17th April | The Garden Diary

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CONTRIBUTORS:

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2024 – CHW

The leaves on the trees are rushing out with some sunshine but it is far from warm with a N.E. wind. Today a trip around Area 27, the end bit of Kennel Close.

Abies fraseri with male catkins and perhaps the start of some female cones or just the new growth shoots showing? Time will tell.

Betula utilis ‘Forest Blush’ with well-developed catkins.

Salix magnifica with a full display of male catkins and female flowers.

Abies homolepis also with male flowers, emerging new cones, and old cones still standing.

Good splitting bark on Quercus frainetto planted in 2010.

Smooth bark on a similarly aged Quercus palustris.

A young Athrotaxis laxifolia.

Nearby an equally young Athrotaxis selaginoides.

Aesculus glabra ‘April Wine’ just starting to perform.

Crataegus induta is the first species to flower in our collection of Crataegus.

A young Acer sterculiaceum subsp. sterculiaceum (NJM 13017) with its usual attractive new growth. I still all this Acer franchetii as it was always known here and an original plant proves the point.

Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Inverleith’ – bark and catkins.
Aesculus sylvatica coming into leaf and flower.

The cold N.E. wind has blown older yellow shedding laurel leaves all over the path below Slip Rail.

Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Ruby Glow’ below Slip Rail looking superb today. This is a very good variety indeed.

Liverwort spreading up a beech tree by Tin Garden.

Rhododendrons ‘Saffron Queen’ and ‘Michael’s Pride’ just starting to open. Also a month early.

Our younger Quercus lamellosa by Donkey Show has lost virtually all its leaves already as the new buds swell up. The old plant is still fully leafed up in more shelter.

Rhododendron desquamatum just opening fully with the odd flower left on Magnolia ‘Wada’s Memory’ behind it. Some years both perform at once.

2023 – CHW
The gales have gone and we seem to be in a settled warm period of weather which may prematurely finish off some of the proposed magnolia entries for the Rosemoor Show next weekend.

Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’ now in full leaf.

Berberis insignis var. insignis flowering better than ever before.

Then a trip to photograph the 24 (mainly) Matsumae cherries planted last year below White Styles Field on the way to Old Park.

Prunus Matsumae-fuki (‘Chocolate Ice’) – only just out

2022 – CHW

The ‘smellies’ are starting to scent the garden alongside the second wave of Michelias now that the M. doltsopa are nearly over. A pleasant Easter Day in the sun.

Rhododendron edgeworthii just out here and there.

Rhododendron ‘Elsie Frye’ is virtually over.

Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’ is still a few days away from being out at all.

Azalea (or Rhododendron if you prefer) stenopetalum ‘Linearifolium’ at its best.

Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’ still in tight bud as is M. ‘Allspice’ nearby.

Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’ and Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’. If only they were out together! Soon they may well be if we wait a few days.

Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’ now showing properly – we now have three plants of different ages all doing well in the garden.

Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ about to drop its petals with the leaf showing. The colour has faded but the flowers have lasted at least five weeks this year.

Still a few flowers on Magnolia ‘Sweet Sixteen’ which we saw showing colour in the first week of March (or was it late February?).

Rhododendron morii just out high up. Our new plantings of this species have not been a great success.

The slugs have devoured the tepals on a ‘snapped off’ flower of Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ (probably broken off by a child but no worries).

An odd and previously unnoticed clump of narcissus on Hovel Cart Road. Perhaps Narcissus x intermedius?

Ceanothus ‘Trewithen Blue’ and Magnolia ‘Yellow Lantern’ – blue and yellow work well together here.

Ceanothus ‘Trewithen Blue’ and Metasequoia glyptostroboides ‘Gold Rush’.

Prunus ‘Gyoiko’ with its greenish-white semi-double flowers streaked green below the Tower.

The rather dull Prunus mahaleb, the St Lucie cherry from central and southern Europe. Planted in far too prominent a position.

2021 – CHW
The yellowish Magnolia ‘Sundance’ against a blue sky.

Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ just coming out.

Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’ just opening.

Magnolia ‘Tropicana’ now full out.

Magnolia ‘Gold Star’

Rhododendron niveum

Rhododendron ‘Blue Tit’

Magnolia denudata, Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ and Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’.

Wonderful new growth on Mahonia x savilleana.

The first time we have flowered Magnolia ‘Flamingo’ here (M. acuminata ‘Fertile Myrtle’ x M. sprengeri diva). Only two flowers but some obvious yellow flashing on the bud. In the ‘Peachy’, ‘Daybreak’, ‘Tropicana’ mixed colour category I am expecting on its parentage.

Our Magnolia ‘Honey Tulip’ is improving with age but still well behind the Burncoose one.

I thought this was Sorbus megalocarpa on the plan, but I am very wrong. Attractive bronzy new growth and flower buds showing. Need to explore further.

These late flowering poeticus group daffodils on Hovel Cart Road are still in bud.

2020 – CHW
We now get the news about how we claim ‘furlough’ for individual staff members which we can do online from next Monday using the PAYE/employee database. It is going to be pretty complicated. The government will then pay the 80% of the wages (including employer’s national insurance and pension) back to us within six days of our completed submission. We will pay the wages (ie 80%, or 100% to others despite the furlough, or 100% to those still working) a week today and, if it all works, the government will repay us on the following Monday or Tuesday. We can cover the cash shortfall easily enough this month but, in a month’s time, we may end up exceeding our overdraft limit for a day or two.Has anyone been on the Today programme to say ‘thank you’ for their government business grants which are largely all now paid countrywide? Has anyone said ‘well done’ to the government for implementing the ‘furlough’ system in such a short time? Of course not. The BBC, as ever, demands more and more. Today’s helpful revelation was a leaked memo sent from some obscure body which represents care homes saying that the government had been disgracefully inept etc etc. One rather wonders how well the care homes are actually running themselves in the crisis after Panorama’s earlier revelations of regular bullying and mistreatment of elderly patients with dementia. Now that too is all the government’s fault.What does the BBC’s utopia look like? Bankrupt the government, get rid of Boris and say in the European Union! Be careful what you wish for as they say – and try hard to achieve. Then the metropolitan elite might really have something to squawk about.Pink new growth on Quercus rhysophylla ‘Maya’.

Red new growth on the tender Quercus insignis.

Symplocos dryophylla full out. Another plant has died but this one is very well sheltered by other things.

First few flowers out on Magnolia ‘Gold Star’. Only really yellow as the flower opens.

Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’ just showing colour. Wonderful bud coverings!

What a sight the Azalea ‘Hinomayo’ makes through the arch!

The bluebell crop has superseded the primroses on the bank outside the front door.

Salix magnifica just coming into growth and flower. Lovely bronzy new growth initially.

Then to Burncoose for pay review day. A bonus of a week’s pay to all staff who have stayed at work.

Nicely in flower today were some newer additions to the website and an old favourite or two as well:

Clematis alpina ‘Broughton Bride’

Polemonium ‘Stairway to Heaven’

Pittosporum undulatum

Isopogon formosanus

Photinia ‘Louise’

Acer cappadocicum ‘Aureum’

Cercis canadensis ‘Appalachian Red’

Ceanothus ‘Puget Blue’

Two camellias still with decent flowers despite a month’s heat and sun:

Camellia x williamsii ‘Tristram Carlyon’

Camellia ‘Memphis Belle’

On the way back I stop to photograph ‘hogwort’ in full flower on the roadsides by Burrough Close.

2019 – CHW

Two tour groups today. Both two hour guided tours. Amusingly the first from Gardens Illustrated who seemed to have no idea that there was a feature on us in the February issue. The second was a RABI outing with supper which was more entertaining. More tour groups than ever this year as the weather remains fair with coldish nights.

Syringa pinnatifolia is just coming out and, again, well before its normal time.

Holboellia latifolia subsp. chartacea flowering for the first time with us in the frames. Clusters of maroon coloured flowers and very pretty indeed. Sausage shaped seed pods last autumn.

Eucommia ulmoides with elm-like leaves is a Chinese tree used to make rubber. These appear to be flower bracts which I have never seen before.

Acer campestre ‘Red Shine’ living up to its name in Kennel Close. A good new plant which will be popular in the nursery as a half standard tree.

New growth on Aesculus chinensis is attractive too.

Magnolia ‘Maxine Merrill’ has small flowers but they really are yellow!

Asia had been wondering what had become of Acer tsinlingense. It is planted out in Kennel Close and has oddly veined yellowish new growth. I cannot immediately find this in any reference books.

Sorbus coloneura with young growth and flowers.

Lindera umbellata in flower. Not that exciting!

2018 – CHW
Day two of the Irish trip with a visit to Bantry House and Illnacullen Island.

Full details.

2017 – CHW
A young clump of Rhododendron johnstoneanum ‘Double Diamond’ is nicely out with a slight yellow hue. The single form is lower down the bank and over mature. The white form of ‘Johnnie Johnstone’ really which we planted out two to three weeks ago.

The Rhododendron ‘Emma Williams’ clump below Tin Garden is at its best and, against a blue sky, superb. Perhaps a vague compliment to my first wife?

Magnolia ‘Sunburst’ by the fernery on the drive is just starting. Its first year of a decent show of flowers but they are a bit irregular and greenish. Nowhere near as good as ‘Yellow Fever’ or ‘Lemon Star’ which we saw in the last week.

The pinkish Rhododendron sinogrande known as ‘Lord Rudolph’ is now full out and it has faded to the normal yellowish-white sinogrande colour. Just a few emerging buds left. I notice several branches are touching the ground, if only because of the weight of the flowers, and we do need to get on and layer these to ensure the survival of this rather special plant.

2016 – CHW
The seasons are changing. The Asiatic tree magnolias are nearly over and we are moving into proper rhododendron time with the yellow magnolias as backup. April has flown by with so much activity here and there is a degree of sadness that, as usual, it is mainly all over for magnolias with never enough time to enjoy them more while they are in their prime. A few more tours with no one to have to chaperone around in next year’s diary I think.

Osmanthus delavayi is putting on a good show at Donkey Show. The old plants which were here until they died 10 years ago or so were 15-20ft high and about 70 years old I guess.

Magnolia ‘Lois’ has its first flowers out. A delicate yellow and a very different shape to Magnolia ‘Daphne’ which we all agree is the best of the third and latest generation of yellow magnolias. ‘Lois’ is probably the second best.

Magnolia ‘Serene’ is the last, as usual, of the tree magnolias (and the New Zealand hybrids) to flower. This plant is below Slip Rail but there is another good one on the drive and another by the best eucryphia near Tin Garden. An excellent plant to grow in the north of the country.

Rhododendron ‘Loch Aure’ is very nice by the Pound. It looks like a macabeanum hybrid with a touch of pink but I need to look it up properly. Three plants here which will be more visible when we cut down and grub out the camellias in front of them this summer.

Despite several prior attempts to come out only for the early flowers to be frosted or hailed away Magnolia ‘Pickards Garnet’ is still pretty good. It is the white edging and insides to the tepals that makes this special. The Magnolia ‘Pickards Ruby’ nearby has few flowers this year.

The Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ in the Auklandii Garden is at its best today.

Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’ is now full out below the greenhouses and quite an improvement from a fortnight ago although the pink tinge is not so pronounced. Susyn Andrews spotted this in the nursery car park at Burncoose last week where it is equally showing off.

The bluebells and the grass are now over taking the primroses on the bank but what a display of wild flowers and grasses. It looks like a nice day so batten down the hatches for an invasion of people. Thankfully I got right around the garden well before they arrived and the dogs, hearing the odd shot, soon found me at the top. Rather less evidence of squirrel damage on the emerging oak leaves than last year which shows what a good clear out we achieved last summer.

2015 – CHW
The Worshipful Company of Barbers lunch and garden tour. Several serious gardeners and none who have ever held scissors. Very jolly lot and the odd peer of the realm.We look at a couple of my father’s rhododendron hybrids:‘Tinners Blush’ and ‘High Sheriff’ were the best two of a range of decorum crosses and were named at Chelsea some 20 years ago.

RHODODENDRON 'High Sheriff' — RHODODENDRON ‘High Sheriff’

RHODODENDRON 'High Sheriff' 02 — RHODODENDRON ‘High Sheriff’

Rhododendron moorii x euchates 03 — Rhododendron moorii x euchates

Rhododendron moorii x euchates 02 — Rhododendron moorii x euchates

Rhododendron moorii x euchates by George’s Hut (not the best form) was inspected by the RHS Woody Plant Committee on a visit to Caerhays six or so years ago. They wanted to give it an award of some sort but this never happened due to the administrative balls-up with the Rhododendron Camellia and Magnolia Group which was to be integrated and has now been exiled. A long and boring story of RHS muddled thinking and changes of mind during restructuring and cost saving.

MAGNOLIA 'Margaret Helen' — MAGNOLIA ‘Margaret Helen’

MAGNOLIA 'Margaret Helen' 02 — MAGNOLIA ‘Margaret Helen’

The best Magnolia in the garden today is Margaret Helen on the drive. It does not seem to fade as much as ‘Caerhays Surprise’ which is the same cross as explained earlier. A better plant than ’CS’ but not in bud and when it first comes out. [Karol pinch from website]

And you cannot go up the drive without being stunned by Prunus shirotae. Few cherries have such a wonderful spreading habit or quite such a double flowered inflorescence. The two at Burncoose are just as good.

2001 – FJW
House martins back and active. Cold – damp – miserable – but a little sun.

1998 – FJW
David Clarke died.

1968 – FJW
Dry spell ended. Saw first martins on pond but was told that they had been here for 10 days. Michelias coming. Edgeworthii x Leucaspis and ‘Damaris’ best things out.

1960 – FJW
2000 round the Garden. Fine day.

1959 – FJW
Michelias wonderful as are the Leucaspis Edgeworthii hybs, 2 Mag sargentiana pure – which G.H.Johnstone did not remember seeing properly. (This was almost his last trip around).

1944 – CW
Cherries past best. Auklandii coming out well. Pink and white never better, also Tom Tit, Pink Maddeni above big camellias very good – also large Lacteum Rho very good and Sinogrande. Daffodils largely over. Two fuschias showing flower, one Mrs Pople out. Pink magnolias over Veitchii been very fine. Also Sargenteanum from below Engine House.1933 – JCW
Big cherries at their best – P incisa. Daffs have finished, a very good season, I can see and have seen no sort of storm damage which is a record.

1923 – JCW
Yunnanense of Wilson are now very good. The Cart Road Calophytum is opening and the first of the Caerhays raised Auklandii; the Conservatory plant is just over, and the Heligan plant not yet open. The lower rockery rhodo of P.D’s is wonderful; most of Broughtonii are over. Only 4 Campylocarpum buds in the peace. Daffs are over all but the late poets. Maddeni x just on.

1910 – JCW
Cerasus pendula remains very good. This is the mid season for poets.

1908 – JCW
Good Friday. 3/4 of the de Graaf or less open, very near 1901. A lot of hot sun of late. Primroses very good.

1897 – JCW
White Indica out in the Drive.