As observed during April 2007
2/4/07
The magnolias continue to impress. The following three white-flowered species are on the east side of the Copse:
- M. stellata from Japan, Honshu
- M. denudata from Eastern China
- M. kobus from Japan and Korea.
Bulb time in the Alpine House.
- Fritillaria, Narcissus, Scilla, Erythronium, Juno Iris are providing a spectacular display. Complemented by the cushion plants on the north side of the house. Draba, Dionysia and Androsace species
- Synthyris missurica ssp. stellata is the mauve patch on the alpine wall
- Narcissus cultivars in flower on the lawn to the south of the Copse
- Rhododendron oreodoxa var. fargesii - native to China. Several large plants in flower through the copse, blush pink in bloom.
Queen Mother's Memorial Garden plants of interest:
- Berberis lologensis 'Apricot Queen' and Pulmonaria 'Blue Ensign'
8/4/07
Trio of Magnolia cylindrica on the Chinese Hillside and two M. kobus at the view point- Prunus 'Spire' on the Birch Lawn, centre road
- Lysichiton americanus - yellow spathes at the pond edge
- The British natives, wood anemone, A. nemorosa and blue anemone, A. apennina, carpeting the woodland areas.
- Rhododendron uvarifolium var. uvarifolium - a George Forrest collection from 1914 S.W.China forms a mass of pink at the Peat Walls
- Rh. racemosum - collections by Forrest and Yu from the 1920s and 1970s in S.W.China
- Euptelea polyandra Japan. Covered in bloom, the red anthers are conspicuous
- Cercidiphyllum magnificum collected by Ogisu in Japan. Note the delicate spidery anthers protruding from the leaf bud axils
- Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' - large white flowers on two foot tall stems. Glossy green leaves.
- L. aestivum ssp. pulchellum, opposite the West Gate, smaller flowers, native to the islands of Corsica and Sardinia.
16/4/07
- Lathraea clandestina - a parasitic perennial on the roots of Salix. Purple flowers, native to SW Europe
- Pulsatilla sp. through the Rock Garden and on the alpine wall
- Osmunda regalis by the pond lawn - the unfurling fronds are covered in brown indumentum. Native to northern and southern temperate regions, also in the pond lawn O.r. 'Hillii' more advanced growth, light brown fronds
- Malus hupehensis - a Wilson collection from 1912 on the pond lawn
- M. x rubra covered in white blossom
- Trillium grandiflorum two good drifts. Native to E.N.America
- Prunus serrulata 'Yedo Zaura' - pink blossom
- Pyrus salicifolia var. salicifolia - white blossom, pendulous habit. Native to Eastern Turkey, the Caucasus and Iran
- Prunus 'Shirotae', hillside, horizontal growing form covered in white blossom
- Rhododendron rubiginosum var. rubiginosum - a mass of purple flower
- Erythronium revolutum western USA - mottled leaves, hanging pink flowers.
23/4/07
- Exochorda x macrantha on the north side of the pond. Spikes of white flowers
- Sophora microphylla A New Zealand legume, towering out of the sunken courtyard North of the Temperate house
- Malus x gloriosa 'Oekonomierat Echtermeyer'; A 1938 introduction at the palm house entrance. Red buds turn deep pink on opening and fade to light pink
- Berberis darwinii startling orange flowers. Native to Chile and Argentina, Opposite the fern house exit
- Poncirus trifoliate China, Korea. Covered in white flowers, purple filaments as the petals fade. A dense spiny shrub
- Pieris formosa, David Chamberlain's introduction from China in 1975. Full of ivory white, heavily scented flowers and the coloured new growth high in the plant. Also on the Chinese hillside a Ludlow, Sherriff and Elliot collection from 1947
- In the rock garden, in contrast to these large vigorous plants is the compact P.japonica 'Yakushimanum'
- The small leaved Rhododendron at the rock garden are impressive, note Rh. impeditum 1933 introduction by Rock, dark purple flowers fade lighter
- R. williamsianum large pink bell shaped flowers cover these plants, S.W.China and C. Sichuan
- On the Chinese hillside extension, R. rigidum, white flower unusual scent, like toilet cleaner
- Peat walls, Erythronium revolutum and the more delicate Dodecatheon pulchellum, a Ron McBeath collection from 1992, both native to W.N.America
- Magnolia stellata continues to flower
- Prunus avium 'Plena' superbly sculpted trunk on this tree
- Magnolia sprengeri 'Diva' ground beneath covered by Allium oleraceum, "Field Garlic"
- Tulipa species in the Alpine house T. maximowiczii, dwarf species, delicate red. T. linifolia yellow flowers, glaucous leaves. Also a collection of Fritillaria species
- The American Lewisia species are in bud and bloom, delicate to gaudy
30/4/07
- Ornithogalum pyrenaicum "Bath Asparagus" a member of Liliaceae that has colonised the shaded ground beneath the Limes to the north of Inverleith House
- Aesculus hippocastanum "Horse Chestnut". A magnificent flowering forest tree. White flowers clustered on stalks. Various locations throughout the garden
- Ilex aquifolium "Holly"
- Hyacinthoides nonscriptus "Bluebell"
- Hyacinthoides hispanicus "Spanish Bluebell"
- H. h. ‘Bracteata' Long green strap like bracts beneath the flower buds
- H.x massartiana The vigorous hybrid between H. hispanicus x H. nonscriptus. in the rock garden
- Caltha palustris, "Marsh Marigold" vivid yellow flowers, at the pond in the Ecological garden
- Primula vulgaris "Primrose" Demonstration garden
- Allium ursinum "Ransomes" Herb layer in the Cryptogrammic area. White star like flowers