9th January | The Garden Diary

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2026 – CHW
Quite why Storm Goretti was classed as a storm, rather than a hurricane, only the Met Office can say. One hundred mile an hour winds from the north for roughly two hours on Thursday evening have caused catastrophic damage to the garden. Around 10% of the overall garden has been destroyed and the front drive will take at least another week to clear. All the gigantic Pinus radiata, which lived for 120-140 years, have either blown over or snapped off at the base and taken all the north facing shelter belts with them.

The reality is that it is not going to be possible to open the gardens to the public as planned in mid-February. However we can at least clear the paths in time to open sometime in March. The problem is not just the sheer scale of the damage but it is also that there are now many dangerous trees which are leaning, or have been damaged, that will now also need to come down.

Not unexpectedly there is also severe storm damage to multiple properties on the estate.

The only positive thing that I can say is that the situation is not nearly as bad as the hurricane damage of the 26th January 1990 where 25% of the garden was flattened. We successfully recovered from that, and we’ll do so again this time, but it will take at least a year before we have cleared all the mess.

Another positive is that not a single magnolia appears to have blown over; the same was true in 1990. I did also discover today a young Magnolia sprengeri ‘Flame’ which you will see towards the end of these pictures of devastation.

Tin Garden.

The path above the drive.

A giant fir between George’s Hut and Tin Garden.

The Record Tree – Prunus pilosiuscula.

George’s Hut.

All that is left of the giant fir (Pinus radiata) at Donkey Shoe.

Donkey Shoe.

Another giant fir above Crinodendron Hedge.

Higher Quarry Nursery.

No tree cover at all remains above the drive.

HQN and a leylandii.

The water tank at HQN.

Amid the debris flowers on Magnolia ‘Flame’.

Two more giant firs above HQN.

The path above Hovel Cart Road.

Donkey Shoe.

Below the Fernery on the drive.

No tree cover from the ferneries over to 40 Acres.

On the road by Caerhays Barton.

On the road by Top Lodge.

Red Linney on the drive.

Hovel turning on the drive.

The fir tree which touched the top of my head.

The Azalea bush where I lay awaiting rescue.

The tree which the Gator got stuck in on Thursday night.

The road down to White Styles.

Above White Styles.

The swimming pool building works were undamaged.

Damage to the Kitchen Garden walls in the distance.

Looking up the drive from the Hovel.

2025 – CHW
Magnolia moto (M. kwangtungensis) has lost a lot of leaves in the wind higher up but fine lower down.

Magnolia virginiana ‘Pink Halo’ is virtually leafless.

A hefty stake has righted a young Embothrium on the lip of Roger’s Quarry.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Faith’ looking good in the sun.

Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’ untouched by frost or gales on the drive.

Camellia japonica ‘Debutante’.

An out of season and frosted flower or two on Azalea ‘Ledifolia Alba’.

Frosted hydrangea leaves where the East wind caught them.

Some ice still on the edges of the lake.

Seedlings aplenty under the Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ which I fear is dying beside the side door.

2024 – CHW

The first daffodils largely eaten by pheasants.

The first flower is out on Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’. Surely an all time record for early flowering?

Another mature plant of Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ looking at its very best.

A week on and Camellia x williamsii ‘Celebration’ is suddenly full out beside George’s Hut. No colour a week ago.

2023 – CHW
First flowers showing on Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’.

First flowers just out on Daphne ‘Jacqueline Postill’. A bit later than usual.

First snowdrops just about out 2 days ago. The big clumps on Bond Street are much further on already.

2022 – CHW
Everything sodden but little damage in the garden after yesterday’s deluge.The start of the laurel cutting on the way to Rookery Gate.

Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ is still not fully out unlike all the other bholuas which are at their absolute scented best.

Rhododendron mucronulatum rather battered but still a good show today in the sun.

A rather unnoticed clump of snowdrops above Bond Street are the first clump to be fully out this year.

The near white flowered Camellia x williamsii bred by my father with its first few flowers. A little pink in the buds.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Jury’s Yellow’ just starting.

2021 – CHW
Frosty but clear. A little ice still on the lake but only on the periphery. The two swans have reappeared and taken back their territory. Their one cygnet sulks in a corner.

Still plenty of flowers out on the ancient Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ on the top wall.

The vireya rhododendron species Rhododendron sororium is nearly over in a greenhouse. Yellow flowers with red stamens.

A youngish and new Camellia ‘Volunteer’ is full out. The flowers fade as you can see here and change colour. As good an early red camellia as ‘Takanini’.

First colour on the yellow form of Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’. About on time despite the cold spell.

This large and rare Symplocos dryophylla has been dying slowly over the last few years above Rogers Quarry. Dry summers probably but our other plants are nestled in even more shelter. The last bits of green leaves at the top have gone and it is for the bonfire and stump digger now this spring. Seedlings are coming on.

Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ and Camellia reticulata ‘Mary Williams’ now out below Donkey Shoe.

The Caerhays raised and registered Camellia ‘New Venture’ just out (japonica x ‘Gauntlettii’). A large flower which will open out flatter.

Rhododendron lutescens now has plenty of flowers but they are quite sparse on the old bushes.

Just one decent flower on Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’ below Burns Bank so far.

View 9th January 1897 – 2020