MAGNOLIAS, SUNNY DAYS AND WEEDS GALORE
Magnolias, sunny days and weeds galore - that sums up this week for me. What glorious and unexpected weather we have had the last few days. It's been hard to resist the urge to be outdoors. The plants have been enjoying it too and the grass has put on such a growth spurt that lawn mowing is needed. Less welcome are all the weeds that have also sprung up overnight (or more likely have been biding their time since the autumn).
As well as weeding, some of the yew hedges missed out on being trimmed last year, so they have had a light (not disturbing any birds) trim this week. So my first photo is of some other neat hedges, adding some structure to the Rose Garden.
My choice for number two in this week's six is the border of spring bulbs. I admit that this was also featured last week, but it is still looking good, and since there are more tulips and camassias still to bloom, it will no doubt feature in the future too.
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On now to the first of this week's magnolias. This one is planted in the centre of the drive turning circle ('You've got your own roundabout!' exclaim visiting children). See what I mean about that grass?
I absolutely love magnolias, despite their sad tendency to get wrecked by frost. The late hard frost we had last year damaged the one in the picture below, so even though the flowers are not fully out yet, I'm including it this week just in case.
Both of these are Magnolia Soulangeana, named after Mr Soulange-Bodin, retired Napoleonic army officer, superintendent of the gardens at Malmaison and renowned botanist. I picture Mr Soulange-Bodin looking like this reclining on a floral sofa, (and although this painting by Tissot dates from the 1870s, and Mr Soulange-Bodin died in 1846, I think it has a suitably early C19th air).
My final Magnolia is a Stellata. You deserve a prize if you can spot it in the photo below. I don't often show pictures of the crappy developing areas of the garden, but this week I have been planting up this tatty little area at the bottom of the Woodland.
It has given me three flowers this year, which is more than I deserve, but I think it will be many years before it makes a decent size shrub.
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That's all from my garden for this week. Thanks, as always, to the Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday.
I enjoyed your Magnolias, I have been out and about spotting some when walking. They make a lovely show.
ReplyDeleteOur local bus gives a great eye level view of the large magnolias which seem to be in every front garden. It's a lovely sight.
DeleteAs I said on Twitter to an Irishwoman, it took me about 20 years to have a star magnolia of a descent size. Yours needs a few more years but I'm sure it will be fine in your garden. I love the location of the other in the middle of the roundabout!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for that one to get bigger too, but at least I didn't trample on it.
DeleteA magnolia flowering against a blue spring sky is a sight to behold. There are some incredibly huge ones around here, don't know how many years it took them but they tower above the (already tall) houses. Hope yours does survive the frost this time, if there is any. Your spring border of bulbs looks lovely and fresh.
ReplyDeleteThere are some huge ones in a nearby village, and one was just a mass of flowers. It looked amazing.
DeleteThe magnolia looks beautiful against the blue sky. Fingers crossed the flowers remain undamaged by frost. Hyacinth 'Woodstock' is lovely and vibrant.
ReplyDeleteI've just been watching Countryfile and the weather forecast looks a bit wintry next week!
DeleteI'm pretty sure that's how I look after a day in the garden. I imagine it's how I appear as I write this.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the Magnolias are looking magnificent; a clear blue sky is really the only appropriate backdrop for such plants!
You look great after your day gardening. I'm going to find one of me to post next week.
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