2022 – CHW

Quercus franchettii is an evergreen and has taken plenty of salty gales.

Amazingly Prunus laurocerasus is actually in flower already below Tin Garden.

A female Podocarpus henkelii with ripening podocarps in profusion.

Rehderodendron kwangtungense appears to be fully evergreen here.

Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’ from afar with a dark background.

The tender Quercus fleuryi has survived the winter so far.

Camellia ‘Cinnamon Cindy’ at its absolute best. Planted only in 2016.

Camellia ‘Cinnamon Scentsation’ nearly full out. Also 2016.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Citation’ is at its best. The flowers are generally, but not always, semi double but they are highly variable as you can see here and the colour fades too. If you Google search C. ‘Citation’, C. ‘Inspiration’ and C. ‘Salutation’ you will be amazed at the muddle and misinformation displayed there. The reference books do not agree either on the origins of ‘Citation’ which was once, I believe, also called ‘Delia Williams’.

Plenty of swelling buds on Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’.

2021 – CHW
The second Beast from the East is upon us. Sunny but freezing! The digger and Frankie finally arrive to do the stump removal after weeks of it having been too wet.A pleasant combination of Galanthus nivalis and Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna in the sun.

A consignment for planting out here from Burncoose – Hamamelis, hydrangea and deciduous azaleas for Kennel Close and Old Park where we are short of late season colour.

The clump of Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna has grown under two beech trees in the car park outside the back yard for 20 years. It used to grow in the corner of the old vegetable garden more or less here around 35 years ago where I originally planted it.

In the teeth of cold east wind Camellia ‘Jury’s Yellow’ has already shed leaves and buds outside the back yard. Not good. What will this do to the magnolia buds?

Now that we are opening next Sunday along with all the other Great Gardens of Cornwall who normally open early a mad panic to get everything ready. The garden paths are nearly all swept but there are all the signs and plant labels to go up still and the squirrel traps to move elsewhere. A few more dead plants and odd bits of trimming. With the beach car park now charging all year round visitors to the gardens will have to pay for a car parking ticket and then offset it against the entrance fees when they get to the garden entrance. Book online for tickets if you like and then the car park cameras will know that you have already paid to park. However, ONLY if you are ‘local’ can you book online or just turn up on the day (any day seven days a week). Who is a ‘local’ and able to come? Up to individuals to decide for themselves really based on their perception of the risk and common sense. Full COVID risk assessments done and in place. The shop will be shut to customers but the cinema in the garage will have the two hour introductory film etc running with no tables. Distancing in 140 acres of garden should not be that hard but we really do not expect many people until perhaps after Boris’ announcement to the nation on 22nd February about the lifting of Lockdown 3. When will the castle itself be open for conducted tours and how many will be allowed on individual tours? Our best current guess is Easter weekend in the first week of April but this is a hope rather than an expectation as it stands today.

Season ticket purchases for garden entry will probably prove rather popular to local people!