2024 – CHW (images to follow)
Fuschia ‘Blacky’ has plenty of leaf and flowers still in one of the frames.
First flowers out on Camellia x williamsii ‘Gwavas’ in the Aucklandii Garden.
A good looking aerial layer with a little grass growing from the top of it on Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’.
Then a lot of minor wind damage in the new Rookery planting. Cumulatively depressing like the weather and the aftermath of Storm Darragh.
Two branches blown a long way from a young Michelia doltsopa have smashed two newly planted things.
What is left of our best Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’. Most of the flowers are on the ground or wind-scorched.
Leaves snapped off a newly planted rhododendron.
Some wind blow on this big leaf rhododendron and one leading branch already dead.
A newly planted and extremely rare Michelia snapped in half.
One of our two best ‘Blood Red’ Rhododendron arboreums blown over.
In the cold wind this young Rhododendron eximium seedling is rapidly turning up its toes but the previous droughts are the real cause.
2023 – CHW
I looked hard on the ground and on the tree but no seed clusters have ripened on Lithocarpus variolosus.
2022 – CHW
Magnolia decidua eventually becomes deciduous.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Gaultheria procumbens still with good clusters of red berries.
2016 – CHW
The two young Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigatas’ are now full out in the sun.
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.