2018 – CHW
A rather splendid clump of very late flowering deciduous azaleas at the start of Hovel Cart Road. Planted pre 1996 so not on the computer records with a name but I think it is Azalea ‘Bell Merville’.
An absurdly late pheasant’s nest by Tin Garden with seven eggs. Not much effort with the nest and not much chance of them ever hatching successfully.
Off to the rare plant fair at Tregrehan with Justin (7.30am start) and 104 rare plants to sell. We shift about 70 of them by 12.30 and meet lots of friends for ‘planty’ chats. A welcome outing after the horrors of Chelsea. Plant events like this are a delight.In turn I buy for Caerhays:Quercus insignis
Euonymus morrisonensisQuercus rugosa
Decaisnea insignis
Myrtus paraguayensis
Viburnum awabuki
Viburnum atrocyanea
Plus Thomas Methuen-Campbell gives us from Penrice:
Callistrus (a rare conifer)
Quercus hypoxantha
Salix aff moupinense (TH Vietnam)
The target today is to locate any old original Magnolia wilsonii or Magnolia sieboldii sinensis. Having thought about it the latter is hidden completely behind the original Sassafras albidum above the Auklandii Garden. However, as usual, there are distractions along the way:
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Symmes Select’ had a flower out during Jim Gardiner’s visit here in early March. Still out today with buds to come. Must be a record of some sort?
Schizophragma integrifolium full out beside it on the top wall.
On a bit further is Crug Farm’s form of Hydrangea quelpartensis which Burncoose stocked for years much more miniature leaved and quite possibly incorrectly named.
Along from the greenhouse is a 30 year old plant of Magnolia ‘Chelsea Coates’ (Magnolia sieboldii x Magnolia tripetala). A rather ugly crinkly flower with sieboldii stamens. A collector’s item only. The plant on the drive at Burncoose is a bit different. Perhaps ‘Ralph Coates’. I bought Charles and Ralph Coates from Trehanes Nursery decades ago and they reside, as untrue to name as it is possible to be, by Charlie Michael’s Nursery.
Above the greenhouse the first flowering of our new aesculus collection based on Michael Heseltine’s National Collection at Thenhurst. What else (apart from cornus) is at its best as a flowering tree in early June? Here is Aesculus x mutabilis ‘Induta’ with its apricot and yellow flowers.
Touching it is a well grown clump of Rhododendron ‘Fabia Tangerine’.
Going the other way is a nice clump of the heavily scented Rhododendron nuttallii (sinonuttallii) which I used to grow in the Burncoose conservatory where it reached the roof but never set seed. Oppressive and overpowering/sickly smell especially in the evenings.
Then, just below today’s goal is Rhododendron ‘Tally Hoo’. A wonderful very late flowering red Rhododendron griersonianum hybrid (x facetum) which is attributed to other breeders but was undoubtedly raised here as well. There is another old clump on the drive and at least one at Burncoose by the Tennis Court.
There used to be a good group of Magnolia sieboldii sinensis here but they have been squeezed out by a much newer Lithocarpus pachyphyllus.Only one old spreading plant survives. It does have broader leaves than Magnolia wilsonii but too high up to smell if it has a lemon scent. Photography difficult and the plant will not live much longer so we must diarise to collect the seed in early October. The squirrel poison hopper (empty) is, I see, at the base of the plant.
Yes, you can see a very clear difference with Magnolia sieboldii both in the size of the flower and in the colour of the stamens which are reddish rather than pink.
There is now no more possible confusion between Magnolia wilsonii, Magnolia sieboldii and Magnolia sieboldii sinensis. However I strongly suspect that in taking seed horticulturalist have bred hybrids between the two or three separate species so much of what is grown today is a mixture. Good to have an old original to go back to.
2000 – FJW
First flowers out on Rho excellens – introduced by Keith Rushforth 1994 Vietnam expedition. Discovered by Henry.
1991 – FJW
Rain has come just in time for two royal visits to the county and the R.C Show.
1952 – CW
Charles Michael operated on today. Azaleas going over but V.G beyond the Fernery. Griersonianum good also its x with Erioginum. Cornish Loderi at its best also Primula helodoxa. Still some flowers on Michelia behind Georges Hut and small red Camellia by Brown Gate and 2 double pink near Top Lodge and single white above outside terrace.
1917 – JCW
It is now much as in 1916 but if anything a shade later. Harrows hybrids have begun to open.
1916 – JCW
R brachycarpum is open, also R souliei, R corona, R micranthum (good), R brachyanthum, bits of Auklandii, various Waterers, a very fine lot of the later azaleas, and bits of Wilson’s forms and R fastigatum. Viburnum plicatum is very good. Roylei cinnabarinum etc open.
1904 – JCW
Much as the above, I picked some ripe Cyclamineus and Caerhays in the open, have moved most of our one bulb seedlings. Fine dry weather.
1902 – JCW
Viburnum plicatum at its best, and a fair lot of roses open, the late Azaleas are coming on, we have put mats on the best daffs to keep off the fly.