15th January 1897- 2020 | The Garden Diary

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2020 – CHW
The arrival of Storm Brendan gave us two extremely wet days.

Signs of deer in the garden.

A final bit of path clearing at the top of the garden prior to opening; trimming the laurel here is going to be a priority.

Jaimie has found a yew tree growing out of the fallen trunk of a tree fern. A yew berry fell here or was deposited into the fibrous trunk, perhaps by a mouse, and has been growing away quite happily for five or six years by the look of it.

2019 – CHW
Another magnolia is more or less full out. On time, as usual, is Magnolia campbellii var. alba ‘Strybing White’. There is a hint of yellow at the tips of the petals as they first open.

2018 – CHW
The new shop is finally finished and the team look pleased (Jaimie, Lucy, Lucinda, Tim and Aaron). The nice furniture from the old shop in the garage has been moved across and is in place. It all has a light modern feel and will oblige visitors to go through it on their way out of the gardens. Easier to manage with less staff especially on wet days. Not quite what we originally planned a few years ago but a great leap forward none the less. All disabled/wheelchair friendly we hope with a staff sink for health and safety handwashing – why is this obligatory I wonder?

2017 – CHW
The scent from the Daphne bholua alba is overpowering today above the greenhouse. The plant is now full out and breathtaking!

In the small greenhouse a couple of new plants of Camellia ‘Quintessential’ are full out. This is Camellia japonica crossed with Camellia lutchuensis and is supposed to be highly perfumed and semi-double. I cannot observe either trait but perhaps the flowers are too full out to still be scented? The plants came from a French nursery so perhaps a Brexit retaliation? I must ask Asia what she thinks.

Lots of new magnolias for planting out in a month or so. Quite a big job again this year.

2016 – CHW
Camellia ‘Noblissima’ by the front door is now full out and relatively undamaged by the wind and rain. The plant is 120 years old and very slow growing.

Its similarly elderly neighbour Camellia ‘Lady Clare’ has only one bud showing colour. In the main garden in shelter it is full out as we have seen previously.

1966 – FJW
6° frost. No snowdrops. Big clearing above Veitchii.

1958 – FJW
Picked 4 buds of Mary Williams – Camellias very forward – starting cutting back centre block of big bed of Hydrangeas above drive. Snowdrops good.

1928 – JCW
Just as in 1926. Erica hybrida is ¼ open, nobleanums nice, some snowdrops, the white ribes should be out this coming week. Hamamelis remain very good.

1926 – JCW
Snow and frost but not very bad yet, R mucronulatum is only now open as against Christmas in most years, excepting Hamamelis there is not much else.

1923 – JCW
Much later than 1916 or 19 owing to a cold wet summer as I see it, no real cold has come yet.

1919 – JCW
As near as may be to 1916 though I am not sure of the cherry.

1916 – JCW
The following Rhodo’s are open and are of about the relative value in which I place them R mucronulatum, R praecox, R nobleanum, R barbatum, R moupinense, Thomsonii x a blood red, R oleifolium, R lutescens, R chrysanthum and a bit of Pearl. The snowdrops, coums and aconites are fair, no daffodils yet. Wilsons cherry opens 1st bloom and the white Ribes.

1907 – JCW
Snowdrops just showing, aconite hardly showing, C coums ⅔ open, no sign of R Praecox, no daffs show colour,. R nobleanum is good.

1906 – JCW
Snowdrops well out, coum at their best, about six trumpet seedlings open, Ericas very good, it has been very mild, several Camellias open. Rho Praecox well out.

1897 – JCW
Snowdrops in full flower, a good few yellow crocus, 2 sorts Polyanthus Daf out and half the minimus, fair lot of Primroses.