18th December | The Garden Diary

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CONTRIBUTORS:

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2018 – CHW

The new gas operated squirrel traps which have been recently legalised by the government have just arrived and here is a picture of one of them. The bait smells particularly horrible and we must wait and see if the squirrels are inclined to play. The whole point about these traps is that they do not need to be inspected daily and that the dead squirrels simply fall to the ground. It will be interesting to see if they work.

On a happier note, here is a picture of a red squirrel enjoying its nuts in a garden in Seaview – very close to our holiday home. The Isle of Wight remains grey squirrel free.

2017 – CHW

Another trip to look at the schefflera collection.

Schefflera taiwaniana has just finished flowering and is now setting seed. It has a multi stemmed habit.

Schefflerea pauciflora is still a small plant with a single stem but is now sporting a fine crop of nearly ripe seeds.

Schefflera aff. myriocarpa has also recently finished flowering and has huge trusses of seeds setting.

Schefflera macrophylla is starting to put out a huge new growth shoot coated in orange-brown indumentum.

Schefflera alpina has seeds like ivy berries in similar clusters.

Some schefflera species flowered in late summer and some in mid autumn but the seeds are all the key feature of these superb plants in mid to late December. Much seed for Asia to collect although not all of it is ripe yet.

2016 – CHW
Jaimie has discovered one of our last true Blood Red arboreums in Dry Walls. It was revealed when the laurel was felled around it. Certainly one to propagate from.

2015 – CHW

A few camellias emerge early alongside the drive below the Top Lodge. All were planted as large plants in 2009.
‘Jurys Yellow’ has a single flower.

So does ‘Prestons Rose’; or rather I think that is the right name but need to check.

1987 – FJW
First flower on C noblissima.

1979 – FJW
Storms (not so bad) still continue.

1965 – FJW
Pale Saluenensis by Gunroom door – a few flowers – November Pink sparse. Nobleanum good but Mucronulatum only coming. Very wet since November 15th.

1953 – CW
Still mild. Rhododendrons not forward but Camellias are. Saluenensis the shiny leaf form covered with flower, some of others opening. November Pink still good. Fuchsias and roses also lapagerias not out yet. Rho mucronulatum good and nobleanum but little else.

1934 – JCW
I picked the Devon polyanthus 3 days back, just as above for most things.

1931 – JCW
Rhododendron nobleanum is good in the Drive. Hydrangeas near the lodge not touched by the frost. Some roses about, I could pick bits of say 6 species of rhodo’n and 2 hyrbids.