2021 – CHW
Excellent bronzy-red new growth on Sisygium smithii.

Maddenia wilsonii is making good progress too. Very different in leaf to Maddenia himalaica which we saw in flower for the first time in March.

Sapium sebiferum did not like the winter but is recovering well.

Two diseased and elderly beech trees and an oak have been felled by tree surgeons. A little damage with tractors removing the trunks but not too bad.

First flower out this year on Magnolia sapaensis (four yet to come).

Rhododendron excellens (Alan Clark 5615) is out much later than the more recently planted clumps by Georges Hut. It looks here much like Rhododendron nuttallii to me but that too is well over. The pinkish new growth is similar to Rh. nuttallii as well. I now need to check the new growth on the other Rh. excellens.

Our young Desfontainea spinosa have their first flowers. Much larger and longer than on the old dead plant here or the stock plant at Burncoose. Some slug damage to some flowers.

Hydrangea seemanii now full out.

A flower cut from a Manglietia insignis given to us by Tom Hudson years ago and planted by the camellia foliage patch. Small and very pink flowers compared to the one I photographed here a fortnight or so ago.

2020 – CHW
Another day looking at wildflowers in the Isla Rose Plantation where stumps were grubbed three years ago and a whole new crop of wildflowers and grasses have emerged from the bare earth.Another good clump of Meconopsis cambrica.

Rapeseed or Brassica napus has germinated in disturbed soil. Normally it would flower in April. At least that is what I think it is but it may well be some other brassica?

Then the puzzle over two ‘dandelion’ types which grow together.

One is short growing with leaves as here which are hairless. I am really not sure and the reference books confuse rather than enlighten.

The other grows to 2ft or so in flower with larger hairy basal leaves. This may be Hypochoeris radicata.

Lysimachia nummularia or Creeping Jenny with long creeping stems. The reference books say it prefers damp places but here it is in full sun in a hot dry place and has formed large clumps.

Heracleum sphondylium, Hogweed or Cow Parsnip, is about the commonest of what might be called the ‘Cow Parsleys’ here. Not to be confused with the non-native, poisonous and invasive Giant Hogweed which is quite different. Young shoots of Cow Parsnip can be eaten like asparagus but I do not fancy trying.

Geranium robertianum, Herb Robert, which is common but normally out in May.

Lotus pedunculatus or Large Birdsfoot-trefoil I think rather than Lotus corniculatus but I could well be wrong!

Sonchus asper or Prickly Sow Thistle I think?

Sonchus arvensis or Perennial Sow Thistle?

This may be Solidago virgaura or Golden Rod or it might be a Leonotus or even an Amsonia? Time will tell.

Ragwort (which I pull up) or Senecio jacobaea as you would expect from long undisturbed but now bare soil. This is a perennial.

Hypericum androsaemum, Sweet Amber, is a native shrubby perennial. The nursery sells improved forms of this Hypericum species but I have seldom seen this as a wildflower growing here.

Then another real puzzle.I think we have a mixture here of Ribwort or Ribgrass, Plantago lanceolata, and Hoary Plantain, Plantago media, growing together. The latter has more rounded leaves, larger and longer flowers and much bigger seed heads as here. The P. media appear to have flowered and set seed already while P. lanceolata are still flowering. Quite possibly they have hybridised together.

2019 – CHW
A visit to Shanklin Chine with the former owner and now president of the charity which owns and runs this historic gorge leading from Shanklin to the sea. About a quarter of a mile in length and one of only two chines in the UK. Smugglers paradise 200 to 300 years ago. Today 80,000 visitors (entry £3.00 for OAPs and £4.00 adults). Half is a natural woodland gorge with steep steps and narrow walkways and half supposedly more formal but in a state of disrepair. Three unqualified ‘gardeners’ who have all started this year have a major job to get it back in hand from years of self-seeding, brambles, scrub and neglect. Some pretty invasive weeds much in evidence too as well as ash disease on a key young ash. The real threat to ‘the garden’ or gorge is landslides and trees toppling in over the top of the ravine. How you do a tree survey or risk assessment for this I have no idea. A great exhibition room and a room devoted to the D-day landings of which Shanklin was a key part.

Anne Springman approaches the top entrance to the chine having parked illegally blocking a goods yard. The chine opens for about seven months of the year from 10.30am to 10pm.

Narrow steps

The partly made up waterfall which would be even more impressive after high rainfall. Surprising it was running at all today after such a dry period. The chine has been cut out of green limestone over thousands of years. The water comes from springs on chalk and hence this extraordinary natural feature.

A bank in urgent need of clearance and replanting. There is plenty more of this.

Tearooms and exhibition at the beach end of the chine.

A little of the exhibition with a collection of clay pipes and roman coins dug up nearby

40 Royal Marine Commando war memorial overlooking the sea.

2018 – CHW
A visit to Cerne Farm which was parched and barren with not a blade of grass to be seen in any field. The sheep were grazing in the woodland. All but one which had been adopted as a strange pet!

The wisteria growing on the house was having a second flush of flowers in the heat.

Drimys lanceolata used as a garden hedge in very dry conditions was effective. Only at Tregothnan have I seen it used elsewhere for this purpose.

The combination of the tall growing Verbena bonariensis and the much lower growing Verbena rigida was effective.

So was Verbena bonariensis and agapanthus.

2017 – CHW
The new clearing as it is shaping up from below or above the Top Wall.

This is Buddleia ‘Harlequin’ which should have variegated foliage. However half this large bush has reverted to having green leaves although the flower remains (in theory) ‘purplish-red’. Not much red really?

The Hothead and underground spring with upraised beds for dwarf rhododendrons. Needs a good clean out and tidy. The two sycamore trees above the well will be cut down shortly. A few saplings to go too.

This is labelled Magnolia tripetala but the leaf looks a bit too small for it to be the true species. Perhaps Magnolia ‘Ralph’ or ‘Charles Coates’? Not quite like the M. ‘Charles Coates’ at Burncoose in flower form (more yellowish than white) and colour though? Nevertheless it is a bushy shrub with many shoots so probably it is Magnolia ‘Charles Coates’. M. tripetala is a single stemmed tree and grows elsewhere.

The frames are crammed full of superb young rhododendrons ready to be planted out next spring. Then we can restart them with Asia’s crops of specie rhodo seedlings.

Ziziphus sativa has never really recovered from my brother lighting a fire too close to it and scorching all one side of it. Does not like our climate I fear and will never perform or fruit. It is a hot Mediterranean tree really.

This rather nice crocosmia variety has grown in profusion by the greenhouse for at least 50 years. It is far better than I remember and perhaps we can name it? (Is it Crocosmia ‘Saracen’?) Amazing that the county council deliberately spray out wild crocosmia clumps on roadsides as being ‘non-native’. Will these same plant fascists spray out all Austrian and Swiss daffodils growing wild too? Political correctness again of course but total ignorance, vandalism and worse in reality.