Wakehurst Place

Wakehurst Place is part of the Royal Botanical Gardens (as is Kew Gardens). At this time of year, as flowers come into bloom, it begins to draw the crowds, and so it is that we spent the afternoon there today. The weather was generally overcast, so not an ideal day to visit but it was dry and the winds weren't too severe. And of course, I'm always happy to go to locations where a certain amount of wildlife is guaranteed 😉

The trees are particularly stunning, with the early blossoms creating a wonderfully rich array of colour.

Wakehurst Place coming into bloom

A particular star showing was the Magnolia Campbellii var. Mollicomata. If ever a tree drew crowds, this was it. I was one of many taking photographs of the blossoms. Utterly stunning, and worth the visit in itself. The tree is located at the head of the water gardens.

Magnolia Campbellii

As with all good gardens, Wakehurst boasts a pond. It's just a shade larger than the average garden pond, and today was dominated by black-headed gulls, though numerous mallards were skirting the edges, and moor hen were in evidence.

Female Mallard

Mr and Mrs Mallard

Black-headed Gull

I've put some more of the photos from today in the Wakehurst 2008 album, and will be adding more to it over the coming weeks and months.

Camera note: my 100-400 lens is being repaired (!), so all today's shots were with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens.

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This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. gdare

    2 Mar 2008

    I just tought to myself that it looks like magnolia and then I read it. Nice photos. Not much flowers here yet.

  2. Vulpes vulpes

    2 Mar 2008

    Ah, you can't beat Magnolias to know that spring is here! Nice post.

  3. SittingFox

    2 Mar 2008

    Stunning flowers!

    Nice to see a black-headed gull in full summer plumage too.

  4. Words

    2 Mar 2008

    Vulpes, I've got another sign of spring to post in a moment 😉

  5. Words

    2 Mar 2008

    Darko, we had such a mild winter that everything is happening early this year. It was the same last year!

  6. Words

    2 Mar 2008

    Thanks Adele. There was a good mix of summer and winter plumage on display. I must get back there when the weather's a bit brighter.

  7. BitzyMe

    3 Mar 2008

    Trust me… it isn't a pleasant recollection.

    We're going to have a horrific time with flooding this Spring.
    Our roads are an unbelievable mess. They look like exploded mine fields in places. We're definitely going to have to get some funding or grants from "uncle sam" because I know our State Transportation Budget won't even noticably touch the damage.

  8. Words

    3 Mar 2008

    Thanks Bitzy. I keep thinking about how cold it must be where you are. We never get anything remotely like that. I can't even recall the last really decent snowfall in the South of England.

  11. Words

    3 Mar 2008

    I'm told we had a brief burst of hail (but I missed it). No snow though!

  12. Mickeyjoe-Irl

    3 Mar 2008

    :doh: and I forgot to say your shots of the day were great as usual.

  13. Flying Red Fox Blog

    11 Mar 2008

    Beautiful Magnolia:D It looks a great place to visit.

  14. Words

    11 Mar 2008

    It is! Well worth a trip there.

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