It is a good job that the laurel fence by Rogers Quarry has been cut back because we suddenly glimpsed the first tree magnolia in full flower. It has been windy today and suddenly the first real sign of the magnolia mania to come. This is a 50-60ft tall Magnolia campbellii seedling which is always early but I do not remember it being the very first magnolia into flower; quite splendid today in the sunlight.
A trip to the greenhouses with Asia to sort out plants for the Caerhays sales point and those to ship off soon to Burncoose. We will needs loads of room to pot all her cuttings and seedlings after a highly successful year of propagation.A flower on a one year old cutting of Camellia ‘Cinnamon Candy’. One flower only on 20 or so plants.
2018 – CHW Cold east wind again.
Rhododendron ‘Bo-Peep’ (pink form) on the drive is however still at its best. Less common than the pure yellow form but just as good in early February.
Several good 30 year old clumps of our own Rhododendron ‘Red Admiral’ are at their best but hard to photograph high up.
2016 – CHW
So let us have a quick flip through the garden to record what is now out in this exceptional year. Another mild week has seen the magnolias rushing out after a rather slower spell of development in January. I find about 30 today and record them for posterity as the public may well miss most of these when we open on 22nd February.The Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ (a true seedling) by the castle is nearly over.
The view through the arch has now reached its zenith after it started on 2nd January.
Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ has the first few flowers out by the arch.
good colour. Many more to come.
Magnolia campbellii (1913 original from Coombe Wood) is full out lower down but not much yet on the top. Fifty flowers out so ‘Spring has Broken’ according to the Great Gardens of Cornwall a month earlier than ever before.
The small Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ above has one flower out. Nice colour but how do you put the colour into words?
A poorish and rather pale Lanarth seedling is full out towards Rookery Gate.
Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ (Caerhays hybrid sold by Burncoose) is out ON TIME (not early) on the Main Ride. The yellow form is earlier than the pink form here but not on the drive where the pink form is over.
Rhododendron ‘Ostara’, a Rhododendron mucronulatum cross, is coming out by the tree fern. Again on time and not early.
A Rhododendron fargesii (?) seedling is full out in Rogers Quarry. Very early!
Michelia ‘Fairy White’, planted only last year, has several flowers.
Magnolia ‘Shirraz’ has not moved on much in a fortnight and is even earlier than all the rest. The second New Zealander to flower after ‘Strybling White’ which is now nearly over a fortnight after it was at its best. ‘Shirraz’ is normally out in April.
Magnolia campbellii (original whitish form) is full out and at its best by Tin Garden.
Nearby a few white flowers on what is recorded I think as Magnolia sprengeri var elongata. It will be clearer when fully out.
The original Magnoloa campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ is fantastic but not quite fully out. Only a month early here.
Nearby is a (knowingly) unknown Caerhays magnolia seedling which is quite nice. Looks to have sprengeri in it and mollicomata.
1991 – FJW
250+ laurels put in – Best day for garden since 24/1/19101963 – FJW
First few snowdrops and cyclamen on Georges Bank.
1944 – CW
Five or more inches of snow and very cold a week ago. Almost all buds cut except single Camellias. Hamamelis still good – first Sutchuenense hybrid and Moupinense just out. First yellow incomp out. Lapagerias hanging brown on plants. All Rho mucronulatum cut but Lutescens hybrid almost entirely survived the frost.
1935 – JCW
No ice on the pond. Fuschia wall frost but not much.
1905 – JCW
Odd Caerhays shows colour, have been crossing 9 Minimus with King G, saw a Barbatum open. Snowdrops and Aconite very good. Went out after tea.
1904 – JCW
Saw the first Cyclamineus open outside.
1899 – JCW
The first Caerhays shows colour. A Fulgens open.