Category: News

It is a grey and messy day today, but the flowers and gardens do need the rain. At Willowwood, all the flowering trees are in bloom, the wisteria arbor has started but is not quite in full bloom as yet and all the lilacs are either in bloom (the early varieties) or beginning. So come for a stroll (with your wellies this weekend) when the weather is a bit nicer. Lots to see and smell!

Easter weekend promises to bring great weather and masses of spring flowers to Willowwood. The daffodils are nearly in full bloom now and present breathtaking views along the entrance driveway.
Cherries and magnolia add splashes of spring color all over the arboretum. There is a giant Higan cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Shaka No Hisui’) in the Lilac Collection area, and an ancient specimen of Japanese alpine cherry (P. nipponica) from 1929 at the back of the Red Barn. Look for impressive examples of willowleaf magnolia (Magnolia salicifolia) in the Brocade Hillside.
Don’t forget that green is a color too! The stachyurus (Stachyurus chinensis) next to the propagation house has cascades of yellow-green flowers that resemble catkins.
Barrett Wilson, Willowwood Arboretum Plant Curator

Cool, wet weather in March slowed down our spring explosion, but activity in the gardens and landscape is starting to heat up again. The long range forecast for the week is sun and warmth! Daffodils (Narcissus sp.) are poised to be a prime attraction during the next couple of weeks and Willowwood’s collection contains over 40 cultivars. Over 1000 ‘Pistachio’ bulbs – a trumpet daffodil were planted last Fall to add to the collection! These happy yellow first signs of Spring range from dainty, solo flowers to clusters of thousands of blooms. Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa luciliae) complements the daffodils and delights with sweeps of bright blue. The swelling buds of magnolias (Magnolia sp.) and cherries (Prunus sp.) promise more even more color in the coming weeks. Take a walk through the Orchard, Woodwalk, and Hillside Pasture to see these signs of spring and much more.
Be sure to walk by the propagation house and peek through the glass for a glimpse of pansies, violas, and numerous annuals being readied for the spring and summer seasons!

The latter half of February brought unseasonably warm days and gave us an early glimpse of our springtime blooms. We head into March with early flowering bulbs promising a wonderful spring.
Winter aconite (Eranthus hyemalis) was the first to surface, with bright yellow drifts brightening the landscape around the Tubbs House and surrounding gardens. Crocuses (Crocus) and snow drops (Galandthus nivalis) emerged later and added lavender and white accents. Throughout the rockery, there are hidden treasures such as Persian violet (Cyclamen hederifolium) waiting to be discovered.
In the Cottage Garden, look for the swelling pink buds of fragrant viburnum (Viburnum farreri) mixed in among the witch hazels (Hamamelis). Fragrant viburnum is a native of northern China. If you have any in your garden, it makes for a pleasing cut stem if brought inside for forcing. The blooms will be appreciated indoors, as we likely face many more cold mornings before warm weather is here for good.
Around the corner from the Cottage Garden, on the south side of the stone cottage, is winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) cascading down the wall.
Wander into the conservatory to check out several cultivars of camellias (Camellia). The pink camellia ‘Berenice Boddy’ is especially floriferous. Scattered throughout the conservatory are the tubular flame-like flowers of lachenalia (Lachenalia bulbifera). These flowers are held on spikes above the foliage and are a visual contrast to the cool whites and pinks of the camellias.
As the weather improves, we will be adding new bloom reports to this page.