Category: Bloom Reports

Periodic reports of what’s in bloom at Willowwood

Spring! March 2016

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Spring is on its way to Willowwood! Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) and snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) are out in full force now, especially in the Cottage Garden and the Rockery. The Cottage Garden looks as though it is covered in a bright yellow carpet: winter aconite has naturalized beautifully there. Crocuses are just beginning to make an appearance; a few have just opened on the lower slope of the Rockery.

Now is also the perfect time to spot witch hazels blooming at Willowwood. Perhaps the most impressive specimen here is Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’, which sits just outside the Cottage Garden along the drive, directly opposite the Conservatory. Its flowers appear a warm coppery orange from a few feet away, but on closer inspection reveal themselves to be red at the center, orange in the middle, and yellow at the tips. The petals are delightfully crumpled, like partially unfurled paper party horns at a child’s birthday celebration. It is easy to see why this lovely selection from the Kalmthout Arboretum in Belgium was given an Award of Garden Merit (AGM) by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Another witch hazel that should not be missed isHamamelis vernalis ‘Fragrant Star’, which can be found in the Winter Garden adjacent to the parking lot. It is covered in golden yellow flowers, which true to the plant’s name, give off a pleasant, spicy scent. Several other witch hazels in the Winter Garden, like H. xintermedia ‘Primavera’ are still in bud and will open over the next few weeks.

Stop in the Conservatory to see a gorgeous display of Cymbidium orchids. These plants are now covered in dense sprays of bloom in several shades of purple and yellow. See if you can also spot the more delicate, tubular flowers on Lachenalia bulbifera, a South African bulb from the Western Cape.

Reported by:
Sara Perzley
Plant Records Specialist & Propagator​​

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Witch Hazels Flowering – January 2016

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Hamamelis ‘Jelena’ (closeup)

Sara Perzley of the Parks Commission writes (and sends the beautiful pictures):

“Thought I’d send these photos of the two witch hazels between the Cottage Garden and the drive in front of the Tubbs House…they’re in flower and looking lovely. I wouldn’t have expected blooms until mid to late February, but I guess they got a bit off schedule with the warmer weather earlier on!”

Click on an image to enlarge.



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Early Winter Highlights — December 2015

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w. ‘Winter Gold’

The official start of winter is only a few weeks away. Willowwood is entering a quieter season, but there are still highlights in the gardens and surrounding landscape to notice and enjoy on your next visit.

The arboretum’s subtle, early winter color palette is greatly enlivened by its many winterberries (Ilex verticillata), some of which greet you from along the Willow Path as you approach the parking lot. In autumn, these deciduous hollies produce masses of showy, bright red fruit on otherwise bare stems. The cultivar ‘Red Sprite’ sings out from the far corner of the Cottage Garden, where its fruit contrasts nicely with the deep green of the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) leaves above it. Don’t miss ‘Winter Gold’, (photo at right) either, in the Winter Garden between the main parking lot and the alfalfa field. This selection is covered in fiery coral-hued fruit.

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M. hupenhensis fruit

Another woody plant sporting lovely fruit this time of year is the tea crabapple (Malus hupehensis). Its small, glossy pome-fruits (photo left) look like miniature sour cherries, and range in color from deep red to wine red. A number of these trees punctuate the Bee Meadow.

If you continue to the far end of the Bee Meadow and cross Blackburn Brook, be sure to stop and have a look at the stewartia collection on the opposite side of the bridge on the left. Stewartia monadelpha and Stewartia malacodendron both have gorgeous mottled bark in shades of copper, grey and pink that really stands out in winter. Perhaps you will even catch a glimpse of a Red-tailed Hawk perched in the branches overhead (photo below at right).

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The meadows along the main drive are also excellent places to spot hawks and other wildlife and simply go for a wander. Their winter tapestry of subtle colors and textures looks especially magical in the slanted light of early morning and late afternoon.

If you need a place to warm up after a walk outside, stop in the Conservatory, which is packed with tender plants that are sheltering from the colder weather. The large, bold flowers of the South African blood lily (Haemanthus albiflos) are just opening now (photo below), and the camellia (Camellia japonica ‘Berenice Boddy’) is covered in pink blossoms.

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Haemanthus albiflos


October 2015 Bloom Report

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There is a Fall Open House scheduled for Sunday October 4, 2015 from Noon to 4 pm with garden tours and the Tubbs House is open — but if you can’t visit then, come any day to the Arboretum 8 am to dusk and enjoy these beautiful gardens.

Judy Schaible, Superintendent of Horticulture at Willowwood, has provided this Fall Bloom Information:
“We’ve been busy at Willowwood keeping the gardens and newly planted trees watered this very dry summer so the gardens still have a lot of show left in them!
As you wind your way down the driveway through the fields you’ll see yellow Goldenrod(Solidago), purple New England Aster (Symphotrichum novae –angliae) and the coppery fall color of Little Bluestem(Schizachrium scoparium) in the meadows that surround you. After you park try taking a walk through the meadow paths, you’ll truly feel immersed in nature.
The Cottage Garden trellis is covered with the beautiful flowers and purple seed pods of the Hyacinth bean (Dolichos lab lab). See if you can pick out the pink flowers of Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate (Persicaria orientalis) towering over one of the beds. Many of the perennials such as Blue Star (Amsonia hubrictii) are starting to get their fall color with the shorter days and cooler nights.
The Elephant Ears (Colocasia) in the bed next the paved driveway have really enjoyed the heat that we’ve had and to quote one of the presidential candidates “They’re HUUUUGE”.
In the Rosarie, the pink Crape Myrtelettes (Lagerstroemia) are happily blooming away along with all of the annuals. If you saw this garden in the spring you have to come back and see it now. What a transformation!!
The Wood Walk should be starting with some fall color soon and is a relaxing stroll in any season.
Please come visit us and enjoy!”

Spring is really here and blooming! May 8, 2015

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Willowwood is just about to hit peak spring bloom!
The Cherries, Crabapples, Magnolias and Serviceberries are all in bloom.
Many of the flowering shrubs such as Viburnums, Daphnes and Azaleas are in flower. Enjoy the beauty of the flowers but don’t forget to check out their scent.
The wooded trails are filled with blue Ajuga and the tiny light pink flowers are Claytonia virginica (Spring Beauty).
On the Wood Walk to the right of Pan’s Garden you’ll find that the Japanese Primroses are putting on quite a show! The warm temps have brought them out a little early this year.
The Wisteria vines by the Stone Barn and in the Cottage Garden and Rosarie are popping.
And of course, it wouldn’t be May at Willowwood without the beautiful blooms of the Lilac collection. The flowers have started opening and there should be a succession of blooms over the next few weeks.