Magnolia sprengeri Copeland Court, one of a bounteous display of Magnolias threading their way through the landscape of Battleston Hill at RHS Wisley.
A look back to the end of March 2015 and a riot of colour on the banks of Battleston Hill. Such a pity they are blooming for the very few this year rather than the many – but then again, these winding paths are often a place of seclusion and quiet within these larger gardens. Despite the show, you can easily find yourselves alone. I hope you enjoy the extravaganza photographed here.
Given the changes in height and the winding pathways, they can be seen from above, below, close-up and at a distance – adding their compliment of colours to some of the early Rhododendrons and many Camellias, as well as a woodland carpet of bulbs and perennials.
Magnolia Early Star (below)
Magnolia Charles Raffill (below)
Magnolia Charles Raffill (above)
Magnolia JC Williams (above) and Magnolia campbellii (below)
Deep dark, well-shaped blooms from Vulcan (above) while the white Magnolia salicifolia and adjacent Magnolia kobus bring the clouds down into the woods…
another Magnolia salicifolia – it too making the specimens I saw at Kew quite juvenile!
Magnolia sargentiana (below)
The fly is for the purpose of scale!
Unnamed magnolias (below) probably labelled but with lush undergrowth, quite hidden..
The white blossom behind is a named specimen… Magnolia x loebneri Merrill
Magnolia Milky Way – with the deeper pink of Magnolia sprengeri Copeland Court in the background (and up above)…
The broad sweep of lawn up to Battleston Hill, with meandering side paths. No route through here is ever the same and you are drawn back and forth as vistas open up and you are enticed further, left, right, just around the corner…
The view across to the Plant Centre from the lower slope of Battleston Hill, by the Double Herbaceous Border.
From this Plant Centre, you can glimpse into the garden of one of the Estate Houses, which is ringed with mature magnolia trees…
But this one, peeping over the top of the fence, by the pots on sale, is quite the most striking; huge blooms of the deepest colour…
I was told by one of the assistants that they believe it to be Peter Dummer. Must look this one up. There is a new variety on sale called Genie which might match it for colour.
By way of Garden Centre Geekery, if you were looking for a Magnolia for your own piece of heaven, there are quite a few on sale at RHS Wisley..
I’m certain the strong winds we’ve had over the past 24 hours will have affected the display, certainly cleaning up some of the blossom going over: I hope the best withstands the gales and gusts and continues to look good for some time yet. For it really is very, very good!
The Teddington Gardener 
Thank you, Martin. A most-needed walk through the woods… such beauty.
Hi there, I’m so glad to have my back-catalogue to peruse now I can go no further than my own garden. I remember very clearly this walk and the calm cool green of the woodlands. Return visits to Pashley Manor, Great Dixter, King John’s Nursery and more from Kew and RHS Wisley coming up later this month. Hopefully I can start to create new memories sometime in the summer. Best wishes, Martin