Prunus mume
Prunus mume ‘Pegggy Clarke’ is in full bloom in back and half in bloom in part shade in front of the house. I’ve always thought PG was a rather virulent purple. It looks purple when you drive past the one in Forsyth Park. But this doesn’t look so bad. Maybe it’s not really ‘Peggy Clarke.’ ‘Bonita’ is a softer pink, so maybe this is it. How confusing. Can’t remember where I bought this one. The ‘Bonita’ is Woodlanders, and I think they usually get their varieties right.
A few days ago, I noticed there was a cluster of blooms on the Lady Banks. This morning there is another. I suppose spasms of warm weather are the cause. Someone should tell her she’s a couple of months early. The swamp jessamine and honeysuckle aren’t even in flower yet.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden says, “Prunus mume should be pruned after flowering; cut half of the long shoots back by one-half to two-thirds so that each year you will have both encouraged long shoots on which more flowers will be produced in the future and still saved enough flower buds for the coming winter. ” I realize I have probably just done it wrong on my tree in back by cutting back all the long, non-flowering shoots by half. We shall see.
I love your prunus blooms. Looking at them makes me dreaming of warmer days (which will come in a few months again!).
Some prunus plants are growing here too, their blooms are even of brighter pink colour. Enjoy your warm temperatures!
Barbara
Comment by Barbara — January 13, 2008 @ 10:03 am
Thank you, Barbara. Yes, I am planting more and more Prunus mume because they are the very first thing to bloom in spring. The snag is that this means spring is on the way and I need to get my garden chores done rapidly because by June it will be too hot to work outdoors for more than about half an hour!
Comment by karen — January 13, 2008 @ 10:30 am