2025 – CHW
First flowers out on Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’.
A rather battered early flower on Camellia japonica ‘Miss Charleston’.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’ now full out and undamaged in Penvergate.
The split out Maackia chinensis has been cleared up.
The Maackia had hit the Eriobotrya deflexa which has had to be cut back as well.
A branch from the Maackia had earlier hit a nearby Magnolia ‘Princess Margaret’ which lost its top but is recovering.
Drimys granatensis v. grandiflora (BSWJ 10777) planted last autumn has not enjoyed the winter and is half dead.
Bird shit from roosting rooks on the leaves of a Rhododendron sinogrande.
2024 – CHW
A trip to Penvergate to see what magnolias are out there already.Stil plenty of berry on the hollies here in mid-February implying the mild winter which we have had with few migrating birds.
A trip to Penvergate to see what magnolias are out there already.Stil plenty of berry on the hollies here in mid-February implying the mild winter which we have had with few migrating birds.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Sidbury’ a bit blown open prematurely lower down but nice enough in the sun today.
This is supposedly labelled Magnolia ‘Peter Smithers’ but I have always had my doubts.
Surprisingly Magnolia ‘Scented Gem’ is already showing colour. From Kevin Hughes Plants originally. Note the pink flash at the base of the tepals. No scent yet.
Despite what I said a few day ago we do still have 11 swans here although the old pair are clearly off on their own and broody.
At the height of the floods before Christmas the lake was 2½ – 3 feet above its normal level as you can see here.
Still a fair bit of work to clear up this fallen 40 year old Pinus insignis at the top of the lake. The bridge is clear but the mess remains.
This is the sister seedling to Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ outside the front gate. A good dark colour this year high up but you can already see the paler insides to the tepals as you see in ‘Caerhays Belle’.
Camellia ‘Sode-gashuki’ is now a frosted, windblown, petal blighted mess by the front door but there are still a few new flowers. It was first out this year in October so there is hardly reason to complain!
2023 – CHW
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ was showing on time but rather good today in the sun.
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ was showing on time but rather good today in the sun.
First flowers out on our best young (grafted) Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ above Orchid House Nursery bed.
The pale flowered Magnolia campbellii by Tin Garden has hardly opened at all in a week. Sunny days but near freezing by night with a full moon of late.
The now pruned up Cedrus deodara by Tin Garden. Interesting bark. The twigs are less pendulous now than they were in the young tree. Planted 23 years ago.
The as yet not registered Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Pickthorn’ is nearly over already which implies Camellia saluenensis in its parentage. The leaves show no sign of saluenensis when you look. We should now have enough pictures to try to register this. The two pinks in the petals make it rather distinct although this is more obvious on early flowers which are not near to dropping as here.
Suddenly Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’ is full out and outstanding today.
Rhododendron flavidum now out also. Young plants replace this short lived species which I previously planted by the greenhouse as a teenager. However when I look this up Rh. flavidum is yellow so there has been a cock up in propagation here. Probably my fault guessing plant names at cutting taking time!
2022 – CHW
Everything is rushing out but the air temperature is quite low and it remains cold.
The view through the back arch today.
First flowers out in the Auklandii Garden of the Tregullow form of Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’. Darker than our original.
The original Magnolia campbellii is out but, so far, only lower down.
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ and a seedling Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’.
Magnolia mollicomata ‘Werrington’ just showing in Kennel Close.
Dark red flowers about to open on Prunus ‘Felix Jury’.
The Magnolia campbellii by Tin Garden today.
First flowers out on Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’.
A Magnolia campbellii Alba seedling that is not pure white at Donkey Shoe.
The New Zealand form of Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ is now showing high up.
The Magnolia campbellii above Crinodendron Hedge is now full out.
A single flower on Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ – a graft from one of the Lanarth original plants. A very distinct shape.
Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ and Rhododendron grande above the greenhouses.
2021 – CHW
Another really foul cold day where going into the garden is not a pleasure especially when the cold rain started.
The wind has covered our new plants for planting out with leaves and debris. Asia has attempted to put proper scratch labels on each plant before we get cracking, hopefully next week, as the Beast finally moves on. The wind is now southerly and just as strong and still bitingly cold.
Some Burncoose plants at the cash point for the public but everything has been blown about as you can see.
The shop will be closed but a rather attractive window display has been put together by Gillian.
No leaflets of course any more for the Great Gardens of Cornwall (at least until lockdown ends) so now it is a QR code for their main website and location map.
The signage is all up.
Flower buds blown off Rhododendron sutchuenense before they could open.
A yew tree growing from a fallen tree fern trunk which I found by accident.
Big leaf rhododendrons hate the cold and droop their leaves in protest when the weather is as it has been.
Some have also been shredded in the east wind which is why they must be planted in semi shade and shelter.
Quercus x hispanica ‘Lucombeana’ (now apparently renamed as Quercus x crenata ‘Lucombeana’) has shed many of its leaves but by no means all. Its pale grey bark and fissured trunk is developing nicely. A gift from the staff and Cornwall County Council members when Dad retired as chairman. I think I helped them get it and checked that we didn’t already grow it.
I took this on Friday as Tim cut the lawn in what was then another arctic day. I doubt many people in the UK would have been lawn mowing in the Beast but everything has to be right for opening!
Fatsia polycarpa now full out. This really is a very good ornamental plant and, flowering now, rather more exciting than Fatsia japonica.
Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ resilient in the background of a Michelia which still has its leaves intact despite the wind.
The clump of dead Chusquea gigantea has been dug out leaving a nice bit of shady space for planting next week.
The windblown laurel leaves on the Main Ride are now a carpet.
A windblown twig from the Trevanion Holly on the drive for identification. I had earlier thought it might be Ilex altaclarensis ‘Balearica’ but it is also pretty close to Ilex aquifolium ‘Pyramidalis’. We might get closer if we had immature leaves perhaps with more spines than here. The only spine on these leaves is at the tip. Both these options fit as both are erect growing conical trees and both are self-fertile as is the Trevanion Holly. I am not competent to judge so this is another one for Susyn Andrews post lockdown.
Up the drive a little further I planted a Williams Holly some 30 years ago to also grow into a mature tree. It had to be a variegated holly to annoy Dad who detested all plants with variegated leaves. Of course I cannot remember the name but it may be Ilex aquifolium ‘Pyramidalis Aureomarginata’. The single stemmed tree is already at least 30ft tall and has also quite a bit of Phytophthora leaf drop on its lowest branches. Here is a leaf blown twig by way of comparison. If I am right it is self-fertile. However I cannot say I have noticed any berries but may not have looked properly at the right time of the year.
The pink rhododendron looks a lot like irrorata anthosphaerum. Flowering time is probably about right in cornwall.
Dear Mr Synott
Thank you for your comment and apologies for the late reply.
I have looked it up and you are spot on! Thank you so much – I will amend the diary accordingly.
Best wishes
Charles Williams