Ask Kay #3 Chrysogonum virginianum

In Ask Kay #3, we learn about:

chrysogonum virginianum

Chrysogonum virginianum (Green and Gold or Goldstar) is a compact, lush groundcover that grows in partly sunny to shady sites.  It has clean, green foliage and abundant bright golden yellow flowers.  Chrysoganum blooms heavily in mid spring and sporadically throughout the rest of the growing season.  Look for it in the Staircase Garden around the boulders at the top.

More details here at Missouri Botanical Garden page about this flower. This is a great resource for anyone interested in North American plants.

Ask Kay What's Blooming #2: Fringe Tree

Hi Kay,

what do we have here? 

Fringe Tree and Wild Geranium

Kay Says: 

On the north side of the Middle School, on the south side of the Dining Hall/Gym, and in the Picnic Glade, and by Admissions, Chionanthus virginicus, (common names: Fringe Tree, Grancy Greybeard, Old Man's Beard) is blooming.  "Chionanthus" comes from combining  the Greek words "chion" and "anthus" to make "snowflower".
 A spine of Geranium maculatum (Wild Geranium) runs up the slope beneath the Fringe trees next to the Middle School--the geranium is a shade loving plant that will be happy in the shelter of the taller perennials and shrubs that will fill out and bloom later in the summer and fall.  If you look closely, you will also see some tiny iris--Iris cristata--intermingled with the Geranium.
 Look for the peacock blue of  Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Blue Ice' (Blue-star) under the trees against the wall of the Dining Hall/Gym, another fun color combination for this tree.

 Thanks Kay! So: next time you find yourself serenading someone with Oklahoma lyrics, try this variant: "When I take you out in a surrey with the fringe Chionanthus virginicus on top." Pro tip: If you're serenading, probably best not to call anyone on your Oklahoma-themed date "Grancy Greybeard."