The bark of Styrax serrulatus showing up well today. Very typical twisting and colouration for so many Styrax species.

The Magnolia campbellii flowers by Tin Garden have been frosted and windblown into a brown mess. Will the other buds still come out? I expect so. Odd that one copped it and one escaped not far away.

Illicium macranthum (BSWJ 11809) close to coming out into flower.

The evergreen Callicarpa pilosissima badly frosted 9 or 10 days ago.

Prunus ‘Kursar’ not showing any colour yet although I would have expected it to based on previous years.

Quercus franchetii not as evergreen as it was after the cold snap.

Likewise Cotoneaster frigidus ‘Inchmery’ which now has many yellowing and dropping leaves.

2023 – CHW
The base has been prepared for the small new tunnel to go up at the back of the plant sales area. This will provide protection for more tender plants in flower if we get a cold spell in March or April. Last year the scented rhododendrons got frosted while at their best.

Jonathan Coltman-Rogers of Stanage Park sends me this late 1970’s picture of my father on a visit there. CV 7500 on the Rolls Royce was inherited from P.M. Williams of Burncoose. Sold on many years later we have still retained the number plate. Looks like a good party which is no surprise at Stanage!

Camellia japonica ‘Bokuhan’ with scattered bird eaten flowers. Looking rather yellow leaved after the drought. Pheasants rather than tits or finches by the look of it.

A younger plant of the same thing nearby with much smaller flowers and also yellowing foliage.

Camellia japonica ‘Oo La La’ with standout veining in its flowers.

2022 – CHW
The elderly Magnolia campbellii near Tin Garden is however about a third out although difficult to see against a grey sky.

Prunus ‘Kursar’ just showing colour.

The Magnolia campbellii ‘Copeland Court’ which had 2018 cold dieback has buds well swollen and will be out in a fortnight or so.

Flowers on Camellia ‘Cinnamomum Candy’ (not to be confused with ‘Cinnamomum Cindy’).

Camellia x williamsii ‘Celebration’ now covered in flower. A sport of ‘Donation’ from Trewithen.

Magnolia ‘Todd’s Forty Niner’ has not moved on much in its second week of showing colour. Still no flowers properly open.

A Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ on the castle wall already shedding flowers and past its best.

As are the light and darker forms of Camellia saluenensis by the ladies loos.

2021 – CHW
A third day on the trot of rain, drizzle and sea fret. Digger to remove stumps delayed by the wet ground.Masses of bud on Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ but no sign of movement as yet.

The badly frosted clump of Zantedeschia aethiopica has recovered and is now upright.

Most Echium pininana untouched by frost where sheltered from the wind.

Unexpectedly and contrary to what I had seen in the autumn the Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ by the Georgian Hall has no buds at all for this year. I fear some have dropped but the small tree looks healthy. Last year’s spring drought may not have helped. Good new growth either side of where last year’s buds were. This makes yesterday’s one all the better.

Aristolochia sempervirens (BSWJ 13600) in full growth already in a shady corner which it seems to be liking.

Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ has had its leaves scorched even more in the recent frost.

Narcissus tiandrus full out now outside the dining room window.

Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica full out. Not much scent in the drizzle.

Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica and Olearia solandri growing together.

Further foliage frost damage on the wall climbing Smilax discotis. That is what I have always known it as since I rescued it from the front of The Vean before the building work. Hilliers say this is a deciduous species but it has always been evergreen with us. Is it perhaps Smilax aspera?

The first or last flower on a white rose outside the dining room.

Some frost scorching but also some new growth on the Echium pininana seedlings outside the drawing room. These need thinning or removing before they cover the whole window.