This is a useful evergreen shrub that provides sweet fragrance during the winter when we are in great need of it. Native to Asia, the common name is "sweet box", although most people refer to it simply as sarcococca. The botanical name comes from the Greek words 'sarcos' (flesh) and kokkos (berry), referring to the fleshy fruits.

Two types are most commonly grown, both having shiny dark green leaves: S. hookeriana humilis and s. ruscifolia. The first is a lower growing (1 to 2 feet) shrub which produces blue-black fruits. The latter grows from 2 to 4 feet and its fruits are reddish.

Doing best in the milder winters of the west coast and south, Sarcococca is ideal for shady parts of the garden, and its fragrant white flowers makes it especially suited for plantings near an entryway.

The cornelian cherry is an easy-care large shrub or small tree. In our climate, it begins to bloom in late January or February, depending on the weather. The individual , golden flowers are held in clusters to make a cloud of blooms. The color show lasts a month or more, then in mid-late summer through fall, bright red fruits (similar to small, elongated cherries, hence the common name) ripen. Besides their ornamental value, they are edible and are used in jams and preserves . Birds love them, too. Fall color tends to be in muted shades of pinks and purples, blending together.

Unlike the better-known native dogwoods with large, white, bract flowers, Cornus mas is quite disease-resistant. It has few, if any, pests. Even our deer and rabbits seem to leave it alone.

Average soil and water conditions are fine. Some books say that it needs a more alkaline soil, but it thrives in our very acid conditions. It also seems to be reasonably drought tolerant here, but may not be in seriously hot-summer areas. Light conditions from full sun to light or partial shade will be successful.

As a multi-stemmed shrub, cornelian cherry will be under 15 feet. If trained to a tree form, it can reach 15 to 25 feet. Ours is as wide as high. There is also a newer small form called 'Golden Glory'. It gets to about 10 feet tall and only 5 feet wide, flowers profusely, and seems to set fruit well. (All of the cornelian cherries set more fruit if more than one plant is present.)

One criticism sometimes levelled at Cornus mas is that it is not especially showy in late spring and early summer. Not that it looks bad, then, mind you, just that it's not flamboyant. The solution to this is to train a May- or June-flowering clematis through the tree's branches. Remember that a very vigorous clematis will probably need to be pruned occasionally, to avoid overwhelming the host. Or, perhaps, consider that being special in the "off" times of the year is all that one plant really needs to do.

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If number and variety of common names are any indication of how much we value a set of plants, then erythroniums must rank high. The above sampling leaves out more than two-thirds of the names listed in the first two books I checked. Oddly enough, given the excitement they cause when seen in the wild, they're rarely asked about in the nursery.

The beautiful foliage, very welcome when it appears in late winter, is often strikingly marked and colored. It alone would justify giving the plant a space in the shady garden. Then add drifts of starry bell flowers in white, pink, lavender-blue, lavender-purple, cream, and yellow. Who could resist?

Well-drained soil, with lots of leaf mold or compost is best, although we've had fine results in our basically lean sand. (Maybe the omni-present alders with their nitrogen-fixing roots help us here....) The bulbs do definitely bury themselves more and more deeply each year, one more reason to not try digging them in the wild, not that anyone would do such a thing anyway. The plants tend to only grow leaves, not flowers, once the bulbs get really deeply buried. Some growers suggest digging a deep hole, putting a big rock in the bottom, and backfilling with nice soil. Then plant the bulbs nearer the surface. That way the rock keeps the bulbs from going too deep.

Some of our local pests like erythroniums as much as people do. Deer will occasionally visit them as part of the great garden salad bar. We've had good results just by planting them in large drifts---we get more flowers than not, almost every year. A loose covering of very light-weight chicken wire (almost invisible and easy to remove before company comes) in the weeks just before and during bloom keeps them quite safe. You can also grow them in a protected spot, as they're small enough to fit in plantings right by the house. We've seen some slug damage, and controlling them will certainly make the grouping look better. Again, larger drifts withstand these pests better than one or two lonely individuals.

Erythroniums can be started from seed, but it takes several years to get blooming-sized plants this way. Nursery-propagated plants will give you more immediate gratification. As is the case with trilliums, there are a few people who are now supplying these, so that we need not commit the sin of buying ones that were collected from the wild.

Pacific coast native iris and their hybrids are among the easiest of irises to grow in the climate of the Northwest. All do best in acid soils (I. douglasiana will also tolerate some lime). They need good drainage, and are quite drought tolerant when established. Iris douglasiana occurs naturally in moist soils as well as those that are well-drained so it is the most flexible in terms of soil conditions. Plants will bloom well in full sun to part shade. Dappled sunlight all day or sun for a few hours is adequate; more sun = more flowers.

Hybrids such as the one pictured ("Junipero") are available in a wide range of brilliant colors with spectuacular markings and blends. Many are iridescent and established clumps can be showstoppers in the garden. Plants can be left undistrurbed for many years, increasing their show as time goes on. Normally hardy in the cool climates of the western Pacific Northwest, mulching during those infrequent "Arctic Express"es is helpful, especially the first year after planting.

Siberian iris are at their peak in this area in May. Besides the straight blue or purplish blue species, there are wonderful hybrids and hybridizers are working towards new and different varieties all the time. Pictured is Butter and Sugar, a striking yellow and white variety.

Siberian iris are wonderfully trouble free and, unlike Tall Bearded Iris, they can be left to clump for years before they need to be divided. The grasslike leaves always look neat, and the spent flower stalks with attached seed heads are striking in dried flower arrangements. They even attract hummingbirds.
The Plant of the Month for June - Rosa rugosa

Deer are a constant presence on many parts of Whidbey Island. Planting roses is risky. You might as well put out a bag of Deer Chow. Except for Rosa rugosa.

This extrememly vigorous Asian native shrub rose can form 6 foot high and wide spreading barriers. Deer may nibble on its new growth but can't seem to damage it. The plant provides good coverage for nesting birds as well.

The species (a bush planted from a gallon container in 1986 is pictured at left) is dotted with single dark pink (bright magenta) blooms from spring to fall. The blooms are very fragrant, and do tend to attract bees.

The spent flowers fall off, not staying on the plant as they decay. Thus the plant tends to look fresh and neat every day.

The "ramanas rose" is very drought tolerant once established and is a wonderful choice for a seaside location.

Many rugosa rose hybrids are also available, with differently colored and/or double flowers, and at differing heights and even growth habits. An added bonus (at least in our garden) is that as the bright red-orange hips (almost cherry tomato-sized) ripen, the seeds fall and provide a feast for birds, especially quail. The hips are also high in vitamin C, although a bit pulpy and seedy.

Rosa rugosa Blanc double du Coubert, a double white shrub type.

Rosa rugosa Belle Poitevine, a double pink.

The Plant of the Month for July - Hemerocallis

Aptly named -- both botanically and commonly -- the name 'hemerocallis' comes for the Greek hemera (day) and kallos (beauty). Another pretty much deer-proof plant, day lilies provide months of carefree color in the summer garden.

Growing in full sun to light shade, each flower lasts only a day, but a succession of new ones open to keep the color show going. In time the plants will form large, weed-choking clumps. They can be easily divided in the fall to increase the area of color they provide.

Colors range from pale cream through yellow, orange, red into dark red purple, many with contrasting colors in the flower throat.

Varieties come in different heights and bloom times, as well. And they make great cut flowers, too.

These late season, flowering shrubs have long lasting flower heads. The flowers range from white to pink, rose, purple and blue. Some varieties (such as 'Alpenglow') even fade through a series of attractive shades; others display a different color depending on the acidity or alkalinity of the soil (blue in acid soils, pink in alkaline ones.) The flowers can be in a variety of shapes, as well -- lacecap, mophead, or with white cone-shaped panicles of flowers. They stay ornamental into the fall. Partial shade (more sun with more moisture) is their preferred location.

Hydrangea aspera is an unusual species, on which the leaves and stems are covered with bronzy to grayish fuzz. The climbing hydrangea grows as a true vine, with white lacecap flowers in the summer and bright yellow and deep green fall foliage colors.

This large, wide-branching deciduous shrub makes up for its winter bareness by filling the summer air with sweet fragrance and by its attractive blossoms and fall show of berries.

One common name -- Harlequin Glorybower -- remarks on the berries, which are bright turquoise and are surrounded by a calyx in shades of pink and cream which reminds one of the collars worn by harlequins. Another common name is from the pungent scent of the leaves when brushed against: peanut butter plant.

Native to east Asia, this shrub will take full sun or part shade (although it looks fresher out of direct, hot sunlight. It can grow to 8 - 12 feet, or higher in its native range.

The Virginia creeper (or woodbine) gets its botanical name from its common one: in Greek, "parthenos" means "virgin" and "kissos" means "ivy". Its five leaflets give us the second word.

Native to Eastern North America, this vigorous deciduous vine can easily cover a fence, arbor, trellis, or abandoned car in your yard. It will climb a tree to 40 or 50 feet or hug the ground as a ground cover of about 12 inches high.

In the fall it puts on a spectacular show of brilliant yellows, oranges and reds before the leaves drop. The display will be better if the plant gets some direct sunlight, but even in shade the leaves develop an attractive range of 'autumn' hues. Shiny dark blue berries are an added bonus. Virginia creeper grows easily in regular soil and will root along the vine if left to its own devices.

The smoke tree is interesting in many seasons, including fall when it puts on a display of color before the leaves drop as the plant prepares for dormancy.

Native to Europe and western Asia, the smoke tree, or bush, adapts to many conditions, and is a good choice for clay soils, seaside gardens, and shady areas. Drought tolerant, it will tend to color up better in poorer soils with less mositure.

The shrub grows to between 10 and 15 feet tall, and will spread as wide. From mid-summer to fall the plant will be covered with fluffy blossoms that give the common name, and part of the botanical name. ("Cotinus" comes from the Greek Kotinos -- the olive. "Coggygria" is Greek for smoke.) Various cultivars provide differing colors of "smoke" or leaves. One popular choice is "Royal Purple", which has dark purple foliage with a crimson rim.

Cotinus obovatus is an American smoke tree, native to the southeastern United States. Its blossoms are not as spectactular, but it is a larger plant in all ways and produces superior fall color.

Although it's more often thought that Washington state gets its nickname "The Evergreen State" from its native conifers like Douglas firs, cedars, and hemlocks, the sword fern is just as responsible for making winters west of the Cascades green.

This native fern can give woods a lush "rain forest" look, although the plant itself is tough and can easily thrive with little water in the summer. The sword fern is also adapted to many different growing conditions, and is seen along road sides in full sun and in deep woods with little direct sunlight.

The sword fern can reach up to 4 or 5 feet high and 3 or 4 feet across. Its fronds are often collected for florist displays, but luckily the plant can survive with even 1/4 of its fronds removed.

Native peoples used sword fern fronds as bedding and as a sort of "shelf lining". It was not generally part of the diet except when food was very scarce, in which case the thick rhizomes were roasted and eaten.

Its abundance in its native area prevents it from being thought of by many gardeners as a choice plant for their garden. But it is excellent under conifers and among rhododendrons and essential for a Northwest native garden look.