The flowering of the magnolia marks a turning point in our London garden. It’s a fleeting moment, the petals falling just as they appear to be reaching their prime, but it’s a magical moment all the same. Through the winter months our secluded plot is plunged into perpetual shade. The soil remains cold and wet, and there is little cheer. But with the magnolia comes the sun (or should that be the other way round?) and a host of jewel-like spring flowers.
The juxtaposition with Kerria japonica ‘Pleniflora’ is an awkward one. Blush pink magnolia blooms and brash yellow pompoms are hardly a match made in heaven, but I haven’t the heart to rip out either. Individually they are both splendid spring plants – straight forward and easy to grow. A match for the kerria in the yellow stakes is Caltha polypetala, the kingcup, or giant marsh marigold. This moisture-loving perennial rises early from the margins of our pond (or ‘the lake’ as Him Indoors describes it), appearing blissfully unaware that such a thing as winter ever occured. The kingcup’s golden flowers reflect wonderfully in the inky-black water.
Blue is such a welcome flower colour in spring and comes in many forms: scillas, hyacinths, brunneras, forget-me-nots and navelwort, (Omphalodes spp.). One of the best varieties of the latter is Omphalodes cappadocica ‘Cherry Ingram’, which has fresh green leaves and azure-blue flowers. Navelwort enjoys a rich, damp, woodsy soil, so is more or less happy in our garden, although yet to start seeding about.
Not quite blue, but a lovely warm purple is Anemone blanda (winter windflower). I planted a couple of clumps when they were already in growth in the spring of 2014, not expecting them to reappear from our soggy soil. They have, and in rude health, so I have popped in another six groups where I had a gap, selecting the sunniest spot I had available. Amongst the blooms are a few rogue white ones, which stop them looking too much like uniform bedding. How could anyone not be cheered by these porcelain-perfect little flowers?
All the blues and purples provide a perfect foil for daffodils, still going strong despite it being the middle of April. Those pictured below are a bargain-bucket purchase that I failed to label – a pity as they are very elegant and I would like more. I enjoy the way the petals twist slightly to suggest movement, but am less charmed by the trumpets, which juvenile snails seem to have found particularly delicious. Time to break out the slug pellets I think.
From now on our urban woodland garden will burgeon, foam and froth, the foliage of aquilegias, foxgloves, hostas and epimediums quickly disguising any fading bulb leaves. Yet it will never recover the fleeting vitality it possesses now. A moment to treasure.
Categories: Bulbs, Flowers, Foliage, Garden Design, Plants, Small Gardens
You are a bad influence, Dan, leaving me with lascivious dreams of small-space gardening in my new life (which is about to be announced…)
I had no idea I had so much influence Jack. Heaven forbid I should induce lascivious thoughts (what a superb word by the way)! Small gardening has a lot to recommend it. It needs quite a lot of discipline, which apparently I don’t have! Excited to learn your news 🙂
Hello. Can you help me by being more specific about the “name” of the magnolia. On the web unless it specifies Alba, all the pictures show a bubblegum pink not your elegant version. The anemones are very good value but have to be kept well away from the scillas!
I’m certain it’s plain old Magnolia x soulangeana – nothing fancy I’m afraid. M x soulangeana ‘Alba Superba’ is entirely white, without the pink flush.
Love the Anemones. The view from above is beautiful. I am sure the neighbors appreciate it almost as much as you do.
I am not so sure. We have four floors above us and find all sorts of ‘interesting’ debris in the garden, including wooden spoons and coat hangers. Not sure what I should read into that!
Your London garden is beautiful from above or at ground level. 🙂 Do your Koi make it through the winter outside?
Thank you! They are bog standard goldfish and golden orfes Judy, so they stay outside all winter. Unfortunately our pond isn’t nearly deep enough for Koi.
What a delicious spring planting – beautiful!
Thank you your ladyship!
Beautiful and inspiring – Karen
Beautiful garden! I love the pond. There’s a part of me that misses the smaller spaces as I am sometimes overwhelmed. Yours is simply lovely.
Beautiful garden 🙂
When I opened the page, I did an immediate gasp. Oh so lovely. Some of my favourite things in such a small area. I will be running home at lunch to see what has opened this morning in my own garden. I’m still waiting for some of the double snowdrops, my early crocuses are going over now, but my puschkinia have just started, such a wonderful time of the year!
Yes, it is. Sounds like you are a little behind us, but will soon catch up. New leaves are just starting to emerge, and I am just off foraging for herbs along the local lanes.
Lovely, lovely, lovely and lovely (Rogets mislaid)
Lovely is quite adequate Gill. I’ll take any complement I can get 😉
Thank you for your interesting posts! Would you mind telling me what that foliage plant to the right of the kerria is — a bamboo of some kind?
Of course Jo. It’s a black bamboo – Phyllostachys nigra.
Thank you!