24th November | The Garden Diary

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CONTRIBUTORS:

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2024 – CHW (images to follow)

2023 – CHW

The natural regeneration, after felling 4 years ago in Dry Walls, has been deemed inadequate by the Forestry Commission who now stipulate (with menaces) that more trees must now be planted. This stipulation ignores the fact that tree planting in lockdown was not easy and that no grant at all was claimed for anything to do with this work. We did obtain a valid felling licence from the FC and did not cheat in lockdown as the FC maintains some landowners did by felling without a licence. Nevertheless this is, in reality, a new power grab or mini nationalisation of woodland by the government. Landowners can only fell or (now) thin their woodlands with FC permission. There are generous grants for new woodland planting and plenty of rules to go with them. This is however the first instance which I have come across where the FC can dictate exactly what you must plant where, at your own expense, on your own land! Another outreach or overreach by a conservative government who expect the countryside to support them regardless.

These pictures show Frankie carefully removing brambles with a small digger to facilitate replanting where regeneration has not occurred.

Seed heads on Daphniphyllum oldhamii (CWJ 1235) which we have not seen before.

2022 – CHW
To the greenhouse to see what is new.The ancient Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ on the top wall here has larger petals and more pink in its buds than the younger plants which are more common today.

Sorbus zahlbruckneri with its unusual fruits. Which other sorbus species have this odd acorn and cup type fruit?

New to us and in flower today, with a multitude of tiny yellow flowers, tiny leaves and a dwarfish habit is Pittosporum michiei (from Nick Lock). Still in the greenhouse frame beds. A bizarre species and not easily recognisable as Pittosporum species.

Euonymus tonkinensis with seed capsules also by the greenhouse. Not shedding yet.

A young plant of peculiar Cryptomeria japonica ‘Araucarioides’ which I admired at Gorwell Garden where it was around 10 feet tall.

Euonymus carnosus has just arrived from Mallet Court Nursery. Excellent red autumn colour even if it is still in the potting shed.

2021 – CHW
A large chestnut has fallen in Old Park.

The only surviving clump of original Camellia sasanqua on the bottom path in Old Park. Two colours.

Seed heads on the record Trochodendron aralioides in Old Park.

A good show on a young Photinia villosa var. coreana by the Dog Kennels.

Another batch of fungi in Old Park – these might be iodine bonnets – Mycena filopes.

2020 – CHW
Prunus ‘Jo-nioi’ putting on a show at the garden entrance. Planted 2006.The second Camellia japonica variety into flower after ‘Noblissima’. It may have a bit of x williamsii in it but the leaves are crinkly/curled and the flowers off red. An old windbreak plant with no (known) name.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Sugar Dream’ is a really good new one to us which Asia and Burncoose need to propagate for the future.

Sunlight on the fallen leaves of Magnolia dawsoniana below the arch.

Rosehips hang over the River Luney from a wild dog rose.

A cock pheasant on the roof enjoying the sun before lockdown ends.

2019 – CHW
A trip to the greenhouse to see some good new things in flower for the first time here.

Camellia reticulata x sasanqua ‘Show Girl’ would probably be unexciting in March but is rather good in November. I have no idea where this came from but Asia has a fine set of young plants from cuttings now (Camellia reticulata ‘Damonao’ x Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’).

The Berberidopsis beckleri flowers are still not fully formed yet as some of the leaves are turning colour. Will they yet mature? Doubtful.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Frosted Star’ is a good new one to us too. A compact habit and just a hint of pink on the reverse of some of the petals.

Camellia ‘Betty Robinson’ reminds me of Camellia ‘Dainty’ or ‘Little Bit’ but without the flecking. Another new variety which I do not think I have seen before.

Along the top wall on from the greenhouses the original Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ is now just full out. The flowers are larger than the ones on the younger plants from Burncoose with slightly less pink spotting on the reverse of some of the petals. John Bond always said this was the correct and true form during a visit here.

2018 – CHW
Another record tree bites the dust from old age and falling over. Magnolia macrophylla toppled over in October and this whole area needs a good prune and tidy. The Magnolia sieboldii sinensis next door is also on its last legs.

Pruning the lower branches of the adjacent English oaks planted in 1996 to create a new shade canopy for this area once all the old beech trees fall or die.

A new Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’ which looks like a Camellia sasanqua cross and merits further investigation of its parentage.

Polyspora longicarpa with its first flowers out. This plant suffered from cold winds when first planted out but has now prospered and also has its first seed pods.

2017 – CHW
Another forsythia out in flower in November. This is the second to show.

This Mexican dahlia species was only planted in the spring. It is already a huge 6ft tall multibranched plant with a woody stem lower down and attractive black spotting on the stems of younger growth. We knew it was supposed to flower in November/December and it is not trying hard. Tiny dahlia flowers on such a huge plant. I need to look up the name again – it is Dahlia tenuicaulis?

2016 – CHW
A surprise Camellia japonica with a few flowers on above the big veitchii. Not named but planted originally as a windbreak set of seedlings.

Amazingly the Paulownia elongata, planted in 2007, which had such large buds a few weeks ago is now well out. It is clearly not a secondary flush of flower but just ‘early’! This tree grows so amazingly fast that it has got its seasons rather muddled.

Clearance completed above the paulownia ready for some laurel stumps to be dug out. An old beech stump of a tree which fell 10 years ago is burning nicely.

Another original Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ (pure) in Rogers Quarry. I have never seen this flowering before or even knew it was here. The joys of gardening!

2015 – CHW
First primroses out outside the front door. None yet on the bank above.

1924 – JCW
On Nov 23rd we had the longest spell of good colour on all kinds of shrubs here that I can remember.

1901 – JCW
Came home for three days, frost cut dahlias and hydrangeas, not roses of which there are several. Iris stylosa nice, Iris alata very good. Camellia sasanqua quite fine. Many daff seedlings of all ages show up in the pans etc, most of them have cyclamineus, maximus, polyanthus or clusii blood in the cross.