The White Garden

Camellia transnokoensis

This is supposed to be the White Period in my garden with the Magnolia stellata as the star of the show. 

Magnolia stellata flowers

Magnolia stellata 

                

The magnolia is backed up  by the Victoria plum blossom, damson blossom, Spirea 'Bridal Wreath', Viburnum tinus and Camellia transnokoensis  with a scattering of gound-level white hyacinths, white bergenia, white tulips and white wood anemones. 

                                                    Camellia transnokoensis

Camellia trasnokoensis is a  dainty bush with tiny, single flowers, I suppose nearer to the original wild ones than our modern big double ones. It is named after Mount Noko and  is native to Taiwan. It has a long flowering period, from December to April and  has proved to be hardy in a pot on my terrace. Its slightly pointed white buds have a red splotch and the flowers are pure white. 

        Hyacinth                       Damson 'Merryweather'               Camellia transnokoensis

All these white plants are there, sure enough, but the recent cold spell has meant they are no longer in unison but staggered. This is all still marvellous but I can't really call it a white garden. The whole idea was never mine in the first place. It's one of those things a garden will do whether you plan it or not. And it's spectacular when it happens - only not this year. 

I was greatly pleased to discover that several Anemone blanda  seem to have managed to plant themselves in the lawn. What with those and the determined snakeshead fritillary, which likes the way the lawn turns into a marsh in winter and the usual buttercups, daisies, white clover and self heal, I have the beginnings of a wildflower meadow without even trying, It's largely due to the lockdown when my invaluable grandson couldn't get here to do the mowing. Now he's just given the lawn a trim for the first time this year. Perhaps I'll let it grow for a bit - I like the idea of a meadow.  

I'm hoping the threatened frost on Tuesday night will not polish off the plum and damson blossom and the two tiny echium seedlings that survived the last cold attack. 

Happy Easter!