28th July

…seed heads ripening after flowering. I have never seen this on our Burncoose stockplant. Melianthus major Melianthus major Melianthus major Firmania simplex in full flower. Note the huge leaves with…

1st November

…Eucommia ulmoides Ripe fruits now on Diospyros lotus. We saw them forming a month ago. Diospyros lotus Fothergilla major strutting its stuff. Fothergilla major A surprise unseasonal flower on Rhaphiolepsis…

29th March

…flower rather later than usual. Fothergilla major Fothergilla major A new plant for the website, Melaleuca squarrosa, with small delicate leaves and attractive new growth. Melaleuca squarrosa Melaleuca squarrosa Clematis…

14th June

…Views across the garden Views across the garden Rabbits still a major problem. Rabbits still a major problem Camellias eaten alive by rabbits. Camellias eaten alive by rabbits The Salix…

10th September

…away with huge leaves. Juglans major Juglans major Melicytus crassifolius is covered in berries. Unlike the plants in the nursery these have still to turn white. Melicytus crassifolius Quercus liebmannii…

28th October

…than Quercus rubra or not? Smaller leaf certainly here but the jury is out. Quercus coccinea Quercus coccinea Fothergilla major – what a collection of colours! Astonishing. Fothergilla major Fothergilla…

2nd March 1897 – 2020

…made it in to Burncoose or Caerhays. The first report of major roof damage at Caerhays Barton Farmhouse but nothing can be done in these conditions. More serious damage by…

30th August

…the moral of the story is do not sit under a Pinus radiata (insignis) in August! Branches down Major collapse of an old Pinus insignis Major collapse of an old…

5th July

…ripening seed pods. Melianthus major Melianthus major Plenty of seed heads forming on Acacia dealbata overhanging the garden. Acacia dealbata Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ and Jasminum officinale affine flowering nicely together outside…

9th June

…Foerster’. Arisaema consanguineum Fatsia polycarpa ‘Greenfingers’ Fatsia polycarpa ‘Greenfingers’ Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’ and Fatsia polycarpa ‘Greenfingers’. Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’ Astrantia major ‘Ruby Wedding’ and Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum….

10th April

…their first flowerings. I really do think that, given time, this collection is going to be a major addition to and improvement in the gardens overall. Old Kitchen Garden 2022…

21st August

…on top of a hot dry bank. dead camellia Dead hydrangeas by The Hovel by the dozen. Dead hydrangeas Major lead drop on the magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ on the drive….

30th December

…arrives in the afternoon. Need to check the rain gauge to see how many inches of rain in the Christmas week. Another major storm on its way.Daphne bholua ‘Garden House…

14th December

…intermedia ‘Jelena’ Schizostylis coccinea ‘Major’ still with plenty of flower (hesperantha now of course!). Schizostylis coccinea ‘Major’ Erica x darleyensis ‘White Perfection’ full out for Chrismas. Erica x darleyensis ‘White…

4th December

…the drive. Most of the leaves finally fell in the first major storm of the autumn last Saturday. Leaf blowing The new incinerator is now installed at the farm but…

1st December

…japonica First flower out on Vinca major growing under and through Picea omorika. Once there was a clump of Magnolia grandiflora here which died of cold but the vinca survived….

22nd November

…down soon. Seedlings survive nearby which have self-sown. Rhododendron arboreum Huge seed heads on Camellia reticulata ‘Mouchang’. Camellia reticulata ‘Mouchang’ Vinca major growing up through Pinus omorika. Vinca major 2023…

6th November

…Storm Ciaran has helped. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ Major rot in the fallen beech. Major rot The dismembered trunk is removed. dismembered trunk Several years’ worth of jackdaws nests in a…

21st October

…move this young Juglans major to somewhere where there is more room for it to develop properly. Looking at it today I fear that it is already too big? Juglans…

12th September

…You may find this hard to believe, but this figure emerged by mistake. A pretty major thing to make a mistake about, but that’s what happened. Such things occur. On…