15th December | The Garden Diary

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CONTRIBUTORS:

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2024 – CHW (images to follow)

2023 – CHW

I looked hard on the ground and on the tree but no seed clusters have ripened on Lithocarpus variolosus.

Daphniphyllum paxianum (BWJ 9755) is establishing well.

Acer laevigatum (FMWJ 13409) is a proper evergreen but very slow growing and bushy.

The seeds on Schefflera delavayi are still far from black and ripe.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Golden Spangles’ just out. I rather like the variegation on the leaves but the wind has blown off most of the initial flowers.

Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Golden Sun’ is red not yellow in the autumn!

This is the third time this autumn that the evergreen Quercus rugosa has blown over and snapped its stakes.

Carpinus fargesiana (KR 8180) still in full leaf after another December week.

2022 – CHW
Magnolia decidua eventually becomes deciduous.

Cotoneaster frigidus ‘Inchmery’ with its salmon pink ripe fruits.

The last slightly frosted flowers on Camellia taliensis.

In a week Cotoneaster ‘Exburyensis’ has been stripped of all its yellow berries by the birds.

Frosted secondary flowers on Rhododendron ‘Norfolk Candy’.

A huge fallen leaf from Magnolia dealbata.

2021 – CHW
Reports of a Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ being out in flower on the drive from the keepers were only partially correct. These look like secondary autumn flowers that never came out properly and have been wind and slug damaged. You can see a decent bud for next spring quite clearly.

A wonderful wreath at the front door with holly, myrtle, Podocarpus and cotoneaster made by Jaimie and the gardeners.

Photinia prionophylla in the Rhododendron ririei opening more covered in fruits than I have ever seen. The fruits are described in Hillier’s as ‘crimson’ and, I suppose, they may yet darken. At present they are orange and not ‘crimson’ as the one in Roy Lancaster’s garden is described.

2020 – CHW
I surprised a group of crows feasting on the last of the fruits on Cornus capitata. Normally a feast for squirrels (25 in the last fortnight with aniseed mixed in with the bird food) but the crows have worked it out first this year.

Trachycarpus wagnerianus showing up well in front of Olearia solandri.

Nearly all the leaf has fallen now on Styrax japonicus ‘Pendula’ with no decent show this year.

Leaf shedding on Azalea ‘Caerhays Lavender’ is quite pretty today.

A couple of errant secondary flowers on Rhododendron davidsonianum on the hedge of this species by Donkey Shoe.

Hydrangea aspera with just a little colour still left in the one flower.

2019 – CHW
Another record tree bites the dust. The elderly Pinus pinaster was felled in a recent gale but thankfully has not done that much damage and appears to have missed the nearby record Prunus which you can see in the background of one of these pictures. Not quite sure when this actually came down as this week has seen a series of severe westerly gales. The other half of the tree split out some years ago. The Pinus was probably only around, or just over, a hundred years old.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Paradise Blush’ looking very fine on the drive. It has been full out for about 10 days. Rather later into flower than the plant at Tregothnan which was nearly over three and a half weeks ago.

2018 – CHW
One might have thought that it was going to be an exceptional year for holly berries in the run up to Christmas but, looking around at the common holly trees which usually perform well, there is not a great deal showing at present. One exception has been Ilex aquifolium ‘Golden van Tol’ which the reference books say is not a great one for berrying up. Our plant below Tin Garden is looking great. Although the berries are indeed fairly sparse they contrast nicely with the ovate leaves which have relatively few spines and wonderful yellowish-white edges.

2017 – CHW
Gaultheria procumbens still with good clusters of red berries.

Skimmia japonica ‘Veitchii’ just as good beside it.

While Skimmia japonica ‘Kew White’ is nearly in flower alongside.

Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ with early catkins.

A deadish sweet chestnut fell across the drive today at Burncoose. Rob was leaf blowing only three paces away so a lucky escape. Not much wind and not a tree I had spotted or marked for felling in my September tree survey.

Michelia ‘Fairy White’ is laden with buds only three years on from planting out in the garden. A valuable new New Zealand bred plant.

The yellowish deciduous azalea which is always out for Christmas is at it again on the Burncoose drive. There is one which does this too at Caerhays but I have never seen or read about this aberration before. Can anyone match this?

Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’ looking good by the main nursery.

Salvia ‘Royal Bumble’ in full flower in the cash point too for Christmas.

2016 – CHW
The two young Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigatas’ are now full out in the sun.

One can only marvel at the Ginkgo biloba as its astonishing show this year finally drops. Eight weeks of splendour!

Magnolia dawsoniana still has most of its leaves which are nicely coloured in the sun.

Fuchsia gracilis still has a few flowers left after the leaves have fallen. Not the only fuchsia still out by any means!

2015 – CHW
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ is out outside the front gate. Two youngish plants. No hint of pink in the buds as there should be but no buds left. There is a very old plant of this on the top wall which has mottled pink flowers or pink blotches and a nice scent. This is not out yet but John Bond, former keeper of the gardens at Windsor, said this is the true form of ‘Narumigata’ and the plants sold today are imposters.

2000 – FJW
Lukay Lu taken away [by the police but he returns a few months later and is jumped on eating a mole hill – ie earth – at the Top Lodge by gardeners].

1979 – FJW
A very bad storm (wind 120mph). Burncoose a disaster area with the centre of the Drive flattened. Many trees down here. No electric for 36 hours.

1961 – FJW
J.C.W beginning – camellias early. Mucronulatum not yet out. Cold now.

1957 – FJW
Very early year but cold weather now seems to be on way. Sasanquas over. Engine House Camellia white over, but white cam by front door just coming. Storm damage to Reticulata above Beards House and beech tree down in Beech Walk. 6 – 8 Saluenensis and Camellias out. Mucronulatum by brown gate nearly over.

1931 – JCW
Much as in 1915, the Japanese honeysuckle is very good indeed and has no rival. Some wonderful Gordonia flowers are open. Few of the new fuchsias hold on, a good few fuchsia but no gardenias.

1915 – JCW
C sasanqua has several flowers open, no real show on it this year. Lapagerias are fair. Erica hybrida has begun. A small flower or two of Rho mucronulatum.

1902 – JCW
Some quite good Crimson Rambler now. A few Stylosa, several coums, Camellia sasanqua yet.

1900 – JCW
Returned from Smithfield, a great move in the daffs in the pans and also in the Tin Garden. The first big move above ground that we have had. Several coums open.