2017 – CHW
The granite trough outside the Marketing Office still has a fine display of osteospermum and Euryops chrysanthemoides (the African daisy) in mid/late November!
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Wallaby’ is turning autumn yellow. A very dwarf growing variety which has yet to flower here. Needs more sun.
Another batch of Camellia sasanqua varieties is full out below the greenhouse. Here we have:‘Winters Toughie’ – a delicate light pink double which opens out flat.
Quite a nice show overall with four more varieties yet to perform. ‘Polar Ice’ is nearly out and seems very similar to ‘Snow Flurry’ except that it has a more drooping habit.Rubus ichangensis has tiny raspberries which I seem to be a bit too late for sadly. Large trailing trusses of fruit not all of which has yet ripened properly. Quite a nice climber for a wall none the less.
2015 – CHWWork has started on the Nash arch on Battery Walk. This means we now have the pleasure of a portaloo and cabin in the Cutting. Dad keeps asking what it is doing there but, with Alzheimer’s, the question gets asked many times and the answer always forgotten. Typically, due to Natural England’s tardiness and obsession with ‘jobs for the boys’ rules, work has only now started at precisely the wrong time of the year.
1973 – FJW
Vase of November Pink in the house.
1932 – JCW
The best Sasanqua year I have seen. About 15 rhodo show bits of flowers of which Lutescens is the best.
1925 – JCW
C sasanqua has been fair, but a hard frost last night will finish them. Lapagerias remain the best as in 1918.
1918 – JCW
The old Sasanqua as good as it has ever been. Lapagerias fair, roses some, R decorum yet has flowers. Mucronulatum has a plant or two well out. Erica codonodes and darleyense show flower and so does Bob’s heath here and at Werrington, it is very nice and white.
1906 – JCW
C sasanqua good, lapagerias good, several daff with jonquil blood are up and a few others. Useful lot of roses now.