2023 – CHW
The islands are the last bit of grass cutting for this year. No wasps nests this time.
Work progresses in the Rookery. A large bees nest has been disturbed so keep well clear!
Despite the recent deluge the drought has finished of Rhododendron pachysanthum.
Sorbus gonggashanica nearly leafless already.
Crataegus horrida is the first of the newly planted species to have ripe seed heads.
Myrceugenia var. paraguayensis now full out above Crinodendron Hedge.
Buddleia heliophila flowering for the first time here I suspect.
This cluster of 4 huge seed heads on Araucaria angustifolia are soon going to snap off the branch they are growing on.
2022 – CHW
Jamie’s new form squirrel traps on legs with 3 holes and 2 traps in each box. We can no longer source the Kania 2000 traps from New Zealand so have had to make up our own. The legs mean that the pheasents cannot stick their necks in to try and grab the nuts/ grain used as bait.
The water meadows have just been cut in preparation for the Charity Clay Shoot on Saturday.
Scaffolding goes up to paint the windows on the towers.
Compare these dry parkland pictures to 1976 and you can see that it isn’t as bad as then.
The lawn has greened up again after the relatively little rain which fell last week.
Eucryphia cordifolia full out.
The weakest of the 5 young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendours’ on the bank has partial leaf drop but the other 4 look well.
In our absence a huge branch has snapped off the Quercus ilex opposite the front door. No fires for a while yet!
A rather drought restricted performance by Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’.
2021 – CHW
A morning at Burncoose where a few new things have recently come back into stock.Abelia x grandiflora ‘Sunny Charms’ is one I had not seen in flower before.
A morning at Burncoose where a few new things have recently come back into stock.Abelia x grandiflora ‘Sunny Charms’ is one I had not seen in flower before.
Duranta erecta from Florida to Brazil is clearly a greenhouse plant which forms a bushy shrub or small tree. The yellow fruits look good too in the reference books.
Daphne x transatlantica ‘Eternal Fragrance’ scenting the air around the cash point.
2020 – CHW
Looking again at the Hydrangea paniculata varieties two to three weeks on into flowering is quite revealing as to which are the best value overall.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’ is just turning. Splendid!
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’ is not very pink really – more creamy-green.
Fruits on Crataegus x grignonensis which was top grafted.
Autumn colour already on Stewartia rostrata. Reddish today, it will turn black.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘White Lady’ is supposed to turn green! I suppose it may yet.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’ looks rather droopy and wish now.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ is still full out and the flowers are huge. To be fair this one was only out a little later than some of the others.
2019 – CHW
A few things looking good in the nursery with flowers or foliage:Tricyrtus hirta
A few things looking good in the nursery with flowers or foliage:Tricyrtus hirta
Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’
Rehmannia elata
Echinacea ‘Green Jewel’
Imperata ‘Red Baron’
Jaimie has decided not to cut the main bank outside the front door for a second time as the cyclamen are out all over and the knapweed feeding butterflies in profusion.
Hedychium coronarium just out as the next heatwave is upon us. Some flowers still in bud and some nearly over.
Indigofera howellii ‘Reginald Corry’ is doing well above the wall.
As are the Fucraea and Beshorneria in full sun where they bake.
Malus hupehensis laden with fruit in only its second year from planting. Another few weeks before they are fully ripe.
2018 – CHW
Hedychium coronarium still just out on the top wall. No deer damage yet unlike last year.
Hedychium coronarium still just out on the top wall. No deer damage yet unlike last year.
Calliandra surinamensis with its delicate leaf structure. Too tender ever to thrive outside I fear although it lived through The Beast in an open frame and has grown well in the heatwave.
Eucryphia cordifolia full out beyond the Playhourse. It is actually two plants I put there 30 plus years ago.
2017 – CHW
I set off to photograph the hoherias but they prove not to be out – except Hoheria glabrata which is, as we know, over.A few flowers still left on Rhododendron prunifolium which is odd as late as this.
I set off to photograph the hoherias but they prove not to be out – except Hoheria glabrata which is, as we know, over.A few flowers still left on Rhododendron prunifolium which is odd as late as this.
This Eucryphia x nymansensis ‘Nymansay’ was blown over in the 1990 hurricane. We righted the stump and it has regrown as a peculiar multi-stemmed tree. Flowers just finishing.
A tail end flower on Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’ with secondary purple new growth appearing as well.
Flower buds only, as yet, on Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’. Later than usual to show.
A good show of secondary flowers on Rhododendron ‘Blue Tit’.
Seed forming in profusion on Styrax serrulatus.
2016 – CHW
The first pink and white Cyclamen hederifolium are out on the lawn perhaps a little earlier than usual. Time for another attempt to stop young Tim mowing the leaves, flowers or corns.
Outside the front door the Zantedeschia aetheopica is finally setting seed and flopping over nine months (yes nine!) after I first pictured it here in flower in the winter. Is this a record?
2015 – CHW
Certain rhododendrons produce a small secondary flowering in the autumn. Here Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’ has a try.
Certain rhododendrons produce a small secondary flowering in the autumn. Here Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’ has a try.
Hydrangea aspera villosa, 25 years old and already partly dead, is putting on one (probably) last display.
While we have been away the Eucryphia lucida x cordifolias have come to their best. The flower on this plant is tremendous but the leaf form is nowhere near nymansensis ‘Nymansay’; the best of the crosses between these two species. We have several similar plants dotted about which predate my planting sprees. What else puts on such a show in late August ?
2005 – FJW
Rain after 3 weeks of dry weather.
1973 – FJW
All corn in – 80 acres corn (20 less than 1972) but total grain more.
1915 – JCW
Myrtles on the wane. decorums are very good. R auriculatum (quarry) is over, R auriculatum (Auklandii Garden) plant not yet open. Hybrid Gladiolus are nice. No other shrubs of any value.
to 24th Aug. 21
As the leaves of this Eucryphia look like E. lucida, but are visibly larger, and it flowers later, it should be this cross.
Eucryphia lucida x cordifolia or vice versa has been named E. penwithensis recently (21), after the usual variety ‘Penwith’, the origin of which was cleared by Bean ’88 in the Supplement.
Regards