16th April

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CONTRIBUTORS:

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2019 – CHW

Rhododendron reticulatum in the Rockery. A very old plant which is deciduous most years but only partly so after this mild winter. This species can be a variety of colours from purple to reddish purple and with or without central blotches. Rhododendron kiyosumense (search elsewhere in the diary to see) is also a form of reticulatum but the Japanese recognise several related species from different Japanese regions.

Magnolia ‘Sunset Swirl’ is another from the same ‘stable’ or parentage as ‘Daybreak’, ‘Yuchelia’ and yesterday’s new variety in the nursery. These few appear before the yellows really get going and give the magnolia season continuity.

We need some photographs of Acer macrophyllum for the website as this rare species is shortly to be offered by Burncoose. A 2011 planted tree has its first inflorescences here.

Asia needs to remind me of the name of this peculiar evergreen climber growing outside the back yard and now in full flower properly for the first time. [Boquila trifoliata]

2018 – CHW
The start of our Irish trip.

2017 – CHW
A newish clump of Rhododendron ‘Blue Diamond’ below Donkey Shoe. This seems a rather paler form than I remember but these were bought in plants with Dutch labels.

Rhododendron ‘Michaels Pride’ is just coming out at least a month early for Chelsea where we usually show it on the stand as a cut flower. Yet another gap there to fill. Thank goodness we do not have a rhododendron centenary stand to fill in this very early rhododendron flowering year. They are great this year but forced on by the warm dry conditions of the last month.

A new rhododendron species to us – Rhododendron litiense with delicate yellow bell flowers. It is apparently a form of wardii-litiense group say the taxonomist boffins.

The scented Rhododendron ‘Martha Wright’ is full out and the hint of yellow which it has initially has faded.

Rhododendron ‘Bergs Yellow’ above Rogers Quarry is also new to me. Preferable to ‘Hotei’ or ‘Logan Damaris’ I think today.

Two forgotten and not that old (but already over mature) plants of Rhododendron williamsianum x Rhododendron martinianum. JCW never gave this a name although it is a good thing. Best in full sun. Gardener Martin worked for JCW.

The rare Ilex ficiodes is in flower. Another first for me although not exactly the sight of the century! Unusual un-holly like leaves too. I guess Susyn Andrews probably named this obscure and well hidden plant for us originally. Not a name I recollect being around 40 years ago but that looks like the age of the plant. Not planted by me I suspect but can readily check.

A nice 10 years old group of six Rhododendron burmanicum are just emerging. This is another species which died out here long ago but was the parent of several Caerhays crosses including ‘Michaels Pride’.

Here are some pictures of Dad’s 90th birthday lunch. Sadly John and Katie did not produce their baby on the same day to make him a great grandfather. We await this news.

The flowers in the Dining Room included:

Magnolia 'Lemon Star' — Magnolia ‘Lemon Star’

Rhododendron williamsianum hybrids bred by Dad

2016 – CHW
Out of the blue a request for a garden tour by a Northamptonshire landowner who arrived in a small blue helicopter which he flew himself. The wind was against them and they were a little late over the 1hr40m flight. We did two tours either side of lunch while the co-pilot refuelled at Bodmin airport. He was keen on trees, involved with Kew and is clearly expanding his arboretum although his estate has yet to have a house built on it (by him) and he currently lives elsewhere. An interesting contact not least because he has a grouse moor in Weardale.

Camellia ‘Dream Castle’ has recovered from its rather drastic haircut and has produced its first two flowers since the pruning. A risk which was worth taking.

An unnamed FJW cross between Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’ and Rhododendron ‘Charles Michael’ is rather nice below Slip Rail. Two plants here which I had not seen in flower before. The cross is indeed a halfway house between the two parents with neither predominating. Jaimie is keen on it!

A Rhododendron sinogrande type planted in 1991 from Tom Hudson is very fine along from Georges Hut and I cannot see how I have missed this up to now. Although pale in colour it has a very distinct red eye as you can see. Perhaps it is a newer species? We can ask on Tuesday. [The answer was that it is the rare Rhododendron suoilenhense]

Magnolia ‘Yakeo’ is good value as a small growing magnolia and here in full sun. It had secondary flowers last autumn and is not dissimilar to ‘Caerhays Surprise’ at least as regards the flower.

The magnolias on the drive are, as usual, a fortnight later than the rest of the garden and quite superb today although Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ is now just over here. The campbellii alba seedling has lasted for weeks as has its parent.

Magnolia ‘Goldstar’ has emerged rather more and is a good colour this year. Hardly a small tree as its parentage would imply.

Off he flies again from the Nobby at about 3.30pm. A four hour visit!

2015 – CHW
Estate bi-monthly meeting (a particular difficult one) lasts all day and then the fete meeting in the evening. The film crew have finished filming above the beach which has seriously annoyed our garden visitors with road closures. No time for the garden at all sadly.
Meeting Room - Caerhays

2000 – FJW
A little rain – no house martins – Magnolias rely on new varieties.

1960 – FJW
Fine weather started.

1954 – CW
Broke a rib at St Gorran Rectory Garden, nothing much there.

1932 – JCW
Much as in 1927 but Ciliicalyx has lost its flower buds. Camellia speciosa wanes, a bad year for flowers on most of the Cam japonicas. Rho lutescens is over. Mag sargentiana cut by the wind.

1927 – JCW
Rho ciliicalyx is at its best, it has never been really good before this in the 26 years or more we have had it, the cantabiles are very good and so are all the blues.

1925 – JCW
Prunus sargentii going back, Incisa is very good otherwise just as in 1922. Rho scintillans is coming on but most of that sort are bad.

1922 – JCW
Very few Poets are open. M de Graaf in the Drive is open, Mag denudata is nice. The Berberis hedge has been good for a long while. Wilsons Corylopsis are open. Some of the Sutchuenense rhodo’s are good. Rho calophytum is just becoming open. Rho lutescens has been very good for a long while. Prunus sargentii is in flower.

1918 – JCW
The late Poets are opening. Recurvas not yet out, most of the daffs are over. Auklandii starting to open. Augustinii at their best and very nice in the 40 Acres. Some good blood red Arboreums there now. Broughtonii hybrids well on.

1911 – JCW
Plenty of daffs, yellow trumpets not quite over. Cherries coming on, P pendula not quite at its best. Clematis on Tower not open.

1910 – JCW
Plenty of daffs, yellow trumpets over. Cherries coming on, pendula at its best. Clematis on Tower began to open.

1905 – JCW
Was at Dinton. Poets not as good as last year, saw a good frilled trumpet and some nice small Leedsi’s.

1903 – JCW
Thomsonii been out for a week, no Fortunei. Countess of M for a week, Auklandii the first bloom. Arboreum blood red at its best.

1899 – JCW
Thomsonii open.

1897 – JCW
R thomsonii, Falconeri, Fortunei and Countess of Haddington all open well. Tree ferns large and small have most of them started. The late poeticus begun to open.

The Garden Diary

A Cornish garden diary from Caerhays Estate over 100 years

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