Bloom Report May 2026
- Bonnie Semmling
- May 13
- 2 min read
The frost in late April reminds us that nothing guaranteed in life, but also of the resilience of it. Sadly, our Magnolia, Wisteria, Japanese maples, and most Rhododendron were the hardest hit. Tender, emerging leaves were reduced to brown crisps and flower buds left sloughing off and collapsing to the ground. For a week the property prematurely smelt of caramel due to the loss of the leaves of our beloved Katsura trees. Hopefully they and everything else affected will send out a second flush.
It’s difficult to witness, but at the same time the carnage highlights the most resilient plants. Narcissus are always unphased, the ‘Actaea’ lining the driveway no exception. A Poeticus daffodil, it’s heavily scented and perfect for areas where naturalizing is welcome. Close by is a splendid specimen of Aesculus pavia, the red buckeye. While Aesculus – horse chestnuts – are not one of the ‘genera of focus’ for our collections at Willowwood, it should be. A clear favorite of the Tubbs’ brothers and Dr. Blackburn, Willowwood has a great diversity of Aesculus specimens. One of the best is the Aesculus hippocastanum ‘Baumanii’, a double-flowered cultivar of the European horse chestnut located on the side of the Shingle Barn closest to the parking lot.
Another old favorite of the brothers and Blackburn were our native pawpaws – Asimina triloba. A rarity in the wild of New Jersey, you can view the interesting flowers along the Woodwalk or at the individuals in the Monarda Meadow. Within the Woodwalk and nearby Elephant Walk is the most charming spring flower, introduced by Dr. Blackburn: Lathyrus vernus. As a lover of gradients, I find its flowers to be attractive much like the unfurling royal ferns – Osmunda regalis – nearby the Cypress Pool.
Of our Rhododendron, the stand out this year is clearly ‘Wyanokie’, a fantastic hybrid Rhododendron with glaucous, blue-green leaves that are evergreen and ethereal white flowers with the slightest tinge of pink. Glowing in the understory, it’s worth the hike up past our Champion Metasequoia. As you make your way back, the Camassia quamash scattered through the cottage are worth a stop, their purple-blue flowers also aglow.
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