20th January | The Garden Diary

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2025 – CHW

There are 7 named forms of Magnolia grandiflora on the top wall. This is how the leaves and undersides look today. (Left to right ending nearest the old playhouse).

Magnolia grandiflora x M. ‘Coco’.

Decide for yourself which one today has the best indumentum on the undersides of their leaves on the newer growth. The first couple have none but there is a strong contest between the rest.

All 7 together.

2024 – CHW
Temperature rises quickly as another westerly storm brews up. Nothing special as far as Cornwall is concerned.Another big leaf drought victim above the Rookery Path. A 15-20 year old plant.

And another blown over clump a bit further along. A lot of tidying of fallen magnolia smallish branches all around this area and a big beech branch as well.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Show Girl’ out later than usual on Rookery Path. It is actually a C. hiemalis x C. reticulata cross. Very well worth growing and, as you see, making a large upright bush which does not look much like a sasanqua.

Camellia cuspidata just out in Rookery. Not many flowers this year.

This prompted me to see if Camellia nokoensis was out above Charlie Michael’s Nursery Bed and it was! Earlier than last year.

Magnolia ‘Todd’s Forty Niner’ suddenly has a bit of colour despite the (dry) cold.

Azalea ‘Greenway’ with bud and flower above the greenhouse.

Daphne Bholua ‘Garden House Ghost’ at its very best and scent for yards.

2023 – CHW
More heavy rain as the cold weather departs.Puddles in the drainage ditches by the main paths in the garden.

The water meadows were flooded again yesterday but have quickly subsided. The reservoirs in Cornwall are full again after the summer drought. Rainfall levels now normal. South West Water gives the promised £30 rebate on all water bills.

2022 – CHW
Planted only last year on the drive here are the first flowers on Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Aphrodite’.

Also first flowers on Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diana’ – planted 2021.

And Hamamelis japonica ‘Brentry’ – planted 2021.

And Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Firecracker’ – planted 2021.

First flowers out on the pink form of Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’.

2021 – CHW
Storm Christoph has passed up by with little rain by comparison to the north and only minor gales. It has however blown open a few flowers very high up on the second and third magnolias to come out this year:Magnolia campbellii alba ‘Strybing White’ – New Zealand origin and nearly always early. No flowers showing last Sunday.

Magnolia campbellii alba ‘Strybing White’

The lichen on its trunk is spectacular.

An original Magnolia campbellii growing near Tin Garden is also usually early. Nearer white than pink. The main M. campbellii had no colour.

Rhododendron mucronulatum now properly out. Not that many flowers this year.

Another Camellia x vernalis ‘Yuletide’ not yet full out.

Snowdrops now properly out.

A batch of 20 plants from Mark Bulk for the frames. Mainly new Crataegus species for our small collection. Not all have prickles.

Two of the ancient Camellia japonicas on the Stable Flat wall are out. I must try and work out possible names.

White and pink flowers on the one nearest the circular tower.

First flower outside the back yard plant of Jury’s Yellow.

A free range cockerel by the top lodge pretending to be a pheasant.

Camellia ‘Nagasaki’ full out now.

As is Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’.

First flower on Camellia ‘Dr Burnside’.

First flower on Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’.

A Camellia lutchuense hybrid with scent on the drive.

A very large flowered Camellia reticulata by Donkey Shoe. Unnamed on the plan. A very ‘leggy’ plant with few flowers. A bit early for ‘Mouchang’ or ‘Royalty’ perhaps? A good plant of the latter the other side of the path with no flowers as yet. ‘Mouchang’ the most likely.

Aextoxicon punctatum just coming out. The buds have been evident since September.

A young Magnolia lancei appears to be more or less evergreen.

View 20th January 1897 – 2020