More autumn colour in the sun – 12°C for the last few days with no wind.
Enkianthus cernuus with red and yellow autumn tints.
Enkianthus cernuus
Enkianthus campanulatus with ripe seeds.
Enkianthus campanulatus
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Wallaby’
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Wallaby’
Prunus ‘Hally Jolivette’
Prunus ‘Hally Jolivette’
Acer pseudosieboldianum (BSWJ 8769)
Acer pseudosieboldianum (BSWJ 8769)
Viburnum prunifolium
Viburnum prunifolium
Amazingly Camellia ‘Takanini’ is now full out. This is a New Zealand bred japonica hybrid and is described as dark red with bluish tints. Is it because it is so early that the colour is really not ‘dark red’ at all?
Camellia ‘Takanini’
Photinia niitakayamensis with plentiful berries.
Photinia niitakayamensis
The fruits on Cornus capitata are nearly ripe.
Cornus capitata
They contrast well with the group of Picea glauca ‘Piccolo’ below.
Picea glauca ‘Piccolo’
Brilliant colours on Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Atropurpureum’.
Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Atropurpureum’
2020 – CHW
Yesterday at Burncoose where renovation work is progressing well.The new trade order loading and unloading bay.
bayrenovation work
The herbaceous tunnel looks fantastic.
herbaceous tunnel
Wonderful fiery colours on Zenobia pulverulenta ‘Raspberry Ripple’.
Zenobia pulverulenta ‘Raspberry Ripple’
One set of magnolias all re-potted and tidied up for winter.
magnolias
The site is cleared for the new multi span glasshouse and two threatening trees have gone.
site
The camellia tunnel now all tidied and looking well.
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.
Many seed clusters of Lithocarpus pachyphyllus have been stripped from the tree in recent gales but these two persist only 4ft off the ground with fat ripe acorns showing clearly. A squirrel has had a go so perhaps Asia ought to grab these two while they remain intact?
Lithocarpus pachyphyllusLithocarpus pachyphyllus
A good new display of cyclamen and winter pansies to brighten up the front door.
cyclamen and winter pansies
2018 – CHW
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.
We saw Callicarpa shirasawana looking tremendous with some leaf a fortnight ago. It is even more striking leafless today. In the Isla Rose Plantation we have three new species of shrubby Callicarpa all with their first berries or fruits but, so far, this is the best.
Callicarpa shirasawanaCallicarpa shirasawana
This is labelled Vaccinum cylindraceum but I think it is very probably Viburnum cylindraceum judging by the description. These are its first flowers as a young plant in the frames. It is not like the V. cylindraceum at Burncoose so the jury is still out on this one. Asia will know where these plants came from? It certainly is not a Vaccinum!
probably Viburnum cylindraceum
2017 – CHW
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?
Rhododendron moupinense
Stewartia pseudocamellia with some autumn colour which is yellowish with a reddish hue on the side shoot growing from the base of the old three trunked tree. Two of the original trunks survive while the third has died. No leaf left on the older trunks.
Stewartia pseudocamellia
A few ripe and one unripe seed pod.
A few ripe and one unripe seed pod
The bark flakes in the spring and this year’s old flaking now looks like this. New flaking just starting at the base nevertheless.
The bark flakesThe bark flakesThe bark flakes
2016 – CHW
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.
Laurel hedges
Laurel hedgesLaurel hedges
Beside the fire there is a single secondary and very pale flower on a Rhododendron ‘Bow Bells’ planted only 18 months ago.
Rhododendron ‘Bow Bells’
The seeds are now ripe on Meliosma dillenifolia subsp cuneifolia on the other side of the path. Time for Asia to collect them.
Meliosma dillenifolia subsp cuneifolia
Brilliant red autumn colour on Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’. A very old but beautiful dome shaped plant died of old age at the Red Linney 25 years ago and my mother sprayed the dead plant white and used it as a Christmas tree. Several years to go before this one qualifies!
2015 – CHW
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.
Rhododendron lutescens
The forecasters say a hurricane is coming from the USA and the sea certainly looks ominous. It transpires that it hits Scotland and not Cornwall.
Sea viewSea view
The seed on hedychium is certainly impressive. The pheasants do not seem interested so perhaps poisonous.
seed on hedychiumseed on hedychium
Mahonia japonica has odd rather insipid flowers. Some are out and over quickly while others in full bud. Needs a good cut back from the path before the spring visitors.
Mahonia japonicaMahonia japonica
White cyclamen on the lawn under the yew trees. Is there a pure white form of the autumn flowering Cyclamen hederifolium? Assume so.
White cyclamen
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.
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