2024 – CHW
Rhododendron ‘Emma Williams’ just coming to its best by 4-in-Hand. Not yet properly out on the drive.
Magnolia ‘Sunray’ in Kennel Close – one of 8 yellows looking good here today.
New leaves as good as ever on Acer campestre ‘Red Shine’.
Magnolia ‘Tranquillity’ – a not very pleasant oddity and not at all tranquil to me!
Young plants of Rhododendron loderi ‘Sir Edmund’ flowering well for the first time. (Sir Edmund Loder presumably?)
The 15-20 sacrifice camellias replanted below White Styles.
The 24 Matsumae cherries in a double avenue continue to impress.
A young Magnolia ‘Goldstar’ below White Styles showing up well for the first time.
First flowering of a Magnolia ‘Flamingo’ at the entrance to Old Park. Very similar to M. ‘Peachy’ and not unlike M. ‘Daybreak’. However rather better than the somewhat battered flowers seen a while ago on a supposed M. ‘Flamingo’ in area 25 of Kennel Close.
2023 – CHW
Howling gales for 2 days. With 50+ mile an hour winds we were forced to shut the gardens yesterday on safety grounds. All other Great Gardens and some National Trust ones did as well. Unbelievable rain for April and the roads totally flooded on the way back from Charles’s Rettalack’s funeral at the Truro crematorium yesterday. The Cornish farming community stood gossiping in the rain outside the ‘crem’ without batting an eyelid. Rev. Warner, who first met Charles Retallack in 1975 as the then Caerhays churchwarden, gave an excellent send off but didn’t hang about in the gale afterwards. No wake so Simon Trudgeon and I had our own! Sadly Margaret Retallack broke her hip over the weekend and had to miss her husband’s funeral which was recorded for her.A visit to a tenanted dairy farm on the estate in the rain to discuss the future. Large gum boots needed as you can see but the cattle had recently been turned out of the overwintering sheds. Enjoy a rather seasonally full slurry tank of S.H. one T!
Howling gales for 2 days. With 50+ mile an hour winds we were forced to shut the gardens yesterday on safety grounds. All other Great Gardens and some National Trust ones did as well. Unbelievable rain for April and the roads totally flooded on the way back from Charles’s Rettalack’s funeral at the Truro crematorium yesterday. The Cornish farming community stood gossiping in the rain outside the ‘crem’ without batting an eyelid. Rev. Warner, who first met Charles Retallack in 1975 as the then Caerhays churchwarden, gave an excellent send off but didn’t hang about in the gale afterwards. No wake so Simon Trudgeon and I had our own! Sadly Margaret Retallack broke her hip over the weekend and had to miss her husband’s funeral which was recorded for her.A visit to a tenanted dairy farm on the estate in the rain to discuss the future. Large gum boots needed as you can see but the cattle had recently been turned out of the overwintering sheds. Enjoy a rather seasonally full slurry tank of S.H. one T!
Then another farmyard trip to investigate whether to overwinter 100 of our own mature (beef) cattle next winter in sheds on another (formally) tenanted farm on the estate. This would mean that we could house all the Home Farm cattle rather than having 80 or so overwintering outside on fodder crops. If our current application for Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship is to have any reasonable chance of success then it is imperative that no cattle are outside over the winter poaching up the ground and causing topsoil erosion. This seems a better option than building out our own new shed, for which we already have a hard fight planning permission, when the cost of borrowing for new projects is now 6.5% rather that 3%.
A huge beech tree in the Rookery yesterday but virtually no damage to any plants.
The 10,000 Daffodils newly planted in the Old Kitchen Garden are doing well.
2022 – CHW
Six house martins flying over the lawn this evening.
I attach a submission to Professor Wang, the registrar of the International Camellia Society, concerning Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’. Quite dull perhaps but an interesting little bit of Caerhays/Trewithen history.
Click here to see it.
Magnolia ‘Apricot Brandy’ with one flower out and the peculiar coloured buds.
Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Venus’ is the first one of the campanulatus varieties to be out.
Looking online and in the reference books the only species of evergreen euonymus which fits what we saw yesterday is Euonymus myrianthus. Despite the moss covering, interesting bark. This is certainly a huge tree and perhaps a record or larger than the current record of this species? Hillier’s calls E. myrianthus a large evergreen shrub?
Frankie and the mini digger have tidied up the roots by the beech trees below Donkey Shoe and a new laurel hedge is in place.
Two camellia stumps removed to make a perfect site for new rhododendrons.
Rhododendron impeditum ‘JC Williams’
Rhododendron soilenhense now full out.
Rhododendron ‘Martha Wright’ and Magnolia ‘Yakeo’.
Magnolia ‘Yakeo’ and Rhododendron veitchianum ‘Cubittii Group’.
Rhododendron ‘Blue Tit’ and Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’.
A single tiny flower on the aptly named Magnolia ‘Mighty Mouse’.
The leylandii stumps have gone!
2021 – CHW
Magnolia ‘Black Bird’ (parentage unknown) has come out properly in the Isla Rose plantation. Well worth its place.
Magnolia ‘Black Bird’ (parentage unknown) has come out properly in the Isla Rose plantation. Well worth its place.
Rhododendron neriiflorum phaedropum flowering even better this year in what was Orchid House Nursery bed – now a species rhododendron planting. Very like the old Rh. neriiflorum clump which died out on the drive 25 years ago.
The often forgotten and unseen huge Magnolia x veitchii ‘Isca’ by the Rookery Nursery bed.
Camellia ‘Grace Albritton’ on Rookery Path is late flowering with pinkish outer petals.
This Camellia x williamsii ‘Francis Hanger’ was cut down to reshoot five or six years ago and, today, looking wonderful.
Magnolia ‘Pickards Garnet’ has been out for weeks. A 40-year-old plant still only about 6-7ft tall and 12-15ft wide. An amazing display from what is an Amos Pickard seedling from Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Picture’. Magnolia ‘Pickards Ruby’ grows nearby and on the drive.
2020 – CHW
First cuckoo heard by Lizzie today.Another week of lockdown and I should finish all 650 or so of the plant care articles needed to complete these for the Burncoose website. About 50 more done over the Easter bank holiday weekend so now 600 in total completed over the last four years or so. Each averages 300 words (with a set of pictures of how these plants grow in gardens) so about 200,000 words in all.Finally common sense is prevailing over the lockdown and, as I had suspected, we may start to be out of some of this by early May. If the Italians and Spanish are reopening their factories and building sites today we must, very shortly, do the same.First flowers out on Rhododendron davidsonianum in various colours.
First cuckoo heard by Lizzie today.Another week of lockdown and I should finish all 650 or so of the plant care articles needed to complete these for the Burncoose website. About 50 more done over the Easter bank holiday weekend so now 600 in total completed over the last four years or so. Each averages 300 words (with a set of pictures of how these plants grow in gardens) so about 200,000 words in all.Finally common sense is prevailing over the lockdown and, as I had suspected, we may start to be out of some of this by early May. If the Italians and Spanish are reopening their factories and building sites today we must, very shortly, do the same.First flowers out on Rhododendron davidsonianum in various colours.
First flowers out on Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’.
The best camellia in the garden today is Camellia ‘Fairy Wand’.
Flowers on Euphorbia stygiana which I had not seen like this before. A gift from Penrice Castle gardens.
Flowers suddenly out on Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’. The ‘touch’ soon fades!
Nice new growth on Magnolia crassifolia (FMWJ 13163).
And on Rhodelia parvipetala (WWJ 11943).
Suddenly the splendid yellow Magnolia ‘Lois’ is out too. Long before its yellow rival, Magnolia ‘Daphne’.
Azalea ‘Hinodegiri’ a sea of red as usual despite a branch falling into the centre of the clump and smashing it a bit.
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’. I had forgotten we have two 12-25ft tall trees now. This one just starting out and quite a bit of ‘blue’ showing’
Magnolia ‘Sunsation’ just out too at the very top. This is a x brooklynensis hybrid or variety too.
Phillyrea angustifolia full out in flower. This has become a huge spreading and floppy evergreen shrub.
Old seed heads on Olearia solandri ‘Aurea’ are attractive alongside the new growth. A big tree now with a huge spread.
Magnolia ‘Gold Cup’ is more ‘gold’ in bud than when open!
Magnolia ‘Pink Surprise’ (Magnolia ‘Galaxy’ x Magnolia ‘Toro’) flowering properly for the first time.
Magnolia ‘Tikitere’ is now fully open and a very different colour to the bud.
Nice new growth on Aesculus wilsonii.
Prunus mahaleb, the St Lucie cherry, has made a large tree.
2019 – CHW
Today another attempt to differentiate between Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ and Magnolia ‘Peachy’. We entered Magnolia ‘Peachy’ in two classes at the Cornwall Garden Society show last weekend but I have suspected that our ‘Peachy’ was in fact ‘Daybreak’ despite its labelling in the garden here. We have several plants of both varieties at various ages. To my mind Daybreak conjures up a vision of mixed gentle colours while Peachy should be darker.This is labelled Magnolia ‘Peachy’ above Hovel Cart Road. Planted in circa 2010.
This is Magnolia ‘Daybreak’, planted in 2008, by way of comparison. This too is a mix of yellow, pink and green but with far more pink. Very similar to Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ really but without the scent and a much more vigorous growing tree.
This is another younger Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ above Crinodendron Hedge. You could be forgiven for saying the first Peachy (above) and this one are pretty similar! This must be a mislabelled plant.
Then we come to a much larger labelled plant of (supposedly) Magnolia ‘Peachy’ below Slip Rail planted in 2005. To my mind the colours clearly reflect a ‘daybreak’ rather than a ‘peach’.
Here is a younger Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ in Kennel Close which is very different and a much darker mix of colours.
And another young Magnolia ‘Peachy’ also in Kennel Close.
So I have to conclude that ‘Peachy’ and ‘Daybreak’ are indeed very different and we do have them correctly named (apart from the third one shown above). It is perhaps the given names and the colours that I expected them to be which has caused the confusion in my mind at least.
M. ‘Peachy’ is a cross between Magnolia acuminata ‘Fertile Myrtle’ and Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ (the same cross as our Magnolia ‘Tropicana’ but with rather different colours).M. ‘Daybreak’ is a cross between Magnolia brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ and Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ (basically a yellow/black/pink mix crossed with a near pure white).When one understands that perhaps I have started an unnecessary hare running. BUT there is still one more ‘Daybreak’ yet to flower.
M. ‘Peachy’ is a cross between Magnolia acuminata ‘Fertile Myrtle’ and Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ (the same cross as our Magnolia ‘Tropicana’ but with rather different colours).M. ‘Daybreak’ is a cross between Magnolia brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ and Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ (basically a yellow/black/pink mix crossed with a near pure white).When one understands that perhaps I have started an unnecessary hare running. BUT there is still one more ‘Daybreak’ yet to flower.
2018 – CHW
Another fine day in a fine week. The cherries are starting and, at last, some half decent or even good new and younger magnolias rather than the crap from three days ago.
Prunus matsumae ‘Beni-yutaka’ planted in 2006. I had not realised that we had a mature matsumae variety. I bought this from Thornhayes nursery with no idea they were to become all the rage today. Now a big vigorous tree with striped bark.
Prunus jamasakura from Japan is a Wilson introduction again planted in 2006. Very pretty in the dappled sunlight.
Magnolia stellata ‘Centennial’ is particularly good below the tower. If there was a hint of pink in the buds it is long gone now.
First flowers on Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’ at the Four in Hand.
Laurel pruning around the main fernery by Tim and Jack who started working here this week (from Trewarthenick). A decent fire beside the well frosted tree fern fronds which they have not yet ignited by accident!
Most flowers on a young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ are black and dead like this but a couple have survived and now out a month late.
Magnolia ‘Kalleberg’ – rather dull and I planted two not far apart above Crinodendron Hedge.
Another young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ with just one decent flower in the sun.
At last a decent young Rhododendron moorii unlike the battered one a few days ago. Older plants not showing yet. Much more pink in the bud and flowers than our originals.
Magnolia ‘Lili Diva’ is GOOD. A cross between Magnolia liliiflora and Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ presumably. Look at the colour of the bud. First proper flowering here.
Magnolia ‘Angelica’ is excellent when finally opened out too.
Magnolia ‘Spring Rite’ less so now fully out.
Magnolia ‘Petit Chicon’ now has promise and quite a hint of yellow in the small and oddly shaped buds. This one is popular in nursery sales.
The first time Magnolia ‘Goldfinch’ has flowered with us outside the nursery. Plenty of yellow here. I must catch it again in a couple of days.
‘Lili Diva’ takes the prize today. At last a magnolia all enthusiasts should add to their collection. ‘Angelica’ not far behind’.
2017 – CHW
Magnolia ‘Limelight’ below the tower is very like ‘Yellow Lantern’ but has a strange low spreading habit as does the one at Burncoose.
Magnolia ‘Limelight’ below the tower is very like ‘Yellow Lantern’ but has a strange low spreading habit as does the one at Burncoose.
First flowerings in the new rhododendron plantings in Old Park. A very good dark form of wild collected Rhododendron thompsonii. Much better than what we have.
Magnolia ‘Felicity’ x ‘Eric Savill’ – first flower but poor!
A good new light coloured clump of Rhododendron racemosum in Old Park.
Magnolia ‘Genie’ still looking splendid above the Crinodendron Hedge weeks and weeks after we first saw it in this blog.
Magnolia ‘Woodsman’ x ‘Patriot’ is improving having fallen over and needing re-staking.
Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ looks a little different from the one below Tin Garden but nice enough.
Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ really is the best of these brooklynensis hybrids providing you catch the flowers as they just emerge from the very black buds and ahead of the leaves.
An elderly clump of Rhododendron loderi types which I had completely forgotten about and may have missed completely for years.
Magnolia ‘Peaches ‘n’ Cream’ seems very like ‘Peachy’ and ‘Daybreak’?! Perhaps I am being unfair to a first single flower.
Magnolia ‘Paul Cook’ – is battered but not exactly impressive or different as yet. Only its second year of flowering though.
Magnolia ‘Gold Finch’ – small flowers and not one to get too excited about if you are collecting yellows.
2016 – CHW
A day at Burncoose with Karol photographing in the nursery all day but we escape into the garden.Michelia foveolata now has about a dozen flowers which are white when full out and not slightly creamy as they were on first opening. Not much scent today and this is never going to be the scented eye catching plant that is Michelia doltsopa. Nevertheless a new first for Burncoose.
A day at Burncoose with Karol photographing in the nursery all day but we escape into the garden.Michelia foveolata now has about a dozen flowers which are white when full out and not slightly creamy as they were on first opening. Not much scent today and this is never going to be the scented eye catching plant that is Michelia doltsopa. Nevertheless a new first for Burncoose.
Magnolia soulangeana ‘Alexandrina’ by the mist houses is not really that different from the plain M soulangeana except perhaps that the flowers are larger. A good spot for it beside the drive. I only bought this variety because the Bolithos wanted one to plant on their horse’s grave. The horse was called ‘Alexandrina’.
My new planting of smaller scented rhododendrons by the mist houses (largely for cutting material) are coming on nicely. Rhododendron ciliicalyx is nicely in flower.
Chorezima illicifolia is a superb ‘pea’ flowered climber for the greenhouse only with prickly leaves. It used to grow in the Burncoose conservatory pre my brother’s renovations. It will flower away for months but prefers some shade as its leaves scorch in full sun.
Louisa, the Burncoose propagator, has acquired somehow a Correa pulchella orange form (normally it is pink) which looks quite nice and is certainly rather different even if it looks tender. Not normally in flower now?
A nice crop of young plants from our cuttings of Rhododendron ‘Snow Lady’ (ciliatum x leucaspis) are just going over in the big glasshouse. No scent left.
Michelia ‘Fairy Blush’ is full out and I have not seen this in flower myself before. Better pick a couple for Caerhays!
2015 – CHW
To London for a Garden Society dinner. Took only Magnolia ‘Fertile Myrtle’ x sprengeri ‘Diva’. No new names suggested by the members. Briefly, earlier in the afternoon, got stuck in a lift with and operated by the Duke of Westminster who was unamused!
Update – it is now named ‘Tropicana’
2003 – FJW
House martins seen – fine year for Magnolias and Camellias. Dry March and fairly dry so far. Primroses lasted very well.
1993 – FJW
Swallows seen. A blessedly wet April.
1990 – FJW
Very mixed up year. 4 fearful gales. New beech is coming into to leaf and Rho fargesii.
1968 – FJW
3400 on Open Day. Magnolias have been good but cold dry spell has kept back the mid season stuff. A good soak urgently needed.
1958 – FJW
Still cold. Things held back and coming slowly. Best things are Calophytum by George’s Hut and Big Red in Bamboo clump at end of 40 Acres. Magnolias discoloured.
1928 – JCW
The frost has gone and so have the rhodo’ blooms (this belongs to March 14).
1917 – JCW
No daffs to speak of, mostly early yellows, the latest season on record, this is the first warm morning for a very long while.
1913 – JCW
R spinuliferum open, also R fargesii. Clematis indivisa remains good. C montana ½ out. Daffs at 451 and mostly over. R reticulata good, cherries half out. Ribes going back. Auklandii arboreums at their best.
1911 – JCW
Daffs would be as good as ever they were had it not been so dry for 10 days. Mag halleana is good, the cherries just show colour.
1910 – JCW
Daffs just at their best, de Graaf is out, very wet.
1906 – JCW
Just as in 1905, the daffodil business is over. Per green eye came out yesterday, the de Graaf have gone off, nearly all the Grandis open, Countess of M very good.
1905 – JCW
Grandis is open. Daffs have gone back, could pick a good King Alfred now, Montana open.
1900 – JCW
Daffodils will not be at their best until the end of this week, only one or two M de Graaf open, but the show last Thursday was the best we have had yet, though many poor flowers were there.
1899 – JCW
I saw a brood of wild ducks about ten days old, most daffs going back. Many tree ferns starting.