2024 – CHW

Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Hattie Carthan’ on the drive – many flowers high up but they all seem small this year.

Rhododendron prinophyllum just opening. We always forget that we have this species on the drive in two good clumps.

A fine plant of Rhododendron eximium or is Rh. arizelum hidden away in the back of the drive? After last week in Northern Ireland gardens I am no longer sure which is which between the two and I suspect I have seen both called the wrong thing.

The pretty ghastly Magnolia ‘Tranquillity’ which we have seen elsewhere recently.

Prunus ‘Shirofugen’ growing away nicely on the drive. This replaces a huge tree which was so good here 40 years ago.

A tail end flower on Magnolia ‘Margaret Helen’.

New leaf on Quercus phellos by Hovel turning.

Rhododendron tephropeplum full out above HQN.

Euonymus echinatus now out in flower.

Labelled Enkianthus chinensis but, I’m afraid, it’s not.

Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Hollandia’ is excellent!

So is Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Vesta’.

2023 – CHW

Heard the first cuckoo in Castle Wood yesterday.

Magnolia (Michelia) ‘Touch of Pink’ now properly out either side of the path by George’s Hut and scenting it well.

Rhododendron ‘Beauty of Littleworth’ behind George’s Hut.

Still decent flowers on Magnolia ‘Genie’ as they usually are in May.

Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’ and Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’ are not usually out together.

Pomaderris elliptica now full out in Tin Garden – a fluffy yellow effect.

Inside the flower of Paulownia fortune. A week on most flowers are gone – bashed by rain.

Tilia amurensis from Chollipo Arboretum in South Korea making good growth.

Paulownia kawakamii – first buds with colour. For the first time the tree is completely plastered with bud after the dry summer. It is going to be a tremendous show in a week.

Still berries on Cotoneaster glabratus in May even as the new growth emerges!

Magnolia ‘Green Bee’ nearly out but flowering only at the very top of the tree.

2022 – CHW

First of May today and Rhododendron ‘May Day’ just out on time. Cuckoo in full voice near the top lodge. The scent of rhodos everywhere on a coldish but sunny day with no wind. We need rain in the next week or there will be casualties in the spring planting. It is turning into a good rhododendron year and a very early one here. Much talk of frosts upcountry.

The first of the ancient mixed group of Azalea indicum near the top lodge just into flower.

Wonderful violets in the St Michael Caerhays churchyard where we were for the AGM of the Parochial Church Council (10 of us anyway). The lovely retired vicar is still covid averse but we finally agreed one full service a month with or without him officiating himself rather than Rev. Warner. The indecision has carried on for months and the church was well packed at Easter. The church roof may last another 10 to 20 years.

Rhododendron crassum out already. Chelsea chances – nil!

Rhododendron chapmanii now full out opposite.

Azalea ‘Caerhays Lavender’ with its flowers already obscuring the attractive yellow coloured new growth.

Rhododendron ‘Nancor’ in a similar state to crassum – another Chelsea ‘too soon’.

Rhododendron griersonianum (beside ‘May Day’ but one of May Day’s parents) still in tight bud.

Rhododendron davidsonianum ‘Caerhays Pink’ is a very good form of this variable species.

Merriliopanax alpinus (BSWJ 13939) with its extraordinary new growth – brown undersides to the emerging leaves.

Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’ now properly out a week from when we last looked.

Rhododendron ‘Beauty of Littleworth’ full out behind Georges Hut. A pre 1884 hybrid (FCC 1904) but still very well worth its place.

Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’ and Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’.

2021 – CHW
Tom Christian asked what the three slow growing conifers were by the greenhouse and hothead during his recent visit. I could not remember but, on checking, two are record trees of Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Lycopodiodes’. Hillers refer to this as a ‘medium sized bush’ whereas our veterans are 30-40ft tall trees. This tree was introduced from Japan in 1861 by Philipp von Siebold. Here they grow in full sun in hot, dry, and exposed south facing conditions with curious bunches of foliage. Certainly worth Asia propagating as both trees look well past their prime. I remember a fourth one blowing over by the greenhouse in the 1990 hurricane.

I investigated our other tree of Nothofagus dombeyi but it now has no branches below 20ft and no way of photographing the leaves properly. This is the trunk.

The new laundry is now being filled with holiday let furniture and linen. Justine and Ann are moving stuff into the store as Pheas finishes off the shelving ready for laundry on Tuesday.

The record sized clump of Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ where it is virtually impossible to get a picture of the whole thing in flower without a drone.

Rhododendron floccigerum which is one of my favourite species. This form an excellent colour. We have another old plant of this species to layer this year below Donkey Shoe.

Rhododendron ‘Princess Alice’ at its best above the greenhouse.

Need to work out the names for these two (probably Wilson 50) evergreen azaleas above the greenhouse. The closest I can get for the slightly orangey one is Wilson 45+ ‘Tama no utena’ but it is not exact. Amazing that there still is not a full set of pictures on Google search!

Azalea ‘Melina’ is stunning as a tight clump.

Rhododendron ‘Temple Belle’, a williamsianum hybrid which we obtained as cuttings from just inside the gate of the Chinese garden at Werrington.

Magnolia ‘Hot Flush’ as good as I have ever seen it in flower.

Rhododendron aberconwayi just out.