14th July

CONTRIBUTORS:
FJ Williams Profile Picture
FJW 1955-2007
CH Williams Profile Picture
CHW 2015-
JC Williams Profile Picture
JCW 1897-1939
C Williams Profile Picture
CW 1940-1955

2019 – CHW

A trip to view a few farms and check out some chalky downland landscapes.

chalk downland
chalk downland
A brand new meat processing unit on a farm installed with some grant. The cattle still have to go to the mainland and back to be slaughtered (£90 per head) but at least the processor of island beef is now actually on the island. Much potential for new business with the top end hotels and restaurants without a middleman in the way.
meat processing unit
meat processing unit
The view from the top of Rowborough estate looking westwards to The Needles and the west end of the island.
view from the top of Rowborough estate
view from the top of Rowborough estate
The chalk downland.
chalk downland
chalk downland
The view south which takes in some of Buckham shoot.
view south
view south
A chalk quarry in the valley below. Fairly hideous but not at all visible. This is said to be the place on the Isle of Wight where you are the furthest from human habitation. Not very far at all in reality!
chalk quarry
chalk quarry
chalk quarry
chalk quarry
chalk quarry
chalk quarry

2018 – CHW
Some more nice new things at Ventnor Botanic Gardens on an initially overcast day which then went back to normal.Althaea officinalis – Marsh-mallow – comes from Europe and is from the malva family. Quite attractive but clearly tender.

Althaea officinalis
Althaea officinalis
Althaea officinalis
Althaea officinalis
Fuchsia ‘Lechlade Magician’ was a massive 12-15ft tall tree with a similar spread and peeling bark. Here growing in full shade.
Fuchsia ‘Lechlade Magician’
Fuchsia ‘Lechlade Magician’
Fuchsia ‘Lechlade Magician’
Fuchsia ‘Lechlade Magician’
Fuchsia ‘Lechlade Magician’
Fuchsia ‘Lechlade Magician’
Hypericum canariense looked tender but survived the winter here.
Hypericum canariense
Hypericum canariense
Hypericum canariense
Hypericum canariense
Poterium spinosum – Prickly burnet from Crete looks a peculiar and nasty little plant. Seeds forming but missed the flowers.
Poterium spinosum
Poterium spinosum
Poterium spinosum
Poterium spinosum
Acanthus sennii – Ethiopian acanthus with very vicious prickles.
Acanthus sennii
Acanthus sennii
Acanthus sennii
Acanthus sennii
And more cold damage:
Protea cyanaroides literally cut in half by cold.
Protea cyanaroides
Protea cyanaroides
Protea cyanaroides
Protea cyanaroides
Sparmannia africana cut to ground level but reshooting at last.
Sparmannia africana
Sparmannia africana
Datura chlorantha just about shooting now from ground level. These were huge plants last year with stems that were years old. Then came ‘The Beast’!
Datura chlorantha
Datura chlorantha
A huge Olea europa has joined the dodo in the March cold. Others had more shelter and survived.
Olea europa
Olea europa
Only 10 yards away the Calamondin oranges however looked fine on a hot bank but with good wind protection.

2017 – CHW
The clearance work above the wall is perhaps 60% complete but still three enormous trees to fell and lots to clear up. The fire is enormous and the pile of timber (for firewood) is growing. Despite the rain it is still dry underfoot once the topsoil has been moved. A very neat job so far with only a bit of scorching of the laurel hedge from the fire.

clearance work
clearance work
clearance work
clearance work
clearance work
clearance work
clearance work
clearance work
The new allen scythe has arrived on a wet day. We now have two machines on the go and are quite well ahead with grass cutting in the Castle Wood.
Allen Scythe
Allen Scythe
Allen Scythe
Allen Scythe
Allen Scythe in action!
Allen Scythe in action!

2016 – CHW
A huge sweet chestnut branch split and fell on the drive last Thursday night with no wind at all. It had to be removed sharpish for a wedding party who were lucky to have found it after midnight rather than being under it. The weight of the growing chestnuts perhaps caused the split out. This now seems a much more frequent summer occurrence than it was years ago.
sweet chestnut branch split and fell
sweet chestnut branch split and fell
sweet chestnut branch split and fell
sweet chestnut branch split and fell
The bracts on Cornus kousa ‘Gosia’ are turning from cream to pink on the drive. An attractive tree in an excellent position.
Cornus kousa ‘Gosia’
Cornus kousa ‘Gosia’

2015 – CHW
More out in our Seaview garden despite it being a disgraceful mess: Hebe ‘Autumn Glory’ – quite nice. Hebes hate high rainfall and get mildew in the nursery but thrive here.

Hebe ‘Autumn Glory’
Hebe ‘Autumn Glory’
Hebe ‘Autumn Glory’
Hebe ‘Autumn Glory’

Myrtus communis subsp tarrentina – just the odd single flower out now. Not much sign of myrtles yesterday at Osborne house despite their love of hot dry banks and self seeding. Perhaps too cold for Amomyrtus luma but plenty at Ventnor.

Myrtus communis subsp tarrentina
Myrtus communis subsp tarrentina

Ficus carica (common fig) with fruit nearly ripe already again reflecting a hot dry summer to date.

Ficus carica (common fig)
Ficus carica (common fig)
Roses nearly over and phlomis completely finished. Time to return to Cornwall at last! My very slow computer connection has allowed a trawl through of Pavia and Esveld nurseries plant lists but very little new to buy in that I could find. Perhaps they will update their lists in the autumn.

1969 – FJW
Very hot spell. Fortunei good. Hay should all be carried today. Flowers on Delavayi and Goliath.

1925 – JCW
Giganteums were good but are over. Daff seeds all picked. Plagianthus hardly open yet R brunonis over nearly. Wilson’s Fortunei poor, a lot of dry weather for June.

1916 – JCW
Went to Wittenhart (Lownisky’s) and saw his most remarkable garden with Loder.

1901 – JCW
L giganteum not as good as last year but at their best. R brunonis is very good. Most of the Recurvas has been picked. Moving bulbs hard.

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