A few trees go out in the huge clearing in the Aucklandii Garden where the Turkey oak was felled last September.

More flowers out (but still not 50) on the original Magnolia campbellii.

First ever flowers on Magnolia floribunda ‘Furry Wok’. I have no idea how this name came about but must ask Raf Lenaerts next week. Not that exciting for a floribunda variety really.

Seed clusters have formed on Lithocarpus hancei but no seeds have formed properly. Perhaps they have and we just expected them to be larger? I need to have a closer look.

Magnolia xinganensis (formerly Manglietia oblonga) goes in in place of the now dead Rehderodendron indochinense (BSWJ 12115).

First flowers on the New Zealand form of Magnolia ‘Lanarth’.

First flowers on a young replacement plant of Polyspora longicarpa (TH 11517). Our old and mature plant died last year.

First flowers out on Rhododendron ‘Red Admiral’.

And on a blood red form of Rhododendron arboreum.

2024 – CHW
Literally hundreds of magnolias are now out and coming out. I try to catch up with a few as we complete another phase of spring planting. This is what most of the public are missing seeing today!A battered and perhaps slightly frosted in bud Magnolia ‘Sweet Sixteen’ a Gresham hybrid.

The Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta in the Rireii Opening is just starting.

Beside it so is Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’.

Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’ a darker colour than I have ever seen it before.

Magnolia campbellii ‘Sir Harold Hillier’ showing a little more pink than usual.

Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x ‘Black Tulip’ – excellent!

Magnolia campbellii (ACUG 5330) planted in 2010 with rather small white flowers.

Magnolia ‘Laura Saylor’.

Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x ‘J.C. Williams’ a rich deep colour.

Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’ showing up well.

Magnolia campbellii ‘Werrington’ very excellent.

Magnolia ‘Pink Sensation’ is good but I need to look up its origin and parentage. Not in the Eisenhut book.

Magnolia ‘Hot Lips’ out early.

Magnolia ‘Brombeer’ is one of the new German hybrids I think but, again research needed. A German name in need of translation?

Magnolia ‘Romance’ – first flowering – German hybrid I think. 2022 planted.

Magnolia ‘Flaming Heart’ – first flowering – German hybrid I think. 2022 planted.

Magnolia ‘Vulcan’s Forge’ – first flowering – German hybrid I think. 2022 planted.

Rhododendron grande is definitely late into flower even if all the magnolias are absurdly early.

2023 – CHW

Cornwall Council has just erected a new wooden footpath sign by the entrance to the Park.

The magnolias are coming into flower with dramatic speed – more every 24 hours in the mild and still conditions at the moment.

Outside the back yard in a day.

The first few flowers open on the 1913 planted original Magnolia campbellii. We have waited days for these!

The first 1950’s Magnolia mollicomata to show above the greenhouse. Nothing doing 48 hours ago.

But a huge Magnolia sargentiana var robusta nearby has yet to show at all.

Camellia japonica ‘Scentsation’ but I cannot smell anything on the first flower that is out.

Camellia japonica ‘Lady Clare’ and Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’.

The latter has been out for 8-9 weeks! Good combination today.

Camellia ‘Fairy Blush’ and Camellia reticulata ‘Mary Williams’ also good together here.

2022 – CHW

Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ is showing colour and coming out two to three weeks earlier than usual.

Also Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ which is more on time.

Salix gracilistyla ‘Mt Aso’ with its delightful pink catkins is growing away well by the old dog kennels.

I make no apologies for more pictures of Jaimie’s new magnolia cross a day or two further along into its first flowering (M. sprengeri var. Diva ‘Burncoose’ x M. campbellii var. mollicomata ssp. ‘Lanarth’).

The famous Jury garden, Tikorangi, in New Zealand has been hit by Cyclone Dovi. Click here to see the devastation. Much as we faced here in the January 1990 hurricane. Looking back 32 years on it actually was the catalyst for the rejuvenation of the garden here and we now look back on it as a turning point in the positive evolution of the garden. A message of sympathy to the owners, Mark and Abbie Jury, with the hope for the same eventual outcome here. Storm Eunice a fleabite by comparison.

2021 – CHW
A work trip to view a coastal cliff garden which we first became involved with 10 years ago. Despite foul weather on the day there was ample proof that some coastal plants will indeed take everything that nature throws at them.

Acacia dealbata and Picea breweriana offsetting each other superbly.

The tree fern valley had grown and developed considerably in 10 years.

A good clump of Petasites japonicus coming into flower but slightly frosted.

A fantastic ancient Quercus ilex trunk on the top of a cliff in the teeth of westerly gales.

An equally impressive beech trunk suckering from the base as the main trunk has been pushed over in the wind and the light has got to the bottom of the tree.

Agave americana and Fascicularia in as exposed a position as you could possibly imagine.

Chamaerops humilis showing no worries either.

Agave americana ‘Variegata’ with a fraction more shelter.

A wonderful carpet of Vinca minor ‘Alba’ under a yew tree and behind a wall so it is totally sheltered from the salt spray.