Camellia japonica ‘Sunburst’ properly out and a bit rain damaged.

Camellia japonica ‘Magnoliaeflora’ absolutely full out although the elderly plant on the top wall above the front door is not.

Camellia japonica ‘High Hat’ is normally one of the very first japonicas to show but not this year. Only just starting.

Camellia japonica ‘Debutante’ – another one which is usually fairly early here. It is in fact well ahead of ‘High Hat’ this year.

Camellia japonica ‘Margherita Coleoni’ also a bit storm battered but nicely out.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’ is full out here but, yesterday, on the Main Ride not a hint of colour anywhere on the original bush. More wind in this location is the probable explanation.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mathotiana Alba’ – just a couple of flowers on two separate plants. I would call this very early for any Mathotiana.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Elegans’ – full out but also a bit battered.

2023 – CHW
A visit to the greenhouse but not much in flower to see here yet.Bursting seeds pods on Microtropis petelotii.

Still tiny flowers out on Pittosporum michiei. Its still covered in fact. A most peculiar species which we first saw a month ago at least.

Fuchsia cordifolia (now Fuchsia splendens var ‘Cordifolia’) has lost its leaves but still a few flowers left. In the December video from Gorwell this plant (outside) was still in full leaf and flower. Pre frost at Gorwell though.

This red camellia was given to us as cuttings from Hergest Croft Gardens 3-4 years ago. The original plant was one of Jimmy Smart’s hybrids from Marwood Hill which the late Laurence Banks thought might have been lost at Marwood. First flower not properly formed I fear. No name as yet.

The yellow Vireya rhododendron is out again at its normal time and looking healthy.

New growth and bud on Camellia costei. The odd flower had already dropped.

Look at all the new magnolias (of which most are ready) for planting out in the spring!

Despite all our efforts in the autumn there is still also plenty of tender stuff to go out from this bed in the frames too.

The fruits on Sorbus zahlbruckneri are now ripe and the leaves shrivelled or gone. On arrival from Holland 2 or 3 years ago the plant had a broken root ball but has fully recovered after repotting.

2022 – CHW
Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ is a little late again this year.

The first daffodil this year.

Uplifting and tidying up around the Hoherias. Two camellias cut back to reshoot.

Peumus boldus now full out.

2021 – CHW
A visit to Burncoose today to find four lorries pouring concrete to create the level access for lorries delivering to the now extended shed beside the main pack house. The Dutch herbaceous delivery is spread out in the extended shed awaiting potting on a very cold day.

Burncoose has had some snow (unlike Caerhays) and much of the nursery was frozen underfoot and quite risky without boots.

The revised layout of the growing area of the nursery to allow full vehicular access to all (rabbit free and fenced) beds is now more or less complete barring moving and tidying up all the plants that had to be moved.

Just potted for a client in Guernsey – Tulbaghia violacea by the thousand!

Out today in the nursery:
Salvia ‘Waverley’

Sarcococca ruscifolia

Salvia confertiflora

Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Beauty’ looking spectacular. As good as ‘Winter Fire’?

Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’

Camellia ‘Jingle Bells’

Camellia ‘Little Bit’

Camellia ‘Rusticana’

Ilex x altaclarensis ‘Golden King’

Viburnum tinus in bud and flower. Pink buds and white flowers.

2020 – CHW
Jasminum nudiflorum – winter jasmine – with pinkish buds but, as yet, no white flowers. A substantial wall shrub which survived the builders and scaffolding over it last summer. 10-12ft in height with a similar spread.

An unnamed Camellia x williamsii seedling full out outside the Carlton Club. Shows up well today from the road after a period of no wind and no frost. I do not remember it better but it is not good enough to name. The plant is at least 60 years old and has been pruned several times.

I had not realised that Clematis armandii was already out. One tiny and rather dubious single flower lower down but plenty of flowering spikes on the newer growth at the top of this huge 20ft plus climber.

2019 – CHW
Jaimie visited Heligan gardens yesterday where he photographed Cestrum elegans in full flower with plenty of bud on a large multi-stemmed bush in full leaf. There is always confusion with C. elegans and Cestrum fasciculatum / C. fasciculatum ‘Newellii’. C. elegans is variable in flower colour and grows twice the size of C. fasciculatum here on the top wall where it is at least 12ft tall. I may be wrong but I think the Heligan plant is indeed C. elegans although a bit different in colour to ours which is certainly not out today. I will check to see if the buds are obvious yet.

Also at Heligan a solitary early flower on Lonicera fragrantissima with plenty of leaf still on the bush.

2018 – CHW
Returning to beyond Georges Hut.Tetrapanax papyifera ‘Rex’ has had some leaves blown off by wind or are they just dropping naturally off the main stem? The new growth and indumentum on the new shoots is impressive as is the developing clump of suckers.

Rabbits have nibbled a couple of the small suckers. It is the time of year when rabbits nibble trees for extra nutrition.

Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii (from Crug) is a whole new genus to us. Crug say it has attractive bark and flowers which are a bit styrax like but in clusters. It is clearly tender but shows no sign yet of shedding its leaves. The stem shows promise and the leaves have an unusual shape and stance on the tree. I think alniphyllum are classed as styracaceae.

Flower buds on Michelia doltsopa still covered in velvet indumentum. Two years ago they were blown open in January on this elderly tree. Some way to go yet it would seem – hopefully.

A few red berries remain on Berberis wilsoniae at the top of the clump only.

A blackbird or thrushes nest stands out in the top branches of a dormant Rosa roxburgii. Might it be reused?

2016 – CHW
Hydrangea ‘Geoffrey Chadbund’ by the cash point still has one untouched flower at the very top and no leaf loss atall.The Camellia ‘St Ewe’ overhanging the cash point is full out but the wind has already blown off many scores of flowers onto the tarmac.