A rainy day at Wisley – but read on – there’s Cherry, Camellia, Rhododendron, Magnolia & more…

Ligularia Britt Marie Crawford

Prunus pendula var Ascendens Rosea

Prunus pendula var Ascendens Rosea

Rosea

Hyacinthus orientalis Royal Navy

Narcissus Chromacolour

Prunus Accolade

Accolade

Accolade

Rosea

Corylopsis sinensis var sinensis Spring Purple

Spring Purple

Spring Purple

Gunnera maculata

Gunnera maculata

Camellia japonica C M Hovey

C M Hovey

Corylopsis spicata

Camellia x williamsii Ballet Queen Variegated

Ballet Queen Variegated

Rhododendron Hatsu giri

Hatsu Giri

Hatsu Giri

Camellia japonica Anna M Page

Hyacinthus Royal Navy

An exceptionally damp day, last Friday, at RHS Wisley in Surrey but undeterred was I, with my Driza-bone coat, wide-brimmed hat, umbrella and camera – it was business as usual …

Much opportunity for photography with ornamental cherries and Magnolias in blossom and looking fine; Camellias dotted throughout Battleston Hill and Seven-acre Wood; likewise some exceptionally bright Rhododendrons, stands of Fritillary Imperialis, the last of the Daphnes and plenty of bulbs illuminating the ground and many planted containers. I ventured into the Alpine House too and will cover that particular treasure box in a separate entry.

Daphne mezereum f alba

Rhododendron stenopetalum Linearifolium

Linearifolium

Camellia x williamsii Joe Nuccio

Camellia japonica Twilight

Camellia

Camellia

Twilight

Twilight

Rhododendron Redpoll

Rhododendron Redpoll

Rhododendron Queenswood Centenary

Queenswood Centenary

Queenswood Centenary

Camellia japonica Tiffany

Tiffany

Tiffany

Queenswood Centenary

Redpoll

Magnolia stellata Jane Platt

Jane Platt

Corylopsis glabrescens car gotoana

Corylopsis glabrescens var gotoana

… var gotoana

Magnolia Felix Jury Jurmag 2

Felix Jury

Felix Jury

Felix Jury

Magnolia Purple Platter

Purple Platter

Purple Platter

Purple Platter

Acer palmatum Orange Dream

Acer palmatum var heptalobum

The fresh young foliage of the Acers – see the Katsura coming up – are a beautiful feathery feature of these woodlands. Paths meanders around two sides of the hill, either side of the wide grass path up to the top of the vista leading up from the double herbaceous borders at the heart of the gardens, and then on into the wilder parts where Hellebores clothe the understory still and the Camellias, Magnolias, Rhododendrons, Corylopsis and a few more cherries have sway.

Magnolia Phelan Bright

Phelan Bright

Phelan Bright

Phelan bright

Phelan Bright

Phelan Bright

Scilla liliohyacinthus

Scilla

Scilla

Acer palmatum Katsura

Katsura

Magnolia Butterflies

Magnolia Butterflies

Magnolia Butterflies

Acer japonicum Vitifolium

Acer japonicum Vitifolium

Magnolia Butterflies

Katsura

Podophyllum hexandrum

Rhododendron Schlippenbachii

Rhododendron schlippenbachii

R Schlippenbachii

Schlippenbachii

Amelanchier lamarckii

Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Osmanthus burkwoodii

Osmanthus burkwoodii

Osmanthus burkwoodii

Acer trifloru,

Acer triflorum

Amelanchier

Magnolia Iolanthe

Magnolia Iolanthe

Magnolia x soulangeana Alexandrina

The Rhododendron shlippenbachii (wonderful name) was almost cherry-blossom-like in colour and form, a bright delight in the woodland. The Amelanchiers have a pure white starry blossom set against the emerging soft, bronze leaves and love the deep, acidic earth and the shelter. Magnolia Phelan Bright has huge, pristine white blossom while Butterflies has spiker, smaller and lime-yellow flowers.

Prunus Matsumae Oshio

Prunus Matsumae Oshio

Magnolia Yellow Lantern

Magnolia x soulangeana Triumph

Triumph

Camellia x williamsii Julia Hamiter

Julia Hamiter

Magnolia Apollo

Apollo

Apollo

Apollo

Apollo

Apollo

Magnolia Mily Way

Milky Way

Milky Way

Magnolia sprengeri var diva Copeland Court

Copeland Court

Copeland Court

Copeland Court

Fritillaria imperialis

Fritillaria imperialis

Crown Imperials

Bergenia Morgenrote

Magnolia Star Wars

Erythronum Pagoda

Anemone

Magnolia Gold Star

Magnolia Gold Star

Erythronium

This large swathe of Erythroniums deserved closer inspection …

Erythronium

Erythronium

Erythronium

Erythronium

Erythronium

Erythronium

Erythronium

Erythronium

Erythronium

Erythronium

Meanwhile I continued on through these winding paths, in the direction of the Alpine House – more woodland delights before that though –

Rhododendron makinoi

Acer japonicum Shin-deshojo

Shin deshojo

Cornus kousa Snowboy

Snowboy

Camellia x williamsii Ballet Queen

Magnolia x soulangeana Alba Superba

Rhododendron Loderi King George

Sorbus megalocarpa

Corylpsis

Viburnum burkwoodii

Viburnum burkwoodii

Hyacinth Aiolos

Hyacinth Blue Jacket

Hyacinth Yellow Queen

Yellow Queen

Hyacinth Paul Hermann

Blueberry Earliblue

Jerebasma (Plum?)

Plum Opal

Plum Opal

The Centenary Gates

Betula jacquemontii var utilis Jermyns

Jermyns

Beschorneria yuccoides

Beschorneria yuccoides

This last clump of Beschorneria in flower brought me right to the entrance of the Alpine House. Given the rain it was crowded but I still managed to find enough space to take a few pictures and these will follow – and following that, a wander down through the Rock Garden and into Seven Acre Wood before calling it a day. All this to come!