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Thousands upon thousands of magnolia buds are spread about our small acreage, portending the time when spring will again show its presence on the land. These many magnolia buds make winter so much more bearable for me... they are a promise of what is to come and I love to gaze upon them from the windows at Oak Lawn through the shortened days of winter... it takes but a small amount of imagination to see in the mind's eye what they represent.
Last year was somewhat of a disappointment regarding the magnolia bloom... blossoms on many of the trees were damaged by the cold which followed unseasonable warmth in March. On the other hand, the earlier blooming forms may have been their best ever. This is why I grow a variety of all sorts of plants in my gardens... what may be bad for one tree or shrub may well be the perfect thing for another in a particular year. Waiting two consecutive for bloom would be difficult at the very least were it not for other blooming trees to fill the void created by an unseasonable freeze.
I harbor a bit of concern for the season to come... we are in the 50's and it's December. Though we've seen this many times in the past and find it to be pleasant, I am concerned that another very early batch of warm days followed by freezing temperatures could happen in March as was the case last year. This is not what a magnolia lover wants to have happen, anymore than an orchardist who depends on the bloom of his trees for fruit or perhaps livelihood.
This year is unique in that every magnolia on the property has flower buds except for one tree which may well be in too much shade. My anticipation is on high alert as I look forward to seeing at least a dozen magnolia trees bloom in my gardens for the first time.
It is time to once again take stock of the magnolias at Oak Lawn. There are less than last year for a variety of reasons. I am pleased to know that there does not appear to be verticillum wilt in the soil (after having tests done) and the trees that were lost were most likely affected by herbicides... yes, my grass will be a bit weedier in the future, at least where the lawn has magnolia roots under it.
Where possible I will include photos from this season in my magnolia update. In some cases this is not possible due to blossoms having been frozen this year. There are now 57 magnolias of 38 different varieties in the gardens of Oak Lawn Cheese Factory, and I have the urge to once again add to that number. There is always something new and special becoming available and in the case of my lost 'Crescendo' tree, due to root damage caused by my lawn edger, I simply must replace it!
1. Leonard Messel
2. Stellata #1 of 4
3. Magnolia kobus var. stellata 'Jane Platt'
Will bloom for the first time this season!
4. Magnolia stellata 'Pink Perfection'
5. Magnolia x kewensis 'Wada's Memory'
6. Magnolia soulangiana #1-3
7. Magnolia x soulangiana 'Brozzoni'
(well developed buds froze 2012 season)
8. Magnolia x soulangiana 'Burgundy'
9. Unknown cultivar of Magnolia x soulangiana
10. Magnolia x soulangiana 'Rustica Rubra'
(well developed buds froze 2012 season)
12. Magnolia x soulangiana 'Alexandrina' #1-2
13. Magnolia kobus var. stellata 'Rosea x M. liliiflora 'Nigra' (Betty) #1-3
14. Magnolia kobus var. stellata 'Rosea x M. liliiflora 'Reflorescens'' (Pinkie) #1-2
15. Magnolia kobus var. stellata x Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra' (Ann) #1-2
16. Magnolia kobus var. stellata 'Rosea' x Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra' (Susan) #1-2
17. Magnolia 'Galaxy' (Magnolia liliiflora 'Nigra' x Magnolia sprengeri 'Diva' #1-2)
(Galaxy is a shy bloomer until it gets to be fairly old)
18. Magnolia 'Butterflies' (M. acuminata x M. denudata 'Sawada's Cream' #1-2)
19. Magnolia 'Yellow Bird' (Magnolia acuminata x (M. x brooklynensis 'Evamaria'))
(older photo... well developed buds froze 2012 season)
21. Magnolia 'Elizabeth' (Magnolia acuminata x denudata)
22. Magnolia 'Savage Splendor' (M. acuminata 'Fertle Myrtle x M. sprengeri 'Dark Diva')
Will bloom for the first time this season!
23. Magnolia 'Daybreak' ((M. brooklynensis 'Woodsman') x 'Tina Durio') #1-2
24. Magnolia 'Simple Pleasures' (M. liliiflora x M. 'Norman Gould')
25. Magnolia 'Sunset Swirl' (M. 'Pink Royalty' x M. 'Daybreak')
(Yet to form buds)
26. M. 'Pink Royalty' x 'Daybreak'
(well developed buds froze 2012 season)
28. Magnolia 'Blushing Belle' (M.'Yellow Bird' x M. 'Caerhays Belle')
Will bloom for the first time this season!
29. Magnolia 'Roseanne' (M. lilliflora 'O'Neil' x M. kobus 'Norman Gould)
30. Magnolia 'Angelica' (M. Pegasus x M. soulangeana 'Sawada's Pink')
Will bloom for the first time this season!
31. Magnolia 'Red Baron' (M. acuminata x M. 'Big Dude')
(well developed buds froze 2012 season)
32. Magnolia 'Toro'(well developed buds froze 2012 season)
33. Magnolia loebneri 'White Rose'
34. Magnolia sieboldii 'Colossus' #1-3
(well developed buds froze 2012 season)
(Yet to form buds)
36. Magnolia tripetala
37. a mislabeled yellow with large blooms
38. And finally, a self-seeded tree having heavy bud set even as a young plant and tiny blooms barely two inches in diameter...
I'll close with a few magnolias in the context of garden views.
Larry
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