Arbutus unedo commonly called strawberry tree also madrone. Also called Arbutus fruits. It’s evergreen shrub 10’ x 7’. It is closely related to true strawberry’s of the genus Fragaria. 3 stages of growth pics below demonstrating the developement and color. They ripen in fall. Mule deer in the wooded area watching me clean pine needles from the garden today. Oregon Fall showing ornamental cherry trees of yellow , bronze and orange against the back drop of the 100’ - 150’ Douglas fir trees , the National State Tree. A fast growing tall evergreen native to the Pacific Northwest. It is commercially important for timber and has historical significance for Indigenous peoples. Some impressive specimens in Oregon reach heights over 300 feet, with the tallest measured at 327 feet. Far background in the pic below on the left is the famous Dixie Mountain area where X-mass tree farms grow trees that are cut and shipped all over the US for the holidays. Picture taken from the west pasture.
Oreti you have a hellebore already… I luv hellebores they are so easy to care for and always bloom in abundance. They are the first to bloom even bursting thru the snow in late winter early spring. Some hellebores get confused and bloom in fall. If you can get double blooms get a couple. Hellebores are so pretty and extremely cheerful to see in late winter. Double hellebore’s from last winter .. Flower Girl and Wedding Party. I hope they have these or similar in the UK. Just wanted to show you the double blooms …they Only bloom in late winter or early spring .
Very pretty Pac. I love Hellebores, such a welcome sight in a Winter garden. We have a fair few scattered throughout the garden and some are doubles, this particular one is a weak looking specimen...I think it woke up too early!! This is the earliest bloom we have ever had. This is one of our favourites here, pic taken early this year.
Oreti glad you have hellebore double blooms. When I first read “this was the first bloom”. I understood it to be the first hellebore in your garden. Sorry for this misunderstanding , I should have known better your garden is full of just about everything that can be grown in your zone , but very happy to see your beautiful white double bloom.
No worries at all Pac, my fault entirely for my choice of wording. I noticed yesterday that there are several springing up in our paving too!! I can't remove them very easily so I will leave them be and see what surprises are in store.
Great to see they are growing up thru the brick. That’s a good thing. They are tough little plants and will bloom for you bring lots cheer and color first thing in late winter /spring . They are a special treat after a long hard winter. Mine are all growing new leaves and always set seed everywhere. So many I have to pull them out tiny and so close together. They are tricky to get the blooms in a close up pic unless ya practically stand on your head, easier to pic and set in vases for me to get pics. Be careful handling them though they can cause a rash is an allergic reaction or irritation that can occur after touching hellebore plants, causing symptoms like redness, burning, itching, and sometimes blistering. It is a type of plant-induced dermatitis and is caused by compounds in the plant, like ranunculin. Symptoms typically appear on exposed skin after handling the leaves, stems, or roots.
What I have done in the past is to place a hand mirror under a bloom to photograph it. Oh thanks for the heads up, I haven't as yet suffered any reaction after handling them......but now I definitely won't leave it to chance.Thanks Pac.
