In Bloom This Week: Magnolias, Forsythias, Cherry Trees, And More
Magnolias
Magnolias are officially magnificent. You can see them on just about every block, with spectacular specimens on Albemarle Road, Marlborough Road between Albemarle and Beverley, and East 17th Street between Dorchester and Foster.
There is a Magnolia Plaza at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG), next to the main branch of the Brooklyn Public library, that has over 30 different magnolia specimens. The garden has played an important role in breeding Magnolias:
“In 1968, breeder Evamaria Sperber developed the hybrid group Magnolia xbrooklynensis, which was the first successful cross of an Asian and an American magnolia—the mulan and the American cucumber tree (Magnolia acuminata). Others have repeated the cross to form new cultivars, but none are more near and dear to BBG’s collection than the ones developed here.
Among them is a late-blooming “Brooklyn yellow,” the ‘Hattie Carthan’ magnolia (Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Hattie Carthan’) that was developed here and introduced in 1989.
A new specimen was just reintroduced to Magnolia Plaza last year. Its flowers are a unique greenish yellow with magenta veins running up each of its tepals. Watch for it to flower in mid-May, at the same time that its leaves unfurl. Its later flowering time makes it much less susceptible to late frosts than precocious bloomers.
This hybrid’s namesake, Hattie Carthan, was a Bed-Stuy resident and community activist, founder of Magnolia Tree Earth Center in Brooklyn, and onetime BBG Board of Trustees member. A more mature specimen can be found just south of the Shakespeare Garden.”
In addition to Hattie Carthan, two other yellow magnolias were developed at BBG and named after local women. Magnolia x ‘Elizabeth’ (1977) honors Elizabeth Van Brunt, a benefactress of BBG, and Magnolia x ‘Lois’ (1998), named for Lois Carswell, a former chair of BBG’s Board of Trustees.
In our neighborhood, I have only spotted yellow magnolias on East 17th Street.
Flowering Cherry Trees
Cherry trees have been opening rapidly and many more should be in full bloom by the weekend. Those in protected sunny spots are in full bloom already.
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has started marking up which of their trees are in bloom so you can visit and see them. They also have extensive resources, so you can identify your particular cultivar.
There are some beautiful Cherry Trees in bloom all over the neighborhood, including a sweet gathering on Church Avenue, close to East 7th Street.
Also in bloom:
In addition to daffodils, crocuses, hellebores, and others mentioned last week, early tulips are opening up, hyacinths are perfuming the air, and all the trees are bursting their leaf buds. Yes, it is high allergy season.
Weeping Willow
Flowering Quince
Rhododendrons
These were spotted over the weekend in a sheltered, sunny spot. In a few weeks we should have lots more.
Camellia
There are beautiful white ones down the block on Westminster Road towards Ditmas Avenue.
Early Tulips
Grape Hyacinth
Spirea
Local garden centers have started stocking plants for spring planting, though it is still a bit early to be planting anything you worry may be killed by frost — our last frost date is mid-April.
If you just cannot wait to get started — in addition to Lowe’s and Home Depot — there is a nice selection of violas and such at J & L on Caton Avenue and East 7th, and at David Shannon’s on Fort Hamilton Parkway by the Greenwood Cemetery.
A full list of best places to get your plants locally is coming soon. Do nominate your favorites!
(All photos by Liena Zagare.)