From the cold, rainy day in March 2008 when we planted the 28 Magnolia denudata tree Allée in the Moss Family Temperate Woodland Garden, we knew that winter would hold special promise for this garden. Over the next 8 years, we have added many winter flowering trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants.
Two spectacular Camellia species offer hybrids that give us the huge flowers of Camellia reticulata and the diminutive blooms of Camellia sasanqua. Camellia sasanqua ‘Brooksie Anderson' shows off lovely, small, clear pink blossoms all along its arching branches from November through January. From January through April, Camellia reticulata ‘Buddha' is covered with 6” wide deep-orchid pink flowers, some of which will mature into hard plum-sized fruits bearing three coffee bean-like seeds.
We also have Camellia sinensis (Thea sinensis), the most widely grown camellia in the world, the plant from which all true tea is derived. Don't look for bold flowers but appreciate this plant as you have a hot cup of tea on a winter morning.
In February, our most glorious Magnolia ‘Caerhay's Belle' will burst forth with 12” lipstick pink, scented blooms on naked branches. As my husband Tim says, “The great thing about ‘Caerhay's Belle' is that it blooms in February to give us a bright lift on a winter day. And the sad thing about ‘Caerhay's Belle' is that it blooms in February when the wind and rain can strip the flowers off overnight!” It tends to keep blooming for several weeks, so rainy, windy days won't rob it of all its blossoms.
Next will bloom the Allée of 28 Magnolia denudata beginning in March. The Chinese have cultivated this tree since at least 600AD and call it Yulan. Magnolia denudata, like many Asian magnolias, is a precocious bloomer, meaning that the flowers appear before the leaves, creating a very dramatic scene in late winter to early spring. If our winter is very mild, the flowers and leaves come at the same time, somewhat reducing the effect of clouds of lemon-scented white flowers.
We have had to wait a few years to see Magnolia rostrata bloom. It was planted in 2012 as a gift from the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden. In the Spring of 2023, it rewarded visitors and volunteers with several very large fragrant flowers. It is endangered in its native Southern China and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and seldom grown in public gardens.
Not to be missed are the early flowering and fragrant Rhododendron taronense and Rhododendron ‘Forsterianum.' Both have waxy white flowers that hold up well to rain and scent the air with dianthus and clove perfume. These plants are part of our collection of Maddenii series rhododendrons, which have been sourced and gifted by the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, Washington, where they must be grown in the Rutherford Conservatory and in cool greenhouses. Here in coastal Northern California, we can grow them outside exceptionally well.
Beginning in March, come see our Toona sinensis, Chinese Toon tree, with its brilliant flamingo-pink new growth. The green form of this tree is widely grown in Asia from the Korean peninsula, through China to Indonesia and is used for food and timber. We like our tree's amazing pink plumage in contrast to the green.
Along the perpetually wet central bed, you will find several species of Primula (primroses). Follow the stairs into the forest to see the Hellebores that the family of Stan Baird, Ph.D., donated.
Make a date to come walk through Humboldt Botanical Garden on a winter day to see the runnels awash with rainwater along the Dedekam Ornamental Terrace, then into the Lost Coast Brewery Native Plant Garden, where volunteer Curator Mark Moore has added many new native plants to the collection. Then wander up to the Moss Family Temperate Woodland Garden either from the lower Water Fall Trail or the main road. Winter is a wonderful time to visit.
June and Tim Walsh are Charter members of Humboldt Botanical Garden and UCCE Master Gardeners. June is the leader of the Tuesday Wild Weeders and Grateful Deadheaders volunteers who care for this slice of heaven.
All photos were taken by the author, June Walsh, and used with permission.