2021 – CHW
Something strange has happened to Magnolia ‘Coral Pink’. This is a peculiar late flowering magnolia with small flowers that has been very prone to branches splitting off. It now looks as though the main trunk has had some damage at about 10-12ft in height. Almost a constriction in the stem as might have been caused by a strap or tie but hardly at that height. A bit of lead shot even? Anyway there is clearly rot in the stem and the leading shoot is dying. We need to cut out the damaged leader to prevent the infection travelling downwards.
Attached is an interesting article on Rhododendron williamsianum by Barry Starling taken from the Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group southwest branch newsletter.We have a couple of plants here of ‘Exbury White’ which I had puzzled about as the flowers do start off pink. I saw the plant at Exbury where I thought the same thing.Our original huge clumps of Rh. williamsianum died out 20 years or so ago in the Auklandii Garden. They were at least 6ft in height with a rounded habit and 10-12ft across. They were about 80 years old and died of exhaustion and over-flowering.
For a couple of decades a younger clump at Burncoose of similar size survived. Nearly all the plants in the clump here also now died of old age.
Restarting tiny young plants in a woodland garden is not easy. We have laid down myopex and planted in slits to reduce weed growth. The whole clump was also rabbit fenced. They are all growing well today but it is clear that we have planted them much too close together as they mature.
We will need to think again with the next batch we plant out.
Our weather forecasters so frequently worry us up about impending hurricane aftermaths and flooding that when a real storm hits us we get little prior notice. After a week’s rain last night’s gale was recorded at 78-80mph at RNAS Culdrose. Swirls and gusts too of great strength through the garden. Damage to the church roof and, I expect, many more slates to be put back in place on Monday.One of the original large ilex oaks (150 years old?) opposite the front door fell down at about 2am. Got me out of bed anyway to check something had not actually hit the castle itself. The nearest debris was 25 yards from the front door. A power cut too of course with alarms then going off.
Yesterday a garden tour with the Townsends.Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’ looking superb now denuded of all its leaves.
Another clump of Rhododendron davidsonianum has been cut back to regenerate.
A check up on the autumn colour of the enkianthus on Hovel Cart Road. I am slightly too late.Enkianthus campanulatus albiflorus is a good red.
Funny that the only pure white flowering one should have red autumn colour?Hydrangea paniculata is starting to turn yellow too and has faded a lot in a fortnight. Quite a colourful autumn bank here now but Lindera cercidifolia is still green. One to watch and a good yellow I expect.
2015 – CHW
A surprising day for flowers in the garden just when everyone might think there is nothing doing.Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’, a Caerhays bred plant, is absolutely full out and looking wonderful. This is in fact a secondary flowering and a repeat will appear in the spring. Rhododendron flavidum is one of its parents and often has an autumn show too as we saw earlier but nothing like this.
What I have always known as Mahonia lomariifolia is full out alongside ‘Yellow Hammer’. The botanists have had a field day with mahonia names but I find mahonias pretty dull anyway so cannot be bothered to delve into the latest renaming of lomariifolia. Look it up if you must!
I had thought earlier that Hoheria populnea ‘Variegata’ (yellow variegation) was not going to flower this year but it has suddenly and belatedly proved me quite wrong. The flowers do not show up much amongst such distinct foliage but are a nice surprise in November.
1981 – FJW
Vincent Curtis died – the best flower arranger of his age.
1923 – JCW
Rhododendron eximium in the 40 Acres is, as regards its young growth, with a wonderful beauty now. The Sasanquas are nice some of them, much rain has fallen since say Sept 20th but only last week did it fill the 2 tanks in the Tin Garden.
1921 – JCW
Sasanqua (old plant) is very good indeed, a good few lapagerias. Cyclamen are over, roses a few. Rain seems to be coming to us slowly. No proper gales yet.
1918 – JCW
The sasanquas show a little flower. Lapagerias are nice. R decorum continues to hold on. Heavy autumn gales have started.
1908 – JCW
The roses in the three beds are very nice indeed. Solanum is extra good. Cyclamen over. Cam sasanqua medium.