Former Garden Superintendent David Nial in collaboration with Presby Board Member and Essex County Agricultural Agent Jonathan Forsell, researched alternative and unusual trees and shrubs that can thrive in our zone 6 and be used in the home landscape. These plantings are located in the lawn above the creek creating interest and a border for the iris beds. Each one was chosen for its branching pattern, color and timing of its flowers, and shapes and colors of its leaves.
In order, from the South-West end of the Creek Bed, going down-hill toward North-East end:
Presby Iris Gardens in the Winter
Trees above Creek Bed
Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica)
Magnolia intermedia “Elizabeth”
Hybrid Witchhazel (Hammamelis x intermedia “Primavera”)
Hybrid Witchhazel (Hammamelis x intermedia “Diane”)
Wisteria floribunda ‘plena’
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, seedling)
Columnar Purple Beech (Fagus sylvatica “Dawyck’s Purple”)
Purple Smoketree (Cotinus coggygria “Royal Purple”)
Fall-flowering Higan Cherry (Prunus serrulata “Rosy Cloud”)
Pondcypress (Taxodium ascendans nutans)
Japanese lilactree (Syringa reticulata “Ivory Silk”)
Hardy Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia “Natchez”)
Katsura Tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum)
Korean Stewartia (Stewartia koreana)
White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
Grasses alongside the Creek Bed:
In order, from West end of Creek Bed, with (W) indicating West bank and (E) the East bank:
(W) Red Switch grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Rehbraun’)
and Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’)
(W) ‘Silver Feather grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Silberfeder’)
(E) Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’
(E) Indian grass ‘Sioux Blue’ (Sorghastrum nutans ‘Sioux Blue’)
(W) Red Switch grass (Panicum virgatum “Rehbraun’)
and Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’)
(W) Red Switch grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Rehbraun’)
and Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus)
(E) Ravenna Grass (Erianthus ravennae)
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