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.

2020 – CHW
A Great Gardens of Cornwall meeting at Trewithen and time for a quick look at the garden. Strangely no magnolias showing colour anywhere that we could see.Rhododendron sutchuanense full out in two different forms although this is not yet the case at Caerhays.

Eurya japonica also full out with its horrid smell. Again six weeks or so before I would expect this to be out here.

Trewithen’s famous clump of Viburnum betulifolium was still covered in red fruits which the birds and squirrels had left alone. Many had fallen to the ground and appeared to have been eaten by mice.

The bark on the trunk of Stewartia sinensis is identical to ours at this time of the year with peeling more or less complete for the season.

Acacia melanoxylon full out on a 70ft tree near the house. Ours are still in tight bud.

2019 – CHW
A huge elderly Magnolia campbellii seedling coming out in the mist above Crinodendron Hedge.

A newly planted (November) Camellia ‘Fiesta Crane’ with its first damaged flower.

Similarly Camellia reticulata ‘Lovely Lady’, also new from France, with its first flower.

First huge flowers on Camellia ‘Drama Girl’ above the greenhouse.

Another bud opens on the yellowish Magnolia campbellii. Quite a sight and plenty more buds still to come.

2018 – CHW
I can never remember the name of this huge camellia towering over the top wall and now full out. It is mentioned often enough in the diary.

The clump of Cordyline australis is impressive when seen from above. All from one plant 30 plus years or so ago.

This large clump of nearly over snowdrops was dug from around The Vean 11 years ago prior to building works starting.

First flower on the very dark ex Tregullow Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’. Nice buds too.

Early flowers on a previously hidden pieris which was under a huge beech tree which fell a year ago. Now exposed to proper light it is performing well.

Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’ with a few poorish flowers in the Rookery. Several youngish plants here in a clump which will give wind protection from easterly gales over time.

Another couple of plants of pink form ‘Bo-Peep’ in the Auklandii Garden are just as good as the one seen earlier this week on the drive.

2017 – CHW

2016 – CHW
Power out last night at 8.50pm as another gale rages. How do you deal with getting Dad upstairs in his frail state in the dark? Fortunately he was asleep when the blackout came and did not notice at first. Then refused to go upstairs until he had finished his cheese. You try finding the bloody candles in the total darkness in a place like this! Fortunately the power cut lasts only half an hour. Still blowing hard at dawn but it is due westerly so most will be over the top of the garden. Howling westerly gale with 60-70mph winds persists into the day so photography difficult. Twigs, branches and worse on all the paths and drive just when everything was spruced up for opening. Now the wind swings north and is cold.
Magnolias and Climate Change at Caerhays?

A couple more good magnolias discovered out:Magnolia mollicomata ‘Werrington’ in Kennel Close flowering for the first time. An excellent colour and better than I remember the original at Werrington?

Magnolia mollicomata ‘Copeland Court’ below Tin Garden. If you put this in the search box you will discover the rows with developers over the original plant which grows in the garden of the former bishop’s residence at Copeland Court in Truro.

Storm/hail damage now evident on:Michelia doltsopa

Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybling White’ with much worse to look at elsewhere after today I fear. You may well have already seen the best of the magnolias for this year.

A few other oddments of note out in flower today:Ilex latifolia with berries

Camellia ‘Fairy Blush’ (to go with yesterday’s Fairy michelia!?)

Camellia ‘Auburn White’ (one flower only)

Camellia ‘Mary Costa’ (full out)

Prunus ‘Kursar’ in Kennel Close

Very attractive new growth, not seen before by me anyway, on Podocarpus henkelii. Well worth growing just for this and never mind the huge podocarps (seeds) seen last year at Tregrehan on female plants.

Camellia ‘Celebration’ – full out by Georges Hut. A sport of ‘Donaton’ and arguably better!

2015 – CHW
Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’ showing colour but frosted. Also coming out by Lodge at Burncoose. A poor New Zealand bred plant with a smallish flower but it is usually the first magnolia to show colour.