Demonstrating its orangey gold fall color at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville KY:


Summer of 2020, still a star:

Wow! I have a bottlebrush from Sally that's been in a pot, looks ready to plant out now (or bigger pot and plant in fall). Looks like another good one to put along the back edge of my treeline, where it can increase and help hide the neighbor's blockade fence.

I need to look up pollinators for my blackhaw viburnum. Saw a few flowers last year but no fruit.

Looks like my best bet is another blackhaw viburnum, but not propagated from my plant, must be genetically different.

Yes, another seedling plant or one of the (now many) fine named selections. Gary Ladman probably lists them all at Classic Viburnums.

https://www.classicviburnums.c...

I'm successfully growing 'Summer Magic', 'Crimson Robe', 'Fall Fire', 'Forest Rouge', 'Early Red', and 'Wilson Compact' (a very narrow form). That doesn't count the innumerable seedlings around the Valley that resulted from good fruiting and buffets for the birds.

And 'Bourbon Barrel' - my selection...

'Bourbon Barrel' is the one on the left end of the photo? PLMK if/when/where it's commercially available!

You can come dig one up, at your leisure.

Then you can corner the East Coast/MidAtlantic market...

LOL. I checked maps.google, and you are on the way to Mammoth Caves, definitely a "destination" for us at some point (I've been but DH and DD have not), although Jim likes to fly... can't you see me with a viburnum tucked into my carry-on? "No, really, I'll just put it under the seat in front of me. Not a problem."

Years ago (mid 90's) when I'd flown to FL for my grandmother's funeral, out of everything the only thing I really wanted was her Christmas cactus. So there I was carrying it in my arms boarding the plan and plopping it down on my lap. The flight attendant walked passed - backed up - and said as nicely as possible, 'That will need to be placed beneath the seat.' To which I had a melt down including tears saying I didn't think it would fit and I couldn't let anything happen to it. Bless my sis as she explained briefly. The attendant was so kind. She said, 'Please at least put it on the floor and whatever you can make fit under the seat w/o damaging it - try to do so. Once we're in the air with seatbelt sign off you can put it back on your lap.' I've never forgot her kindness.

Late to this party..

Bottlebrush buckeye is wide, and can get tall and big, I saw an old one at a historic place in Annapolis, holy cow (Paca House, Judy). I'm thinking of trying to clear out mine at the base, don't know if that'll work or if it'll insist on putting up new shoots from the base. John..? It likes to make 'laying' branches that root but then you're fighting the rest of the branches and roots trying to dig them out. I would call the scent subtle at best, at least my two (mother and daughter) or maybe overwhelmed by other garden items (Clerodendrum? PB shrub)
Jill, tell the little darling the buckeye nuts from this are not edible. They are fun though. Even while they are ripening on the shrub in a pod, or sack of sorts.... well, they are.. interesting..

John I expect you found 'Old Blue' to be a very reliable cultivar. We are happy with everything we have in the family Toyotaceae.

Indeed, Sally.

Living just down the street from TMMK doesn't hurt, nor does getting the family discount when you have a brother that works at the factory.

I was introduced to Toyotaceae in 1986, when I got my first and sporty Celica. That was Young Blue, 4 speed, and made for a single guy. Lasted 386,000 miles for me till the AC and heater gave out. Sold it to my mechanic for his niece.

Old Blue came next, for the married guy - 2001 Toyota Camry. It lasted to 468,000 miles, and suspect could have exceeded 500K if I hadn't hit a limestone curb in Cherokee Park and bent the hub assembly.


I replaced Old Blue with Goldie, a 2010 Toyota Camry (sensing a theme here?). She is still with us, but getting a bit gray now at 314,066.


Marianne drove the 2005 Toyota Tundra for over 200K, before giving it up in fall 2019.


We took the occasion of having aging vehicles to exploit a clearance sale opportunity over Thanksgiving weekend 2019. Came home with a 2019 Toyota 4Runner (Marianne) and a 2020 Toyota RAV4 (me). We are pleased, and I have not racked up the serious miles on Ruby with the onset of COVID-19 last year and working primarily from home. Alas, we go back in the office June 10, so Ruby and I will be seeing a lot of each other soon.


And finally: The One That Got Away...

Since getting our CR-V when we moved up to Frederick, we've been going with cultivars of Hondaceae. When we think we may exceed the cargo capacity of the CR-V or her RAV-4, Terri and I take the Odyssey up to Black Creek Nursery. Last time we took the RAV-4, but it was pretty tight with my 2 bales of potting mix!

This is somewhat relevant to this thread, as my viburnums have all traveled home in one of the above!

Lookit Ruby shyly peeking out from behind the dogwood...and didn't I meet Tundra in Baltimore once? Or would the parks let you take a truck all the way east for a plant buy?
Sure it's relevant! LOL. Chantell is sweet she wouldn't complain.

Never took a Parks truck up your way. The Tundra went on a trip to the HSA Board meeting in NJ, and picked up a load from Pleasant Run Nursery to bring back to Yew Dell Gardens - and Viburnum Valley.

Otherwise, it was always Old Blue or Goldie making the road trips up East...

Here I was excited my lil Elantra hit 200,000 before almost dying. NOTE: I'm not the best car owner so that was a miracle in itself. I now have 'Shemar' a Hyundai Tucson that I love and can carry lots of stuff!!!

Alas @Sallyg, Bottlebrush buckeye naturally forms a colony 20x20x14 high! Mine from you is still in its 5gal pot! https://awaytogarden.com/great...

Our current delivery fleet
98 Odyssey 350k
97 Oasis (same as Odyssey) 280k
97 Accord wagon 295k
98 Subaru Outback 180k