The Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ on the bank today.

First flowers on one of the Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ on the bank.

Outside the Back Yard.

Outside the Front Gate.

Flooded water meadows and swans, ducks, pheasants and 2 egrets.

Magnolia ‘Eleanor May’ is a New Zealand cross between M. x soulangeana ‘Rustica Rubra’ and M. campbellii subsp. mollicomata ‘Lanarth’. Its never been as good as this before in 40 Acres.

Also in 40 Acres Magnolia mollicomata ‘Werrington’ flowering its heart out.

The Schefflera in 40 Acres which is not quite S. macrophylla.

A young Magnolia ‘F. J. Williams’ at the entrance to Old Park.

First flowers out on Magnolia ‘Coronation’ above the Beatrice Rose Plantation of Camellia sasanquas.

Magnolia ‘Leonora’ blown open prematurely and not a good colour this time.

2024 – CHW
Despite the wind, or perhaps because of it, many of the best very dark red and very dark purple magnolias are just coming out. So, today, an attempt to look at some of the best of the newer ones.Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’ above the Crinodendron Hedge. Rather better and darker today than the Tin Garden one which we saw blown open 10 days ago.

A young Camellia japonica ‘Strawberry Parfait’. The flowers seem buried in the foliage.

Magnolia ‘J.C. Williams’ x Magnolia ‘Apollo’ just coming out in Tin Garden. Not much sign of ‘Apollo’ so far!

Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’ (M. ‘Black Tulip’ x M. soulangeana ‘Deep Purple Dream’). Confusingly the name ‘Aphrodite’ appeared long after we planted this cross.

Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’. No specific name as far as I know. Rounded flower.

Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’ (M. ‘Black Tulip x M. soulangeana ‘Deep Purple Dream’) only just starting but not that different today to ‘Aphrodite’ as you can see. These last 3 in Area 24 of Kennel Close.

Magnolia ‘Crystal Tulip’ is not at all bad in Area 25 of Kennel Close.

What is, I presume, natural bark split in our largest Mespilus germanica.

The new to us Magnolia ‘Vulcan’s Forge’ now full out. One of Philippe de Spoelberch’s new hybrids says the Eisenhut book but it does not list the parentage. MSI says on Lunaplant website it is M. ‘Star Wars’ x M. ‘Vulcan’.

Similarly the new Magnolia ‘Flaming Heart’ – very dark outer tepals.

Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ above Hovel Cart Road.

Magnolia ‘Felicity’ x M. denudata – planted 2013 and now quite nice on Hovel Cart Road but nothing very special.

Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘J.C. Williams’ planted in 2013 above Hovel Cart Road. Is this now officially called M. ‘Anne Leitner’, or is it called ‘A. E. Bold’, or is this another unnamed seedling from the same cross? No way of knowing when we get subsequent naming as here. Not much different to ‘Anne’ Leitner’ though, ‘Aphrodite’, ‘A. E. Bold’ and ‘Antje Zandee’ are all very similar indeed (as you would expect from much the same parentage). All good, all well worth growing, but does one really need all 4? I would argue that our M. ‘Leonora’ might even be a better colour but that would be obvious favouritism!

2023 – CHW

A visit to Belvoir Castle to place out 250 rare and unusual trees from Burncoose in the parkland and woodland gardens.

An ancient tractor and Hamamelis mollis ‘Pallida’ in the newly developed Engine House Yard.

Helleborus argutifolius just opening.

Double flowered snowdrops (few singles) carpet literally acres of the woodland.

More new spaces for planting flowering trees for below the castle.

Topiary and shrouded statues.

David Austin has supplied new roses to go into the rose garden.

Here is a short video made by Karol with Emma, Duchess of Rutland.