2025 – CHW
All that is left of the once enormous Hamamelis mollis in the Lower Quarry Nursery bed.
The taller growing Galanthus elwesii are always later to show than the common snowdrops.
Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ may be storm scarred but the flowers are as good as ever.
Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’ full out outside the Dining Room windows. Now an expanding clump.
Lizzie’s ‘Honesty’ (Lunaria rediviva) from her mother’s garden in Cheshire has not died down for the winter. This is a perennial form not an annual.
Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ is now out in the Rockery.
The new gate on the tower to replace the one smashed in Storm Darragh.
First flowers showing on the huge Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliiflora’ above the top wall.
2024 – CHW
A single flower on a young Rhododendron nobleanum (White Form) on Hovel Cart Road.
A single flower on a young Rhododendron nobleanum (White Form) on Hovel Cart Road.
Fallen oak, six branches have knocked down the fence on the Higher Quarry Nursery Bed including the corner post.
Flowers on some good conventional young plants of Rhododendron moupinense in the nursery bed.
And flowers also out on the attractive pink budded and pink flowering form of Rhododendron moupinense which we should propagate.
Rhododendron dauricum with a few flowers and new growth.
Flowers opening on a magnolia outside the Back Yard but they are a muddy colour and frosted albeit on another mild and overcast day.
2023 – CHW
One flower now fully out (on a gloomy day) on Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Darjeeling’.
One flower now fully out (on a gloomy day) on Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Darjeeling’.
Juglans ailantifolia with its dramatic branch arrangement.
A Camellia saluenensis (seedling) across the path from Camellia x williamsii ‘Beatrice Michael’.
First flowers out on Rhododendron moulmainense but only high up.
Rhododendron moulmainense and Camellia saluenensis together.
First flowers just showing on an elderly but pale flowered form of Rhododendron irroratum.
Camellia reticulata ‘Show Girl’. Very early into flower and a very good show on Rookery Path. Flowers open small and then develop to an enormous size. A variety which definitely ought to be more widely grown and enjoyed.
2022 – CHW
Frankie’s digger parked up in Old Park from afar.
Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’ is shedding in the wind already. The flowers do have a little yellow in them as they open.
Podocarpus elongatus ‘Blue Chip’ has had a haircut and been re-staked upright. The older foliage is not very blue at this time of the year.
The Magnolia campbellii by Tin Garden is now full out but as it is rather a pale colour it shows up badly against a grey sky.
The New Zealand made Kania 2000 trap is easily the best way to control squirrels. A good catch this week to save our young trees from damage.
The lovely Prunus x incam ‘Okame’ just starting to show (P. campanulata x P. incisa). Bred by Collingwood Ingram.
As is the very similar and equally lovely Prunus ‘Kursar’ (P. campanulata x P. nipponica var. kurilensis). Also bred by Collingwood Ingram.
2021 – CHW
A bumblebee feasting on the Mahonia japonica flowers but it is too cold for it to be out and about.
The very first Narcissus cyclamineus are out on the top bank. Earlier than usual perhaps?
One of the old Camellia reticulatas beside the wall has suddenly shed a pile of leaves. A bad omen for its survival.
First flower this year on the darker form of Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’ from Tregullow originally. A fine plant for the Auklandii Garden path.
Deer or rabbits have removed nearly all the leaves of this poor little evergreen azalea. This one is better than the other two which will probably die.
Sunlight behind the peeling branches of Acer griseum below Slip Rail.
Camellia ‘Takanini’ and Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’. An interesting combination of red and orange.
Prunus ‘Kursar’ nearly out in Kennel Close as it usually is.
The Tin Garden Magnolia campbellii is nearly out with, today, a little blue sky to show it off for a moment.
The Crûg collected form (BSWJ 8756) of Ilex cornuta which, unlike our 30 year old mounded plant, has a clear leading shoot and more prickles on its leaves. These are almost rectangular with five spines. Unusual. Now about 8ft tall. Planted 2011.
Also out properly, but rather wind battered, is Magnolia campbellii alba ‘Strybing White’.
One forgets how much darker the Trewithen sport (of Camellia ‘Donation’) Camellia ‘Celebration’ actually is. Here full out alongside Georges Hut.
Contrast the colour to the ‘normal’ Camellia x williamsii ‘Donation’ here alongside Rhododendron irroratum.
Camellia ‘Kick Off’ (?) just out. Need to check.
A decent large flower now out on Camellia ‘Mrs D W Davis’. Just the start.
The nobbled and gnarled bark on an elderly county champion Styrax japonica in the sunlight.
Email received 12.04.16 from Roy Lancaster:
Dear Charlie,
Many thanks for sending me a copy of your report on Magnolias and Climate Change which I found most interesting. Although we experienced some woody plants flowering earlier than normal this year they were a few individuals only and most everything else performed as per normal. It is April now and both Magnolia cylindrica and M. ‘Heaven Scent’ in our garden (both TROBI champions) are on time, the former having opened first. A one-off night frost of –8o C put paid to the first blooms of Magnolia x soulangeana in gardens around but later blooms in bud survived to provide a second crop and everyone is happy with their displays.
Of the several Camellias I grow ‘Inspiration’ was out before ‘Freedom Bell’ in February when it is normally the other way round. It is the idiosyncrasies and unknown factors that make our gardens a source of continuing interest and pleasure, don’t you agree?
My warm greetings to your father.
Happy Days,
Roy