On 16/3/06 0:11, in article , "Rupert"
wrote:


"Sacha" wrote in message
id...
On 15/3/06 23:07, in article
, "Greenfingers???"
wrote:

I have a magnolia 'susan'. I'm not sure if it has survived this very
frosty winter?

It probably will because it's fully hardy but it's possible that any buds
will have been frosted and it won't flower this year. Neither will our M.
campbellii, I fear. ;-(

Does frost actually damage the unopened buds or is it the frost that damages
the open flowers?
I've seen flowers browned by fast thawing from the early morning sun -does
the same happen to the buds?
I guess the M. campbelli is a fairly early one particularly in your
location.


The frost damages the buds in our case. I haven't seen flowers damaged by
frost but perhaps that's because of the locations in which I've gardened.
Here, the M. campbelli is in the churchyard adjacent to the garden. Ray
planted it about 12 or so years ago as his own memorial! But he's now
beginning to think he might have done better to plant something that buds
and flowers later. As you know, this particular Magnolia takes years to
come to blooming size but this one surprised us by suddenly budding about 3
years ago. Unhappily, it's been hit by frost two out of those three years
so we've only seen it actually flower once. It's still quite a youngster
but it's a wonderful sight. I must remember to go down to that end of the
garden today and have a proper look at it. I can't see it from the house.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
)