4th December | The Garden Diary

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CONTRIBUTORS:

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2024 – CHW

Another Rhododendron moupinense with just a single flower by the garden entrance.

Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’ rather splendid in the evening light.

The largest clump of Camellia ‘Winton’ full out by Orchid House Nursery bed.

Euonymus tonkinensis still not ripe.

Euonymus morrisonensis has already shed.

Sassafras tzumu with reasonable colour.

Microtropis petelotii looks identical to Euonymus tonkinensis. What is the story here and which is the correct name? Reference books are not much help.

Viburnum wilsonii trying to flower out of season. It is a June flowerer.

Melliodendron xylocarpum does not appear to do autumn colour.

2023 – CHW

Ternstroemia aff. chapaensis (WWJ 11918) now ready for planting out. We are now growing 3 species of Ternstroemia.

Ternstroemia aff. luteofolium was seen elsewhere with flowers (or fruits as I now suspect) a week or two ago. Here is another plant.

One nights frost but Aesculus wangii still has most of its leaves.

Ilex paraguariensis to go in the Rookery. Tom Hudson first introduced us to this species which I have acquired from Mark Bulk.

2022 – CHW
A swollen pond and flooded water meadows after recent heavy rain. The islands well under water as you can see.

Leaf scarping on the drive with the new equipment. Filling the worst of the potholes as they go.

Asia has found (quite peculiar) seeds hanging on Sinojackia xylocarpa and collected them. A hidden plant which I had forgotten that we had and have certainly not seen in flower myself. A member of the Styracaceae family which I have planted out here recently several times without appreciating that we already had a mature plant. The young plants have died.

Camellia pruning on Bond Street.

The odd autumn flower on the Forsythia which we now know is normal.

Yet another Magnolia splits in half in the wind since it still has its leaves in December. Our uplifting and pruning all in vain as you can see here.

2021 – CHW
Camellia sasanqua ‘Paradise Blush’ looking good on the drive. Semi-double, delicate and blushing!

Next March’s flower buds on Michelia doltsopa are well advanced and swathed in orange indumentum. They may well be out early!

A light trim, as planned, of the laurel hedge on the Main Ride. We cut back severely only two years ago but a light trim now will, hopefully, cut out the forthcoming east winds from the garden early in the new year.

Leaf blowing well underway on the top piece of the drive. Most of the leaves finally fell in the first major storm of the autumn last Saturday.

The new incinerator is now installed at the farm but not yet commissioned. We still need an electrician and an inspector from public health to approve the trial burns. A double burn at 850°C apparently leaving only a small pile of ash.

2020 – CHW
Incredibly mild and sea fret overnight under a full moon. The camellias are rushing out day by day in the warmth and sun of unlocked down Cornwall.Views today of the reflections in the lake and the castle in a slight haze as the last mist lifts.

Prince Charles’ blue cedar was planted on 24th April 1984. I could not remember the other day.

Camellia ‘Show Girl’ is out. A tiny bud but a huge flower which opens flat. Asia has propagated this and it should soon be in the Burncoose catalogue. Very early flower. A cross between Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ and Camellia reticulata ‘Damanao’ bred in California in 1966.

I had expected Camellia cuspidata to be out soon and have checked but here it suddenly is in the Rookery. Only one of the several plants here has flowers as yet.

Every day there is something to find which you have never seen before. Griselinia ruscifolia in flower. Purplish flower stems and fluffy erect heads of tiny flowers from quite small plants. The flowering branches are bending over with the weight of the flower heads.

Three windbreak conifers now in place. Thuja koraiensis, which was a 1917 Wilson introduction. One has done well up in Kennel Close and these small resilient trees seem just the job in this gap nearest the sea.

I have been looking at Camellia ‘Winton’ (Camellia cuspidata x Camellia saluenensis) above Orchid House Nursery for some days and suddenly it is well out. It really was not yesterday!

Camellia ‘Admiral Spry’ is another unexpected early bird. Clearly a bird has had a go at one of these large flowers.

Fallen flowers already from the record sized but unnamed Camellia x williamsii outside the front gate which is now at its best.

2019 – CHW
Sunshine and finally some of the cold autumn weather we have been promised after six wet weeks.The Camellia x williamsii ‘JC Williams’ hedge outside the front arch is now full out and I cut a bunch for Lizzie to decorate Dad & Mum’s new granite headstone and surround which is finally complete in the churchyard.

A week on again the Ginkgo biloba is now shedding and almost totally yellow. Three gorgeous weeks of colour.

One does not think of Rehderodendron macrocarpum as having autumn colour but this is not too bad I suppose beside the ginkgo.

2018 – CHW
The camellia season is upon us with many first flowers to be seen.Camellia ‘Tricolor’ on the drive.

Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’ on the Main Ride.

Camellia ‘Noblissima’ at The Pound. The plant beside the front door had a few odd flowers which I failed to capture before they were frosted and then blown away. Some frost damage can be seen here.

Vaccinum megaphyllum with nearly ripe berries which Asia could soon collect.

Sarcocca wallichii in flower in the Auklandii Garden. About the same timing as last year.

2017 – CHW
Erica arborea coming out above the castle. No scent today late afternoon.

Worrying that this brick buttress on the top wall is breaking up largely caused by an ilex oak seedling which is now embedded. The buttress is no longer attached to the wall either so remedial action here soon.

buttress is no longer attached to the wall

Also large cracks and holes in the wall and a Cotoneaster franchetii ‘doing nicely’ growing from the top between slate slabs. Time for a KPK attack to relay the slate slabs in cement and fill in the holes.

2016 – CHW
First flowers on Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’ on the Main Ride. Rather small flowers on this old plant.

2015 – CHW

Nice colours on Parrotia persica which will probably be out in flower in four to six weeks with no winter hibernation at all.

Hydrangea ‘Madame Mouilliere’ still has some perfect flowers left above Red Linney. Staggering after many months of show but this clump was massively invigorated by a major chop down three or four years ago.

2000 – FJW
George Williams fired air gun and connected with a tin. [?] and played the flute.

1932 – JCW
Lapagerias nice. Cam sasanqua has been good. R lutescens opening some early ones. Erica darleyense has fairly started opening. Fuchsias our best things.

1921 – JCW
Just about as in 1917 but we have had good planting weather for November. Erica cordonodes is nice, the lapagerias hold on and one Rho sutchuenense is opening.

1917 – JCW
Had three weeks dry, it is a cold S.E wind. Bits of Cam sasanqua and Cam japonica open also Erica codonodes and darleyense. Rho venustum is nice. Cotoneaster salicifolia is good.

1916 – JCW
Much as in 1914 but it is dry now after a very wet autumn.

1914 – JCW
No snow so far, not much frost. Geraniums holding on. Lapagerias several. Camellia sasanqua a few. Some roses. We have lately had real rain in a dry autumn.

1904 – JCW
Heavy snow and some frost last week, not very much damage. Measured a leaf of Mag hypoleuca to be 17 1/2 inches by 8 ½. Lapagerias and Cam sasanqua coming again after the frost. Bits of Erica codonodes out. Nar M clusii open in a frame.