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

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