There are two very pretty magnolias in view from the kitchen window and they look especially good as they are lit by the setting sun. We have admired them as we have done the after-dinner washup over the last week and have commented that we must go out and photograph them but it was only this evening that I did so.
We saw Magnolia soulangeana ‘Heaven Scent’ on a visit to Bodnant Gardens in north Wales some years back and added Magnolia solangeana ‘Raspberry Ice’ (very similar) some years later when we saw it in a garden centre. Together they make a good splash of colour as they have made good growth over the years since planted.
There is what I will describe as an ordinary Magnolia soulangeana down the lane. I call it that because I don’t recall it ever having a cultivar name and, even if it once had a name it is long lost to my memory as the tree was planted about thirty five years ago. It has performed wonderfully over the years except for the occasional year when the flowers have been caught by a hard frost.
This bed is home to some plantings of trilliums which have performed very well over recent year and, through division, have increased very well so that they now make a good contribution to this bed. Trillium chloropetalum has done best here and Trillium albidum is also excellent and has been the one I have increased most – by growing on self-sown seedlings and planting out where they have space to grow. Trillium kurabayashi has made good progress in the last few years as I have given it more attention and divided it more frequently. There are three interesting and attractive named cultivars of Trillium chloropetalum in this bed also but are only in small numbers to date. Trillium chloropetalum ‘Bob Gordon’ is a beautiful yellow form, a good strong yellow and a good grower, while Trillium chloropetalum ‘Val Mulvihill’ is paler but I am delighted that the plant has two flowers as I only planted it last year – a gift from a gardening friend. Anoter form of Trillium chloropetalum, which came as a gift from a friend, has yellow-green flowers with a suffusion of red at the base of the petals. These will add variety and interest as they increase in number.
It was a little cool and breezy and not a time for dilly-dallying with the camera but these few things were in the same area: Click to view enlarged images and to start a slideshow:
Paddy Tobin, An Irish Gardener 
I’m glad I can enjoy spring vicariously, especially all the lovely trilliums. We’re under a blizzard warning – 5″-8″ of wet snow and high winds tonight.
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Almost constant rain all through March has been our lot but we have had no frost all month so growth has continued in the garden. The downside is that the soil is so wet that it is very messy to work on it; in fact it is better not to do so at present. I have done one or two jobs alright because if they were not done they would have had to be left until next year – division of two very large hostas, for example – but although the grass could do with being cut I simply could not put a lawnmower on the ground at present.I hope the blizzards pass without doing any harm!
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I have an app on my phone called SEEK. It identifies plants. I used it the other day to find out the name of a flowering tree growing near an office building I had exited from. It’s a star magnolia, a real nice tree.
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The Star Magnolia is a very good plant here also, a reliable performer and one that gives a good show every year. I am delighted to see your interest in horticultural matters blossoming!
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Wow! I’m just amazed at the wonderful gardens you’ve got there. I’d be in 7th heaven wandering around them! Beautiful!
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We are fortunate to have a mild climate – we don’t have very cold winters nor very hot summers and generally have plenty of rain to ensure growth though this past month we really have had more that we would want. The rain restricted our outings to visit gardens this month but we hope to get out and about more as the weather improves.
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I’m looking forward to the fotos!
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I have read your latest instalment – what a very interesting place!
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Thank you- any guesses on the mystery object? 🙂
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None at all.
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Beautiful views. The magnolias look magnificent and the Trilliums are lovely.
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Our conditions suit the magnolias and they grow well for us and are only on the occasional year affected by frosts. Mount Congreve Gardens are only ten minutes away and there is a huge collection/planting of magnolias there. It really is spectacular. I’m very very happy with the trilliums. For years I baulked at growing them, given how expensive they can be to buy – only very recently I saw a small plant on sale at €25! – and how dry plants are so very slow to establish and thrive. Some pieces from friends did far better and I have divided these over the years to build up numbers. I planted out about 80 self-sown seedlings of T. ablibum two years ago and most are into flower now so I look forward to these making a good display here.
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Wonderful photos Paddy, as usual. I am especially in awe of your trilliums, absolutely amazing, especially Bob, absolutely stunning!
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Yes, ‘Bob Gordon’ is an outstanding plant and remembers a wonderful person.
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