6th January 1897- 2020 | The Garden Diary

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

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?

2017 – CHW
First flowers on Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’ on the main ride. Not yet a decent shape or colour.

First flowers on Rhododendron barbatum which are a little early.

Main ride now swept of leaves and looking smart.

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.

1998 – FJW
First snowdrop – very wet and thunderstorms.1985 – FJW
Cold spell started.1968 – FJW
Picked newly open bud of Trewidden Grande.

1952 – CW
Still mild – none can remember more grass, still fuschias, roses and Lapageria. 5 of original Saluenensis out, but little else bar Nobleanum Pink. Hardly any Rhodos and Hamamelis also late. One snowdrop at Vean where [Camellia] J.C.W. out for over a week. Here only odd buds show pink. Very bad storms.

1911 – JCW
I found 14 blooms of Narcissus M Clusii open outside

1908 – JCW
A hard frost for the last 4 days, Coums well on, a few roses yet.

1906 – JCW
The first daffs, Tin Garden, Tenby x Minimus.

1904 – JCW
The first Camellia

1902 – JCW
The first Camellia.