Plant Portrait-Smooth Douglasia (Douglasia Laevigata)

An Extreme alpine dwarf, or cushion plant, Smooth Douglasia can be found on moist coastal bluffs, but is much more common growing in the rock wash of the high alpine zone. This makes it an ideal specimen for any rock garden or problem site where soil is sparse. Its flowers are about 1 cm wide, crimson to deep-pink in color, fading to lavender by the end of their cycle. Smooth Douglasia very closely resembles another cushion plant, Spreading Phlox (Phlox diffusa). The name, Laevigata, refers to its small smooth leaves.

Dead Wood part1

Dead wood on trees and woody shrubs is more than often ignored and or removed from a garden setting entirely. Below are some pictures of dead wood that has not been treated so as to contrast with these Bonsai trees that illustrate how it can be skillfully worked, carved, and preserved to become an artistic accent. It is hard to say which is more beautiful....

Macro Garden shots June, 2010

These pictures were taken from various gardens in and around greater Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula. Species illustrated include Asian Dogwood, Spanish Fir, Mountain Hemlock, Evergreen Huckleberry, Maiden Hair fern, Shimpaku Juniper, Northland Blueberry, Japanese bloodgrass, etc. All shots were taken with a Canon macro lens EF-S 60mm.