2022 – CHW
Still flowers persist on Rhododendron cinnabarinum subsp. xanthocodon Concatenans Group. They have been out for at least 6 weeks. About as long as the silly name for what used to be just Rhododendron concatenans.

Late flowers still on Hypericum lancasteri. This has been in flower now for three months at last.
The ancient pale form of Camellia saluenensis is now full out.






Jaimie has been felling more of his hated leylandii in Kennel Close.
Jaimie has cut down the pittosporum next to the dead Magnolia sieboldii. With the stumps gone this will make a sheltered planting plot and, more importantly, allow our largest Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’ to expand into the space.
2017 – CHW
Planting the Isla Rose Plantation
After a weekend of torrential rain and snow up country it was not perhaps the ideal day to start the Isla Rose planting project. However the only spare date in the diary before Christmas necessitated action on a bitterly cold but sunny morning. Autumn planting is always desirable when planting trees as their roots can take hold over winter and produce better new growth in the spring more quickly.
The plants assembled have come from three main sources. Burncoose Nurseries have supplied the majority of the original planting plan leaving aside, for the moment, the more tender subjects which will go in in the spring. Over the last year we have been assembling here from gifts, purchases and our own propagation a number of very rare and choice plants to enhance the overall themes of the planting plan and especially to give colour and interest right through the year. A combination of colour, fruiting trees and shrubs and new plants for the Caerhays collection. Finally we recently had delivered a special order from Crug Farm nurseries of some of their new and unique wild collected species from Asia.
The Isla Rose Plantation will be viewed from the bank and path above as well as coming up the drive from Porthluney Beach and from the front door of the castle. Big imposing new magnolias, new cherries and malus for impact from a distance are one theme. Another is for the fruiting blueberries, raspberries, currants and crab apples to provide scope for Isla Rose herself to develop an interest in gardening and the fun of it all. The hope is that she and visitors will move on to enjoy some of the less floriferous but extremely rare plants in the two acre clearing which is today being replanted.
The first load of plants from Burncoose arrives on site. A small pile as yet for a huge area.





Despite thinking that we had too many plants for the area at the outset it is now pretty clear that we will have plenty more to add and infill in February/March when the weather may be more suitable for planting. No room for more trees but plenty of room for more shrubs. Since there is such a slope on the site it drained off fairly well in the sun today and planting in freshly turned over soil is quite quick and easy.
Jaimie’s picture of the plants in the ground
2016 – CHW
The Magnolia Society International journal has just been published and includes the registration of another two of our Caerhays hybrids.
2015 – CHW
The last Cornwall Farmers board meeting today (and audit committee) under the old regime! Countrywide bought the business for £6.05 million in September but the rump of Cornwall Farmers still owns the freehold of the stores so we will receive a good rent (monthly!) and become a property company.
I have now run 43 days shooting this season and we are, at last, past the half way mark in number of days shooting. Lizzie, Edwina and I can begin to relish the prospect of normal hours from 1st February without an early bed and a 6am rise. Such are the realities of castle life and how in the in the fuck I manage to try to entertain you with the odd flower or two defies normal stamina and liver function. I could reflect on some ‘difficult’ shooting days here with clients but that is for the (personal until I am dead) Game Book which is an entirely separate diary about a very separate way of life. No less stimulating in many ways but it is NOT flicking the pages of Country Life in bed with Mrs W for a ‘longish’ morning! ‘Fight to win’ perhaps but I just wish for a week with no staff problems or rows (three this week) which take up most of the surplus (little) time. On we go! Sorry no pictures today.
1995 – FJW
3 flowers out on pale gunroom Saluenensis, 4 or 5 on Cam J.C.W and 2 flowers ½ open on Magnolia Star Wars.
1934 – JCW
A coolish rain for 24 hours, some Camellia sasanqua in bloom. E.P.R’s quarry a few Prunus blooming. I have put 150 smallish to large tree ferns in the near big quarry.
1932 – JCW
Prunus subhirtella open but smothered in withered bloom just as in 1931 for almost everything. A violent cold east wind for about 10 days. Some fuchsias hold on.
1931 – JCW
Early Subhirtella cherry in the quarry, it has been out for 3 weeks. A few Sasanquas have flowers and now some Rho lutescens. Cotoneaster salicifolia has a fine lot of fruit. Erica hybrida in bud and quite nice.
1911 – JCW
Camellia sasanqua are all over, it has been a very early year. Clematis cirrhosa is about the only thing opening, some roses keep on.