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Big Pink Tree! (Cherry, not Magnolia)
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Unfortunately, the poor thing doesn't look half as magnificent as last year, as - in its exposed position - almost all of the flowers have been frost and wind-burned.
From the Main Road, I turned off down towards the sea and past the old family house where I grew up. And what should be on prominant view in the garden? Small Pink Bushes!
The childhood home hasn't changed much in 23 years (we moved in in 1979, I moved in out in 1998, and The Parents finally downsized a few years later) - the most notable difference is that the Leylandii hedge has been replaced with a rather bleak and austere looking fence (you can just see a glimpse of the hedge in this old photo featuring Car from some time in 2006).
I continued down the lane, passing the Electric Witch's cobblestone house which, if cleaned out and refurbished, would make a lovely - if rather bijou - abode.
The Electric Witch still lives there, though. I can sometimes hear her humming as I go by...
And then to the sea and the setting sun:
There. That's the lot for April, I should think. It's been a busy few days, with a few more coming up, but I'm hoping that next week will be a bit calmer, and that I will find some time to visit your blogs and actually leave a comment or two!
* For those who didn't click the link - as well as those who did but have forgotten what it was all about by now - The I N F O M A N I A C Garden Photos Event is not actually being held at The Very Mistress's anymore. No, it's down to one of us to host it (like I did last year), so if you'd like to have a go, let me or The Very Mistress know, otherwise I shall host it again (which I'd love to do, to be honest, as I had such fun last year, but it would be good to see what someone else would do with it).
The magnolias around here do not reach this hight & volumen. And, alike to as it was last year, the buds were about to pop open when a mean cold air came by. Two days later the brownish leaves had fallen down.
ReplyDeleteThe bijou where the Eletric WItch lives - is this really built from pebbles ? Can a wall be built from "Kieselstein" ? Village of Wonders ...
Yes, it's a shame that the cold winds like to torment the Magnolias so.
DeleteThere are plenty of cobblestone and flint houses around here - although, I think that the stones are just a fascia (Faszie?) for a stronger inner wall?
Same thing here. Not just cold air but two days of snow hurt the magnolias. Some of the trees dropped their petals. Others came away with brown tips on their leaves. Sad.
DeleteOh, no! I hope they have better luck next year.
DeleteNothing quite beats "Magnolia season" at Kew Gardens...
ReplyDeleteSigh.
Maybe next year.
Jx
Oh, Jon, those Magnolias are beautiful! Yes, fingers crossed for next year.
DeleteOh I love it!!!!!!! One of my favorite trees! And this is your town huh? It is so cool to see the village...so quaint and walkable. I am in love with the Electric Witch's cobblestone house. Is that a for real house??? If so, what do we have to do to get her out, so I can move in?
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that the buds on my little Magnolia will open without being turned brown by the cold. It's pretty sheltered where it is, but I noticed the tip of one petal has turned brown today!
DeleteUnfortunately, the Electric Witch's house is not a real house. Yet. I'm sure that one day, some rich interloper from out of town will snap it up and convert it into a holiday home. (And be electrocuted for his trouble, with any luck)
Of course, if that rich interloper was you, Maddie, you'll be welcomed with open arms!
DeleteI always think Magnolia is much nicer in the paint colour and is slightly more pink than I'd like it when seen on a tree.
ReplyDeleteI looove the Electric Witch's cottage, it looks like it should be in Portmeirion. I always admire homes built for style and not practicality, as well as the people who put up with them!
Practicality is overrated, if you ask me (I drive an Alfa, for gods' sakes). More things should be style over substance, otherwise we'll end up in a homogenised hell!
DeleteP.S. I think the name "Magnolia" for the paint is somewhat of a misnomer.
Damnit you witches get everywhere. You knew I kept in the snarky comment about a picture of an Alfa Romeo a few minutes before it becomes a heap of rust, didn't you!
DeleteI had an idea, yes...
DeleteWe have both, here, in Minneapolis. And I adore. I wish they kept their blooms longer. There is a cemetery not far from my house that is lined all the way around with cherry blossom trees. They are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your sentiments about longer lasting blooms. Cherry blossom trees are particularly lovely, and walking beneath them when their petals are falling is magical!
DeleteI'm looking at the Electric Witch's cottage and thinking how you live in such a different world from your colonial cousins across the pond. And I like it.
ReplyDeleteWell, if you ever fancy a visit, you know where I am.
DeleteI was doing the same thing, thinking "How cool would that be to live down the street from?"
DeleteOne of my rehabilitation patients here is a Magnolia tree that somehow survived ten years in the nether regions of Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel) which is extremely invasive here and one of my arch-nemesis.
ReplyDeleteWill we get more details on the Garden party at a later date? For example, what is the socially acceptable number of pictures one should present? Hosted here? Or on our own blogs?
Oh, yes, there will be plenty of details and reminders and further reminders and downright nags about the Garden Photos Event, you can be sure of that. To give you an idea of what it's all about (and what you've been missing all these years), click here (and the subsequent seven posts).
DeleteP.S. Best wishes to your patient!
Magnolia!!!!!!!!!swoonworthy. All of them.
ReplyDeleteThat cobble -and-flint place looks as if it might have been a gate house. It's cute. And you're so right about the boring cookie-cutter crap they build in suburbia now!
You're correct, Dinahmow. The Electric Witch's house was once a kind of gate house for the Pleasaunce (designed and developed by Edwin Lutyens in the 1890s).
DeleteI found a link - although in appearance a gatehouse, it was actually called the Gazebo!
DeleteI love looking at other peoples Gardens, usually from the top of a London bus. There are some amazing Camellias, Cherries and grand Magnolias in our are too.
ReplyDeleteNice to see your village. I love the Witches house and what looks like a very big Garden wall. What is on the other side ? You could peek over from the top of a double Decker Bus and see.
No double deckers down that lane as they're liable to tip over the edge of the cliff as they navigate the bend at the bottom!
DeleteOnce upon a time, there was a rockery by the Electric Witch's house (or "Gazebo"), but now I think it's been taken over by trees and weeds.
Magnolias just don't last long enough. My grandmother had one in a very protected location that would carry blossoms for 2 weeks - which the neighbors would come and see - and then overnight, all the petals, every single one, would fall off and lay there on the ground. I have a magnolia stellata and it's carrying its last few blossoms. Your little slice of heaven there is someplace I'd love to visit someday. It's just lovely.
ReplyDeleteOh, I used to have a stellata! I wonder what happened to it? It must have died, I guess - or was left behind during a move?
DeleteFor quite a long time, I thought the Magnolia I have now was a stellata because it hadn't flowered in so long (wrong position) that I'd forgotten what the blooms looked like.
You might have to top-and-tail with The Very Mistress if you visit at the same time as she does!
OO - and I'm getting a grownup-girl phone soon, so I'll be able to participate in the Gardening Extravaganza! I lurked last years event and was SO JEALOUS.
ReplyDeleteYay! I'd love to see your gardening endeavours - and I'm sure everyone else would too!
DeleteApologies, I am late. I have been sitting in the howling wind and rain waiting for the pink bush to expose itself, and then I remembered that it doesn't bloom until about the end of May. Anyhow, by the time I remembered this pertinent information the damage was done, and I had torn something tearable in my knee, and my mood had been dampened, rendering it as not fit for purpose. So, to cheer myself up I read another book.... perhaps I should continue this comment on my own blog?
ReplyDeleteSx
Oh, thank goodness you're back. I was getting a tad concerned, and was even considering emailing you!
DeleteI'm pleased to hear that you are thinking of the GPE, what with your stalking of the BPB, but saddened at your resultant dampness and decrepitude. I hope the book helped?
Ooh, yes please, some sort of blog post would be splendid!
Ahhh I found a picture of it now on Street view:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.alfabb.com/attachments/gtc1-jpg.15144/
Since the entire readership is coming to yours I would just like to hint subtly that I eat Bully Max High Performance for Pit Bulls and will happily sleep on any old mink coat in front of the fire.
Oh, dear. It looks like a sneeze would be its undoing.
Delete"... any old mink coat" it's good to know that you're so easily pleased ;)