Cotoneaster thimphuensis

Cotoneaster flinkii

Cotoneaster rubens

Cotoneaster rhytidophyllum

Cotoneaster tengyuensis

Cotoneaster ‘St Andrew’s Blaze’ (gift from Fromfield) – far from ripe.

Cotoneaster teitiashanensis – unripe.

Cotoneaster erratus – quite excellent and covered in berries.

Cotoneaster raoujanensis – not ripe.

Cotoneaster rokujodaisanensis – unripe.

Cotoneaster hillieri

Cotoneaster ‘Rothschildianus’ – unripe.

Cotoneaster silvestrii

Cotoneaster fangianus

Cotoneaster soongoricus – red berries turning brown and dropping already.

2020 – CHW

The peculiar and decidedly nasty climber from New Zealand, Rubus squarrosus, has found a home in a shady corner by the front gate. In three years it has developed in size enormously and you can clearly see its long new shoots. Gloves essential!

This is a fungus peculiar to old and dying beech trees called ‘Southern Bracket’ or Ganoderma australe.

Sorbus randaiensis with its first fruits above the Hovel.

I think this is ‘Spindleshank’ on dead oak tree (Collifia fusipes).

I struggle with this one growing on a dead scots pine. It may be ‘Bleeding Conifer Crust’ (Stereum sanguindentum) but the description does not really tally. It looks like a ‘Crust’ (Stereaceae) but perhaps it is not yet mature?

With no rain for a fortnight and hot weather not an ideal time (yet) to be fungi hunting with the new book.

Crataegus schraderiana now has fully ripe berries and is a really good show.

Acanthopanax aff. sessiliflorus with its usual fine clusters of fruits.

Sorbus prattii has now been renamed in Hillier’s as Sorbus munda. Yet another change! White berries all along the stem. Not a vigorous plant with us.

Photinia villosa var. laevis with loads of fruit.

Photinia villosa var. zolleringeri with rather less.

The 10 or so new Hedychiums are planted below the tower and below the Rabbit Warren.

2019 – CHW
A sudden strong easterly wind has downed all the beech mast and sweet chestnuts all over the drive. This made me wonder if there were any ripe fallen acorns on Quercus lamellosa but sadly they had all fallen a month or so ago when still immature and not really anywhere near ripe. Conversely the large Quercus acuta above Rogers Quarry still has plenty of larger acorns still in place on the tree and not yet ripe enough to drop in the wind.

Despite being cut back in the spring Buddleia lindleyana has reshot vigorously and is now in flower. What a colour!

Ross has felled another large beech tree. Three more big ones, a sycamore and an ash still to go.

This Clethra pringleyi is still not quite out in flower although another plant has already finished. Too much wind to get a decent picture.

Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’ living up to its name. Wonderful near black foliage.

Light pinkish secondary new growth on Rhododendron rhabdotum with the odd ripening seed head below it.

2018 – CHW
Tiny cones forming on Saxegothaea conspicua on just the odd branch. Quite a surprise as I had thought that ‘Prince Albert’s yew’ had berries? The reference books say these cones are in fact soft and prickly ‘fruits’ so there we are. Well worth a look in a week or two as I have never seen this before on any of our several young trees or the record tree at Tregullow gardens. I should ask James Williams.

Malus yunnanensis var. veitchii with one crab-apple only left to see. The pheasants have eaten the rest. A Wilson introduction from 1901 planted here in 2001. First fruits that I have ever seen on this smallish and now multi stemmed tree.

Seed pods from last winter’s flowers on Polyspora longicarpa. The first time these have formed on this young plant while the buds are swelling too and will be out by November? Ripe and collectable in December/January hopefully or perhaps earlier?

Secondary autumn flowers on Styrax wilsonii which I have never seen before. This young plant has grown well with some shade in this year’s drought.

2017 – CHW
David West from Fromefield Nurseries thought this was Cotoneaster frigidus ‘Inchmery’ when I photographed it last year. The fruit is not plentiful and certainly is not ripe yet but it is yellow now and seems to want to turn pink. I must remember to send fruits to David.