2025 – CHW
3 roe deer seen today in the garden. Anything evergreen gets nibbled – here a Viburnum.
Tetradium var. fraxinifolium (KWJ 1209) is untouched by the winter thus far and is growing away on a single stem.
The first bud nearly open on Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’.
Another clump of Rhododendron mucronulatum with paler flowers below the Fernery.
This horse chestnut tree got frosted in early leaf and has progressively died over the last 4 years. Now rotten at the base.
2024 – CHW
As cold a day as we have had this winter.
The enormous Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ by the side door is at its absolute best. Two or three small seedlings are growing under the large bush.
These 4 rather poor camellia x williamsii seedlings were created and grown by JCW and planted along the castle wall. They were never considered worthy of naming but they survive none the less. One can quickly see that they were not good enough to name.
This jaguar car appeared with a shooting party.
Later that evening in the dark the owner ploughed through the fence beside Beach Meadow. We have metal posts on the corner and they were flattened. The telehandler was needed to get the car out and the general feeling was this it would be a write off.
It may not have rained for a week but water bubbles out of the ground into Beach Meadow.
Another result of heavy rain is the collapse of stone faced earth banks.
2023 – CHW
Amazingly we see colour (pink) on two windblown buds high up on the Magnolia campbellii by Tin Garden. You cannot see it properly in this photograph.
Amazingly we see colour (pink) on two windblown buds high up on the Magnolia campbellii by Tin Garden. You cannot see it properly in this photograph.
A windblown Sasa tsuboiana. Not invasive in a cold spot. It has been here for 20 years. The one at Burncoose is no bigger and not invasive either despite what the reference books say.
Carpinus kawakamii still showing its full set of leaves. Evergreen here.
Podocarpus spinulosus developing nicely as a smallish shrub.
Photinia nitakayamensis still has unripe berries.
2022 – CHW
I am told that we have rather poor pictures of Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ on the Burncoose website. Here are the replacements! The plant here is around 14ft tall after 10 years and grows largely in full shade and shelter on a west facing wall.
I am told that we have rather poor pictures of Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ on the Burncoose website. Here are the replacements! The plant here is around 14ft tall after 10 years and grows largely in full shade and shelter on a west facing wall.
2021 – CHW
Heavy rain to come this week.On a tour around a fine clump of narcissi on the hedge outside Rocky Close Farm in West Portholland.
Heavy rain to come this week.On a tour around a fine clump of narcissi on the hedge outside Rocky Close Farm in West Portholland.
Serious progress with the building works at The Hovel. Wall insulation now largely installed and the upstairs is starting to take shape.
Another look at Camellia x vernalis ‘Dawn’ as it comes into full flower at the top of the bush and the lower flowers start to drop.
The 124 year old Magnolia stellata will be out quite soon. A gnarled old tree against the castle wall.
This equally ancient Camellia x vernalis ‘Dawn’ was chopped down to reshoot. Very few flowers as a result but it looks very healthy and a tight rounded habit.
Last summer I suspected this was the only female of the four Cephalotaxus fortunei in Kennel Close. The flower buds are side on to the twigs as you can see.
Compare this to what I think is a male where the flower buds hangs down from the twigs. I may have this the wrong way around of course.
Picea likiangensis is developing into a good tree.
There are seven other species/varieties of bamboo in Kennel Close in addition to the five photographed a few days ago. Boring though it probably is to readers I wanted to make a proper photographic record of each. Some/most came from Stam’s Bamboo Nursery in Eire as did the other five. None of these seven are stocked by Burncoose but should be! Several very nice things here and all growing in the open in full sun ultimately to cut out under draft winds.
Phyllostachys nidularia – a vigorous spreading clump.
Phyllostachys glauca – a long spreading and vigorous clump.
Chiminobambusa trangui. ‘Shiroshima’ – attractive variegation in a taller growing bamboo. Quite a spreader too but only 4-5ft so far.
Phyllostachys propinqua – not a big spreader as yet.
Phyllostachys nuda – fairly vigorous spreader.
Phyllostachys nigra ‘Medurochiku’ – only slightly black stems as yet but they seem to be darkening.
Pleioblastus hindsii – the least vigorous and developed as yet of the seven.
