2024 – CHW (images to follow)
2023 – CHW
Camellia grijsii is suddenly well out although I looked only 3 days ago. Too windy for any decent scent today.
First flowers showing on our best Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ below Donkey Shoe which is a good fortnight later than Camellia ‘Cornish Snow Michael’. Michael also has slightly larger flowers.
Abies firma was planted in Donkey Shoe only in 2019 as replacement for a huge Abies grandis which split in half. Abies firma is doing extremely well.
Merrilliopanax alpinus (BSWJ 13939) still in full leaf in nearly mid-December. We have seen this before and its very vigorous growth rates since planting which result.
This is Camellia ‘Nobilissima’ by George’s Hut. Please compare to Camellia ‘Gauntlettii’ (‘Sodekakushi’) which I will again photograph shortly for you. A hint of frost or petal blight and not too many flowers in good order after many gales but look at the shape of the flowers.
Salix udensis ‘Golden Sunshine’ not bad at all as autumn colour in the sun, although we would normally grow it for spring and summer colour.
2022 – CHW
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ and Camellia x williamsii – unnamed.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ and Camellia x williamsii – unnamed.
Camellia japonica ‘Lady Clare’ with its first flowers alongside Camellia japonica ‘Nobilissima’ by the front door. The ‘Lady Clare’ flower is high up on the bush.
Last couple of flowers still going low down on Lapageria rosea ‘Flesh Pink’. Near to dropping.
The track to the old park now clear of leaves.
2021 – CHW
A digger has removed the stumps on the felled leylandii hedge in Kennel Close. Lots of room for planting! New magnolia varieties due in from Germany shortly I hope.
A digger has removed the stumps on the felled leylandii hedge in Kennel Close. Lots of room for planting! New magnolia varieties due in from Germany shortly I hope.
Flower buds in December on Magnolia grandiflora ‘Symmes Select’.
Camellia japonica ‘Bokuhan’ just out by the Old Playhouse.
Camellia x williamsii ‘November Pink’ at its best in the Main Quarry. A huge plant by anyone’s standards but dare we cut it down to reshoot again?
2020 – CHW
A large amount of secondary new growth on Rhododendron griersonianum.
A large amount of secondary new growth on Rhododendron griersonianum.
Still plenty of leaf on a young Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’.
First and solitary flower on Camellia grijsii.
Acer palmatum ‘Mikawa yatsubusa’ is a very dwarf and slow growing plant but here with a hint of autumn colour.
First flowers high up on the smaller flowering form of Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’.
Still decent flowers on Camellia oleifera many weeks after we first saw them.
The Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’ hedge is also just out high up.
Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ is now near the end of its life at 12ft or more. We have just planted out new young plants of this dwarfish Caerhays bred hybrid which is still only 3ft x 4ft at Burncoose after 30+ years. This clump is nearer 50.
2019 – CHW
One of the posts from Slip Rail has nearly rotted out. You can see how the slip rails work.
One of the posts from Slip Rail has nearly rotted out. You can see how the slip rails work.
The Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’ seedling in Tin Garden which we pollarded in February has made a bold leap to recovery and is still holding green leaves on the new young shoots in December.
2018 – CHW
A new problem with the squirrel traps. We have been catching a few recently but not enough. Mice are squeezing into the side of the bait boxes above the spring trap itself and removing the bait thereby making the traps useless unless restocked with bait (whole maize, peanuts and hazelnuts) more frequently. Perhaps we should put the traps higher up the trees to deter mice? Then we would need to carry round a ladder every day when they are inspected. I think the answer is to move the traps around from tree to tree more frequently so that mice do not hone in on them so easily.
A new problem with the squirrel traps. We have been catching a few recently but not enough. Mice are squeezing into the side of the bait boxes above the spring trap itself and removing the bait thereby making the traps useless unless restocked with bait (whole maize, peanuts and hazelnuts) more frequently. Perhaps we should put the traps higher up the trees to deter mice? Then we would need to carry round a ladder every day when they are inspected. I think the answer is to move the traps around from tree to tree more frequently so that mice do not hone in on them so easily.
2017 – CHW
I had been expecting to find Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ out for a week or two but had missed these two elderly, gnarled and partly cut back plants below Slip Rail. Large flowers on the younger cut back new growth with blue tit damage obvious on some. A little browning from frost. Other plants elsewhere in the garden still to show.
I had been expecting to find Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ out for a week or two but had missed these two elderly, gnarled and partly cut back plants below Slip Rail. Large flowers on the younger cut back new growth with blue tit damage obvious on some. A little browning from frost. Other plants elsewhere in the garden still to show.
Carpinus kawakamii proving yet again that it is an evergreen species with us. Reddish new growth already evident and not a hint of leaf turn or yellowing.
Good bit of ivy pruning on sycamore trees nearby and the right time of the year to catch up on this for the odd hour. Very satisfying to see the ground littered with green leaves and the dying process well underway. Plenty more to do nearby in Tin Garden but here I suppose it is actually breaking a bit of wind chill for the top of the garden.
2016 – CHW
One always thinks there is ‘nothing’ out in December but forgets Arbutus unedo is full out now.
One always thinks there is ‘nothing’ out in December but forgets Arbutus unedo is full out now.
Pity the heat from a fire has killed this rhododendron in the Auklandii Garden. Rather too close to the action!
Most of the cutting back and tidying programme for this autumn is now complete with plenty of stumps for the digger. A very good, quick and efficient performance by the team. Now a wasted fortnight on the leaves on the drive.
2015 – CHW
Heavens what a show! Camellia x williamsii ‘St Ewe’ may only have one flower on the castle wall but, in more shelter, above the Auklandii Garden a display which makes one think spring is here. This clump was cut back five to seven years ago and has prospered with simply huge flowers. Much bigger than on a mature plant which had not been pruned hard.
Beside it the huge original 1920s clump of Camellia x williamsii ‘J C Williams’ is coming out at the top. This lot needs a hefty prune back soon and this is on the work list.
Blue tits faced with rather too much choice here to do any real damage to quite so many blooms all out at once.
1968 – FJW
November Pink well and truly loaded.
November Pink well and truly loaded.
1951 – CW
Everything late. Cam oleifera good – November Pink has about 20 flowers and 2 vases in hall. Cam sasanqua almost over. One double white – no others out. A few bits of Rho Yellow Hammer and others but no Auriculatum hybrids left. Some coum cyclamen and a couple of flowers of early white polyanthus daffodil. None others any bud. A few Rho maddeni hybrids have bits. Fuchsias still quite nice.
Everything late. Cam oleifera good – November Pink has about 20 flowers and 2 vases in hall. Cam sasanqua almost over. One double white – no others out. A few bits of Rho Yellow Hammer and others but no Auriculatum hybrids left. Some coum cyclamen and a couple of flowers of early white polyanthus daffodil. None others any bud. A few Rho maddeni hybrids have bits. Fuchsias still quite nice.
1901 – JCW
I made my first cross for the coming year, the tree heaths have been good for a week or more.
I made my first cross for the coming year, the tree heaths have been good for a week or more.