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Anise 'Woodland Red' ( Illicium floridanum ) A few weeks ago, I thought spring would never arrive, but now the change is astonishing. The nights are still cold (40s and sometimes even 30s) so planting tender annuals and vegetables is unwise although I have already succumbed, but covering and uncovering things gets old quickly. Someone made a wise comment last week and I must agree with them - "Don't plant anything tender until after May 1". Several plants are blooming like never before. One is the Anise shrub (above and below). I don't know if the recent tree pruning, which is allowing more sun into the woodland path, is affecting it or perhaps it is just age, but I've never seen so many blooms. Michael refers to this as "the stinky fish shrub" and I have to admit to smell of the flowers is quite unpleasant. It is so beautiful that I can overlook that. The old pink dogwood tree, which was already here, shades our woodland path and it too is prett
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Star Magnolia - before the freeze gets it


Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata), very beautiful at the moment, very hard to get a decent photo of it. It always blooms early and usually gets nipped by the cold. We have temperatures predicted to be in the 20s tonight so it might not look like this tomorrow. :(
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. Lisa at GreenbowMarch 12, 2014 at 10:10 AM

    Good thing you got out there to get the picture. It looks beautiful. OUrs isn't beginning to bloom yet. We won't be far behind.

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  2. organicgardendreamsMarch 12, 2014 at 6:01 PM

    Hi Phillip, very beautiful photo of your star magnolia. Hope it doesn't get zapped by the low temperatures that you are expecting. Have you ever thought about protecting it somehow? It doesn't look too tall on the photo, so maybe it is possible to through a tarp over it and put a heating light under it?
    Christina

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  3. debsgardenMarch 12, 2014 at 8:03 PM

    So beautiful! I hope your temps won't be as low as predicted. These magnolias always seem to bloom a tad too early. My own Jane magnolia just started flowering a couple days ago, and we are supposed to get to 32 tonight. Your daffodils are also beautiful! I truly hope this is the final cold swipe from winter!

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  4. NicMarch 13, 2014 at 4:30 AM

    So lovely. I hope it made it through the night. Here the magnolias will still need at least a week or two...

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  5. Phillip OliverMarch 13, 2014 at 8:00 AM

    Christina, it is larger than it looks - I would estimate about 12 feet high. It would be a job to cover it. I don't think the temps got as low as they first predicted. It looked fine this morning although frost damage usually shows up later. We will see!

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  6. Edith KentMarch 13, 2014 at 9:41 AM

    It's beautiful Phillip. The Limestone Master Gardeners would like to see your garden again. If you remember. .it was pouring rain last year. When would best time be...May? Are the roses blooming then?

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  7. Phillip OliverMarch 13, 2014 at 10:02 AM

    Edith, May is usually the peak time. Just send me an email!

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  8. SwimrayMarch 15, 2014 at 8:08 PM

    Yep. It happens to my star magnolia some years, too.
    Ray

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  9. sweetbayMarch 21, 2014 at 4:42 PM

    Ah so beautiful, but usually spoiled by cold here too.

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  10. RobinLMarch 23, 2014 at 2:20 PM

    We are pretty north of you, but the same problem here. Magnolias always get nipped by frost. But they sure are pretty while they last!

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