Plant of the Month, February 2025
I cannot select a plant of the month for February without mentioning Magnolia. Some of the first flowers in the garden each year flowering as early as January 2nd!
I have kept Phenology, the study of "events" during a plants season, records since 2003 with One Magnolia campbellii, situated deep in the middle of the garden overlooking the Cock Pit. Is always the first to flower. The last 10 years are shown below with 0nly 2019 not in the last week of January. I count the flower as being open when the sepals reveal the stamens inside and not just when showing colour. Spring is always an exciting time of time of the year even more so if you add in the anticipation of Magnolia first flowering. The Great Gardens of Cornwall, have a "Spring Story" where when 6 Champion Magnolia campbellii all reach a flower count of 50 flowers spring will officially be declared. The Nare hotel runs a "Bloom-o-meter" on their website to keep track of the trees in flower.
| 2016 | Jan 2nd | Earliest flowering on record |
| 2017 | Jan 28th | 26 days later than 2016 |
| 2018 | Jan 29th | 27 days later than 2016 |
| 2019 | Jan 11th | 9 days later than 2016 |
| 2020 | Jan 27th | 25 days later than 2016 |
| 2021 | Jan 29th | 27 day later than 2016 |
| 2022 | Jan 28th | 26 days later |
| 2023 | Jan 30th | 28 days later |
| 2024 | Jan 24th | 22 days later |
| 2025 | Jan 23rd | 21 days later |
Magnolia campbellii "Charles Raffill" and Camellia reticulata in flower
Magnolia campbellii "Charles Raffill'