Today Helen is taking us along on a visit to the beautiful J. C. Ralston Arboretum in Raleigh, North Carolina. There are absolutely stunning plantings there, and it is free.

While crape myrtles are best known for their beautiful flowers, the cinnamon-colored bark on this Japanese crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia fauriei ‘Fantasy’, Zones 6–9) arguably is even more beautiful.

In addition to its bright flowers in the spring, this weeping red-leaf redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’, Zones 5–9) has trailing branches covered with beautiful leaves.

Salvia ‘Red Letter’ (Zones 7–9) has clouds of red flowers all summer long, and can be grown as an annual where it isn’t hardy.

Each leaf of this Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Okukuji Nishiki’) is splashed with cream variegation for a beautiful effect. Like many variegated plants, it is a little sensitive to burning in intense sun, so it is growing here in the shade of the lathe house.

This incredible frond belongs to the upside-down fern (Arachniodes standishii, Zones 4–8). I’m not sure why it is called upside-down, but its lacy fronds are beautiful.

Red maples (Acer rubrum, Zones 5–9) are native to much of the eastern half of North America, but this is a variegated version called ‘Snow Fire’. The leaves, splashed with white, blushes pink on the newest growth.

The twining stems of summer wisteria (Wisteriopsis reticulata, Zones 7–10) make maybe an even more dramatic statement than the clusters of purple flowers that will arrive in the summer.

Bright red amaryllis (Hippeastrum ‘Hercules’) is familiar to most of us as a bulb grown inside, but many varieties, like this one, are hardy in Zone 7 and warmer.

For more on this garden, visit the website: jcra.ncsu.edu

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