12th December | The Garden Diary

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CONTRIBUTORS:

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2024 – CHW

Daphne bholua ‘Gurkha’ just now out.

The sycamore which fell on the drive was properly rotten at the base but the higher limbs were fully alive. The two droughts have hastened the demise of this too.

Burning up well underway.

Interesting circles in the bark of the sycamore.

The few leaves left on the hydrangeas have been scorched and blackened in the cold north wind.

This was the small tree which brought down our phone lines as you can see.

Tree heather just now out in flower opposite Stable Flat.

2023 – CHW

Plenty of seed heads on Liriodendron tulipifera but none have any actual seeds in them when pulled apart.

We saw the New Zealand Coprosma grandifolia first in flower weeks ago and it is still looking good in mid-December. Not the most exciting flower but certainly different.

After yesterday’s torrential rain this is the third car to have been abandoned in this gigantic puddle.

2022 – CHW
First flower on Camellia japonica ‘Preston’s Rose’.

A good show of flower still on Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’ on Rookery Park.

First few flowers high up on Camellia x williamsii ‘Anticipation’. Much earlier than usual despite the cold. We always used to argue that a cold snap seemed to vernalise the camellias into bloom but have rather given up on this theme over the last decade of mild autumns and exceptionally mild winters with early flowering.

Odd to find green leaves still on a Dipelta?

‘St Ewe’ with ‘JCW’ behind it making a good show in the Aucklandii Garden today in the fading light.

Our best clump of blue mophead hydrangeas still have plenty of blue showing in mid-December!

The last to flower of the 5 ancient Camellia sasanqua is still a fine show today below the Stable Flat.

2021 – CHW
The (usually) January flowering Magnolia ‘Todd’s Fortyniner’ still in full leaf with, as yet, tight buds.

Cotoneaster glabratus still with plenty of berries but not as covered as last year. Why do the birds not like these berries?

Euphorbia mellifera with yellowing old leaves – attractive today!

2020 – CHW
Fuchsias still full out in mid-December!

The Gingko biloba is finally dropping.

But, close up, the display is still stupendous.

Oddly the two nights of minor frost earlier this week have caught the flowers on Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’.

Three lots of fungi (two the same) on a small dead Sorbus by the petrol house. The larger ones may be Pale Oyster (Pleurotus pulmonarius) or Splitgill (Schizophyllum commune). I get more and more confused.

2019 – CHW
First flowers on the original Forrest introduction of the paler Camellia saluenensis by the ladies loo. Just the one flower so far.

Unusually for December, and a sign of a mild autumn, nearly all the six old sasanquas along the castle wall still also have a few flowers left some two months after they started flowering:

Outside the back yard

Outside the Georgian Hall

Outside the Billiard Room

Nearest the side door

2018 – CHW
Aralia vietnamensis was cut to the ground by the Beast from the East in March. It now has two basal shoots which have grown 5ft tall since.

A young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ has already had its outer bud coverings blown off or shed naturally which makes its future uncertain. It tried to flower in the autumn two years ago and got badly frosted with bark split as you can see here. New shoots did grow but are now threatened again.

Camellia gigantocarpa has some 9-12in new growth shoots at the top of the plant and plenty more new shoots still emerging in December. Small wonder these new species are so tender and difficult to get going! Will they adjust eventually to our seasons?

2017 – CHW
A trip to Burncoose to see how everything was going in an all time record autumn for orders despite the recent cold up country and snow in the Midlands.Saxifraga ‘Black Ruby’ looking good in flower.

Helleborus ‘Annas Red’ just coming out. A fine batch of plants.

Lupins in full growth despite the cold. Good plants for the spring.

And digitalis too. They will flower and be over by Chelsea if not sold first.

Heuchera ‘Blondie’ in full flower.

Gunnera manicata grown through myopex with some frost damage.

The New Zealand acers which arrived in late July are still in full leaf.

A fine crop of Pseudopanax ferox and Pseudopanax crassifolius from liners.

Camellia ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’ looking rather nice in the sun.

New Zealand magnolia imports still in full leaf and growth.

2016 – CHW
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ laden with buds for next year with only a few old leaves left. A bumper flowering in prospect.

Actinidia deliciosa ‘Tomuri’ with good autumn colour and full leaf still.

2015 – CHW

Only in Cornwall could one see an Arum lily (zantedeshia aethiopica) in full growth with a new flower emerging in December. Mild beyond belief!

Not far away from it however Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ is about to come out for Christmas almost exactly on normal time to provide scent (and sales) to our shooting clients beside the side door.

1934 – JCW
Most abnormal rain for days but quite warm always.

1932 – JCW
Erica hybrida is opening, some Magnolia delavayi bud show white and Eucryphia pinnatifolia has been put out for autumn colour only.

1923 – JCW
Cotoneaster salicifolia is first, Berberis polyantha second best, Erica hybrida wants a mild week.

1897 – JCW
Iris bakeriana in flower.