ProfessorRoush got his wish today. At the close of my last blog entry, I said that I only hoped that the 'Ann' Magnolia would stop being shy and would bloom with the forsythia. Two very warm days later, here it is, dark magenta and screaming yellow, together at last.
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| 'Ann' 4/10/2019 |
Both 'Ann' (a luscious and inviting bloom pictured at left), and 'Jane' (pictured below on the right) are
Magnolia stellata x
M. liliflora hybrids in the "Little Girls" series that were released by the U.S. National Arboretum. Dr. Francis de Vos began the program and it was followed up by Dr. William Kosar, with a total of 8 hybrids ultimately released.
I've written about 'Jane' here before, but not 'Ann.'
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| 'Jane' |
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| 'Jane' 4/10/2019 |
'Ann' is the younger of the two siblings in my garden, beginning her 6th season, and she should eventually reach 8 feet tall and wide if I can keep the deer off of her. 'Jane' is the more mature and taller specimen, already 11 years old and closing in on 10 feet tall. She is opening her more demure pink and cream blooms a little later this year than her sister, with about 1/6th of her blossoms beginning to open at present while over half of 'Ann' is already showing. Since both are blooming well this year in the garden, along with
Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star', I had the welcome opportunity to compare their fragrance. 'Royal Star' is clearly the winner there, very musky and damp, throwing a hint of Cretaceous jungle into the Kansas winds that I can smell for tens of yards downwind. 'Jane' is no slouch however, with a more refined light and almost lemony scent that also carries in the breeze. 'Ann' however, is a disappointment in that regard, only the very lightest fragrance detectable occasionally when my nose is buried right next to her....deepest parts.
There's a cold front coming here soon, though, with 30ºF predicted two nights away, so I hope it doesn't damage the rest of these life-brightening blooms. In other news, I was able to put about 4 good hours into garden yesterday evening. in short sleeves and 75ºF weather, and I cleaned off my entire front landscaping bed, cleared, readied, weeded and fertilized for the season to come. I'd have gotten the back bed done tonight, but I chose instead to go morel hunting. No joy on that end for this gardener, however.
ProfessorRoush got his wish today. At the close of my last blog entry, I said that I only hoped that the 'Ann' Magnolia would stop being shy and would bloom with the forsythia. Two very warm days later, here it is, dark magenta and screaming yellow, together at last.
There's a cold front coming here soon, though, with 30ºF predicted two nights away, so I hope it doesn't damage the rest of these life-brightening blooms. In other news, I was able to put about 4 good hours into garden yesterday evening. in short sleeves and 75ºF weather, and I cleaned off my entire front landscaping bed, cleared, readied, weeded and fertilized for the season to come. I'd have gotten the back bed done tonight, but I chose instead to go morel hunting. No joy on that end for this gardener, however.
When I saw the magnolias on campus blooming I thought to myself "Oh, I bet we'll have a cold frost come through and probably some storms!" It seems to happen every year. At least we've had a good week and a half of bloom before any danger is setting in. Some years aren't so merciful!
ReplyDeleteSo far, they're holding their own. I think the two nights of 30F lows stopped them and "singed" the blooms, but some are yet to open and okay. The cold nights did whack the Star Magnolia for the year. Luckily, my favorite, the yellow Magnolia tree, is still holding off.
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