2020 – CHW
Yesterday at Burncoose where renovation work is progressing well.
The new trade order loading and unloading bay.


Camellia sasanqua ‘Dazzler’ has been more or less blown away recently and its flowers are scattered and nearly over for another year.
Araucaria bidwillii was the International Dendrology Society’s ‘Plant of the Year’ in their recently published yearbook. Under threat in Australia, too tender for anywhere in the UK except the very mildest locations. We lost another of these in a cold place on the drive but this one is going great guns.
This huge bare root plant of Sorbus ullungdoensis had a hard top pruning when it was planted last December and has settled in well with, now, some autumn colour. The effect of the pruning has been to encourage new basal shoots which we will need to remove to send the sap back up to the crown of the tree.
Off to look at more stewartia species seeding and with autumn colour for next year’s article on the genus. This will take more than just today.Rhododendron moupinense with its first early or secondary flowers?
Laurel hedges being cut and camellias pruned back prior to removal at the start of the Main Ride. No less than three bonfires and a great deal achieved in a small period of time. We have left some of the old clump of x williamsii camellias for now as a windbreak facing the Engine House. One forgets that laurel can grow out from a hedge by 10-12ft in half that number of years here threatening the nice clump of Rhododendron fragrantissimum and an aesculus.
The ancient clump of Rhododendron lutescens is out but only at the very top of the plant and just a little second flowering I believe.
1981 – FJW
Charlie announced engagement to Emma.
1924 – JCW
A very few C sasanqua and lapagerias, the year was too cold and sunless, far behind 1903 on the page before. Rain and slugs are the main crop this season.
1921 – JCW
Lapagerias and C sasanqua remain nice in spite of one nights sharp frost. No rain to make the soil wet and I’m down since about May.