Former Cottage Hospital, Ledbury

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The former Cottage Hospital on The Homend, Ledbury, is a brick and half-timbered building: not proper timber framing, but decorative, in the gables and porch only. It is the work of the architect Henry Haddon and was built in 1891. The effect he sought was a slightly picturesque asymmetry. Today it appears to be divided into separate dwellings. Of itself it isn't much of a photograph, but with its magnolia tree in blossom it is a real eye-catcher. The magnolia flowered early this year: my photograph was taken on 14th March. When passed it again on 22nd most of its blossom had fallen.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Winter flowering cherry

One of the most attractive of the winter flowering cherry trees comes into bloom around the second week of February in my part of England. I've photographed the particular specimen shown above before, but haven't produced a photograph that I've liked. So, in the hope of getting something that pleased me I took a macro lens on a walk that took in the tree. The shallow depth of field areas set off the sharpness of the main bloom to much better effect I think. The lingering raindrops added a further dimension.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Early blossom

Early can be a relative term when it comes to spring flowering blossom. However, when I see a tree (or trees) in full blossom towards the end of February I think of them as early regardless of whether or not they are usually in flower at this time.

The pink blossom is (I think) a Taiwan cherry. The white blossom is blackthorn. The former was in a spot that experiences quite a bit of shadow on a late February day but the blackthorn was in a protected, south-facing location. Consequently I think the cherry was probably flowering around the usual time but the blackthorn was earlier than usual.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Magnolia stellata

The few upsides of global warning aren't given much prominence when the subject is under discussion because the downsides are so cataclysmic. However, they do exist and one of them relates to the many magnolias growing in UK gardens. Each year their showy flowers appear in March, and each year along come frosts that turn their white and pink tinged petals to a disfiguring brown. The increasingly mild springs we are experiencing in the UK, brought about by global warming, will mean we are more likely to enjoy their beauty throughout the weeks they are in bloom. I paused on a recent walk to photograph this inviting Magnolia stellata as it reached over a garden wall.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Magnolia blossom and frost

A magnolia tree in full flower is one of the finest sights a garden can offer. This year, in our part of Herefordshire, the trees look the best we have seen them. What makes them particularly outstanding this year? It's the absence of frost. And therein lies the problem with magnolia blossom - it is, more often than not, spoiled by a frost that stains the petals brown and makes them look dead. One of our gardens had a magnolia and it was at that time that we came to understand this tree's drawbacks. There is another: the leaves are very strong, leathery, and do not easily decompose, so they have to be collected otherwise they will litter the lawn and borders for months on end. But, on balance, I like to see magnolias in bloom - as long as they are in someone else's garden.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Cherry plum blossom

A small amount of blossom has been in evidence since the second half of February. Much of it is in gardens in the form of the popular cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera "Pissardii"). In some respects, like the snowdrop, this blossom can be a false harbinger of spring. However, it is now (in early March) being joined by the wild blackthorn and this is a clear sign that at least "meteorological spring" has arrived.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

May in April

Plenty of sun and warm temperatures brought out the hawthorn (Crataegus) leaves and subsequently the tree's blossom quite a bit earlier than usual. The old country name for hawthorn blossom is May blossom because of the month in which it flourishes. This year's early appearance gave my wife the same thought that I had for a blog post showing this often overlooked tree - May in April!

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Blackthorn blossom

Last year spring came late. This year it is here much earlier. Hawthorn hedges have been showing green leaves for a couple of weeks already and the beginnings of flower buds can be seen. We even saw a few early bluebells on 26th March. As for the early flowering blackthorn (Prunus spinoza) such is the weight of blossom already on view you could be forgiven for thinking it is trying to outdo the snow-like covering usually associated with hawthorn in May. It should produce a wonderful crop of sloe berries.


photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100