The Ides of March

After two grey days the sun finally broke out this afternoon, encouraging the first blooms to open on the Magnolia stellata, and then illuminating them with pure white light.

The small tree is now 20 years old, initially struggling to prosper in the dry poor soil. The mass of white roots were only just below the soil surface, and must have found the hot summer sun difficult. Mulching was the obvious answer, but in a large garden demand exceeded supply. What was available was masses of leaves from the expanding walnut tree each autumn. As the books cautioned against garden use due to high levels of toxins they were always consigned to the autumn bonfire.

As an experiment one autumn we piled them under the magnolia, mixed with apple tree leaves. The magnolia thrived next year and has never looked back despite (or because of) an annual dose of walnut leaves.