In late May, I was invited to do a garden presentation for the Weigum’s Great Plains Landscape Arboretum. In 1989 Jeanne Weigum started the Arboretum in Mobridge South Dakota. The gardening zone for this garden is zone 4, an area that gets very cold in the winter and very hot, dry and windy in the summer. Visiting this garden will help people realize that having a “green thumb” starts with choosing the right plants for the right location. Jeanne pointed out that so many times novice gardeners shop for plants from big box stores, bringing home plants that may or may not grow and flourish in our area. A walk through this lovely garden shows us that we have many beautiful choices that will thrive in cold regions. The Arboretum is set up with a pond and collections of lilac, roses, flowering shrubs, daylilies, asiatic lilies, spireas, viburnums, hostas, mugus, penstemons, grasses and the most amazing collection of peonies and more. The morning we were there the lilacs were in full bloom and full fragrance! A Wedgewood Blue Lilac, next to the pink Marie Francis and the smaller size Wonderblue Lilac. Purples, blues and pinks! An Artic willow, Salix integra Hakuru is one of those specimen trees that would shine in most gardens. Canada Red Cherry is striking! The peonies collections are brilliant. There are 4 collections: Herbaceous peonies, herbaceous from the 1800s selected for stiff stems (Old-time peonies often flop over in the rain and wind), Tree peonies, and Itoh peonies which are a hybrid cross between tree and herbaceous peonies. How gorgeous is this!!
In late May, the peony display was just starting! The Weigum’s Great Plains Landscape Arboretum is a jewel of a garden. A test garden with a purpose.
The Arboretum is set up with a pond and collections of lilac, roses, flowering shrubs, daylilies, asiatic lilies, spireas, viburnums, hostas, mugus, penstemons, grasses and the most amazing collection of peonies and more.
The morning we were there the lilacs were in full bloom and full fragrance! A Wedgewood Blue Lilac, next to the pink Marie Francis and the smaller size Wonderblue Lilac.
Purples, blues and pinks!
An Artic willow, Salix integra Hakuru is one of those specimen trees that would shine in most gardens.
Canada Red Cherry is striking!
The peonies collections are brilliant. There are 4 collections: Herbaceous peonies, herbaceous from the 1800s selected for stiff stems (Old-time peonies often flop over in the rain and wind), Tree peonies, and Itoh peonies which are a hybrid cross between tree and herbaceous peonies.
How gorgeous is this!!
In late May, the peony display was just starting! The Weigum’s Great Plains Landscape Arboretum is a jewel of a garden. A test garden with a purpose.