2024 – CHW
The rain gauge shows 2 inches of rain in the last 6 days. To me it feels as though we have had double this.
Camellia japonica ‘Optima’ fully out and touching the side door. I do not remember it looking better. Flowers, and the flecking within, a bit variable.
The view today from the front door.
Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaeflora’ over the top wall and two young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ in front of it.
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ blown open on the lawn.
Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ where the flowers are more sheltered and therefore a somewhat darker colour as they open.
Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ is finally full out in the Rookery and by the front gate.
Why are all the surviving daffodils on the front bank all now one variety? 40 years ago there were many varieties. All but one has died. We used to think eelworm but why one solitary survivor?
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ virtually undamaged after the overnight hail and rain. Thankfully it has not opened up more after a chillier night.
A dreadful story and a dreadful lie as well in several of the national newspapers about the felling of a magnolia tree. If it was only 60 feet tall it was hardly ‘Britain’s tallest magnolia’ but there we are. We are so taken in by social media drama and lies on behalf of every pressure group who ever earnt a fee that truth and obvious lies easily become muddled.
2023 – CHW
Gales in the north of England but mild and still here as the magnolias start to mount their wonderful display.
Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ and Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’.
The first flower is out on the Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ above the gents loos.
Camellia japonica ‘Dr Burnside’ now full out.
First flower out and buds with colour on Magnolia ‘F.J. Williams’.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’ just getting going properly.
Camellia japonica ‘Faith’ looking especially fine today.
The Magnolia campbellii above Crinodendron Hedge a little further out in the drizzle today.
The rather unexciting Cornus mas ‘Variegata’ just out.
The 1913 Magnolia campbellii just now starting.
The Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ seedling in the Aucklandii Garden still firmly not out.
A little more colour through the arch.
And beyond the Rockery – this one from the same seed pan as Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ which has yet to show colour.
2022 – CHW
Quite cold but no frost to hurt the magnolias. Click here to see Karol’s overfly of the garden yesterday and quite how advanced the garden actually is this year. Still plenty to come but potential visitors need to get here NOW!
More of the Storm Eunice clear up which is more or less done already.
Rhododendron ‘Red Admiral’ now at its best.
See below a short video of Jaimie describing his two new magnolia hybrid flowering so well this year.
The Magnolia campbellii var. Alba seedling in the Auklandii Garden out a bit early by normal standards.
Three Camellia reticulata varieties just now out in flower:
‘Lasca Beauty’ – the best of the three
‘Dream Castle’ – a sparse flowerer
‘Royalty’
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ strutting its stuff.
One of Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrids and Rhododendron ‘Ostara’ from a distance.
Magnolia ‘Dr Merrill’ and Camellia x williamsii ‘Galaxie’.
Camellia japonica (pure species) and Rhododendron ‘Ostara’ on the Main Ride.
Another Magnolia campbellii var. Alba seedling with gigantic flowers below Tin Garden.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Wakehurst’ and Magnolia ‘Aurora’. Both wonderful ‘reds’ together.
Magnolia ‘Pink Sensation’ better than I have ever seen it before.
No apologies for showing Magnolia ‘Elizabeth Holman’ yet again.
Magnolia ‘Laura Saylor’ which I was rude about in the past now improving markedly.
The Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’ as also on last year’s Christmas card just out today.
A white form of Rhododendron siderophyllum below Slip Rail.
2021 – CHW
Jaimie and his team dug and moved the Rhododendron falconeri layers yesterday. These layers from the old original clump which flowers in May were made at least five years ago and have developed nicely into individual plants and little clumps with good root balls. With enough light they have grown up towards the light but, after moving, still need stakes to keep them upright and to prevent the root balls being moved in the wind before they root out more fully.Digging with great care to avoid breaking the root balls. The plants were moved only to the other side of the path into a specially cleared new site in dappled shade.
Jaimie and his team dug and moved the Rhododendron falconeri layers yesterday. These layers from the old original clump which flowers in May were made at least five years ago and have developed nicely into individual plants and little clumps with good root balls. With enough light they have grown up towards the light but, after moving, still need stakes to keep them upright and to prevent the root balls being moved in the wind before they root out more fully.Digging with great care to avoid breaking the root balls. The plants were moved only to the other side of the path into a specially cleared new site in dappled shade.
Each one was carefully mulched and watered in.
Then on to moving four sets of Rhododendron ‘Mrs Butler’ layers which have mainly come up as multi stemmed clumps which have been separated with care and will need staking.
These have been planted in a prepared site below Hovel Cart Road where they will be rather less sheltered initially than the old plants were at the top of the garden.
The yellowish white Magnolia campbellii behind the greenhouse is just starting.
Five naturalised clumps of very different semi wild daffodils outside the front gate. The last one is clearly a seedling hybrid from Narcissus cyclamineus.
2020 – CHW
The Magnolia campbellii subsp. mollicomata ‘Lanarth’ full out today by the castle.
The Magnolia campbellii subsp. mollicomata ‘Lanarth’ full out today by the castle.
Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ in a similar condition.
The Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ on the lawn just starting to drop. It is noticeable how some blown open flowers are paler while others, more sheltered by the yew tree, are much darker and more as they should be.
Some good magnolias coming out on the higher side of Hovel Cart Road:Magnolia campbellii ‘Betty Jessel’ – planted 2005.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ – Betty Jessel and Darjeeling look wonderful side by side so that one can compare the colours in one place. Superb today.
Magnolia ‘Anne Leitner’ (‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘J C Williams’) – just coming out.
Similarly above the greenhouse:Small flowers blown open early on a young Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’.
Magnolia ‘Todd’s Forty Niner’ still looking splendid after a good month.
Magnolia ‘Mossman’s Giant’ – a seedling from Oregon purchased by a Mr Mossman from Vancouver in 1963. A campbellii var. mollicomata x sargentiana robusta seedling which is large flowered but otherwise unremarkable.
Magnolia zenii
2019 – CHW
Above the greenhouse today.Magnolia ‘Big Dude’ has the odd flower out.
Above the greenhouse today.Magnolia ‘Big Dude’ has the odd flower out.
Magnolia ‘Todds Fortyniner’ is still splendid eight weeks after showing colour.
This is labelled Magnolia ‘JC Williams’ but is a cock up because it is actually a Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’. It is a key viewing spot and the 15 year old plant is now an absolute picture today in the sun.
Also out today
The New Zealand form of Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ – few flowers this year after the drought.
The New Zealand form of Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ – few flowers this year after the drought.
The true Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ outside the castle and planted in 1955. First of only a few flowers.
Magnolia ‘Aurora’ – not as good as Magnolia ‘Darjeeling’ but not far off.
Magnolia ‘Laura Sayler’ – slightly better than I thought last year. Who was she? Not in my reference books?
Prunus ‘Kursar’ – an exceptional hybrid for this time of the year.
Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’ – the red striping in the tepals is exceptionally good.
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ – first few pink flowers here and there.
2018 – CHW
Overnight the east wind has howled and many magnolias have sadly been blown open. With the forecast for the week ahead they will swiftly be frosted and blown away. Here is what I managed to photograph today before they did.
Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ in the Auklandii Garden.
Magnolia campbellii has the requisite number of flowers out (50) to qualify for ‘Spring has Sprung in Cornwall’. The coldest day of the year by far today with worse to come.
Rhododendron cilpinense is just out.
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’ now full out.
The Magnolia campbellii seedling above Crinodendron Hedge is often missed by visitors. Still intact and very fine today. Enjoy it while you can!
2017 – CHW
A westerly gale and a large beech tree down beside the Rookery nursery which thankfully narrowly missed the young rhododendrons in the nursery bed. A big mess to clear but we had our eye on clearing out the laurels here and felling the four to six over mature beech trees here later this year anyway.
A westerly gale and a large beech tree down beside the Rookery nursery which thankfully narrowly missed the young rhododendrons in the nursery bed. A big mess to clear but we had our eye on clearing out the laurels here and felling the four to six over mature beech trees here later this year anyway.
After a drab, drizzy week we finally managed to get the Great Gardens ‘Spring has Sprung’ publicity pictures taken in the sunlight on the beach before the weather turned. The idea was to show magnolias on the beach which is quite a good way of portraying the Cornish spring to potential visitors.Here are various pictures with magnolias in the sea, on the rocks and generally looking rather odd as the publicity gurus like them for the media.
The two vases used on the beach all ended up in one superb vase of flowers in the hall. What a vase of magnolias! What would any RHS show give for this.
2016 – CHW
Despite a few ‘crispy’ mornings this week the magnolias remain unfrosted. Visitor numbers tremendous for February so our publicity campaigns and media coverage seems to have worked for now anyway. Eighty visitors on Monday (the first day of spring which was drizzly), 160 Tuesday (fine), 150 Wednesday (fine) and 50ish today (bit overcast). Nearly as many in four days as the whole of the three weeks or so we were open in February last year. Queues at the tearooms in February. Whatever next!A busy day at the biannual farm cropping meeting where Arthur Broom, our longstanding and outstanding farm manager, is about to handover to Hamish Ross. In theory he does not know about the farewell party planned for Good Friday. Arthur is going to continue to work with his machinery and tractors on the farm in retirement while Hamish manages the livestock. Not too much change in reality we hope and no real ‘farewell’.
Despite a few ‘crispy’ mornings this week the magnolias remain unfrosted. Visitor numbers tremendous for February so our publicity campaigns and media coverage seems to have worked for now anyway. Eighty visitors on Monday (the first day of spring which was drizzly), 160 Tuesday (fine), 150 Wednesday (fine) and 50ish today (bit overcast). Nearly as many in four days as the whole of the three weeks or so we were open in February last year. Queues at the tearooms in February. Whatever next!A busy day at the biannual farm cropping meeting where Arthur Broom, our longstanding and outstanding farm manager, is about to handover to Hamish Ross. In theory he does not know about the farewell party planned for Good Friday. Arthur is going to continue to work with his machinery and tractors on the farm in retirement while Hamish manages the livestock. Not too much change in reality we hope and no real ‘farewell’.
Just time to catch a little sunlight late afternoon to bring you (again) the record tree 1913 planted Magnolia campbellii which is now full out and just starting to drop its petals (tepals). About a fortnight ago there were 100 or so flowers out, now there are thousands. If ever a plant could inspire a passion for gardening and magnolias this is surely ‘it’. What other tree could conceivably produce a 100 foot tall display with a huge flower at the end of every twig a good four to six weeks before it has produced any leaves? Some have argued about jacarandas in South Africa or Argentina where they are often spectacular roadside urban trees but I think this is better.
What a pity the American RHS magnolia photographer who struggled in the rain all week last week is not here today.To cap off the breath taking view of the Magnolia campbellii behind me is Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ coming slowly out five days on from the last time I photographed it. It is thankfully coming out slowly (and before its siblings the best of which is on the drive) but what a fantastic and unique colour.
Long may this rare bout of still and sunny weather continue so that we can all enjoy the best things pillaged from China 100 years ago!
2015 – CHW
Camellia reticulata clump below Donkey Shoe almost over. Camellia reticulata came to Caerhays as a Forrest introduction in 1924. In 1928 eight were planted out and a further batch in 1932. They are now in their prime and the best one, Mary Williams (AM1942), was probably a wild collected seedling rather than a deliberate hybrid.
2004 – FJW
First flower on Stellata.
1963 – FJW
Picked first Saluensis flower.
1940 – CW
Three or four yellow incomps open in the Tin Garden, one with colour. Hybrid Camellias very good. Moupinense at its best, Moupinense x Lutescens fully open, a good deal of Barbatum and some reds, also Ririei. Hamamellis just over. Peonies moving in Tin Garden.
1933 – JCW
A late year and cold east wind for say 3 weeks. A very few daffs are open, snowdrops over. Heath very good indeed. Forrest’s Camellia speciosa has had hundreds of blooms on it untouched by the cold. It is the pink white form.
1906 – JCW
Came back from Lanarth, their things a week ahead of us, snowdrops over, Caerhays nearly all open, many, most of the Arboreums open, heaths at their best, quite 20 seedling incomps open. Several Maximus open.