2024 – CHW
More from Ventnor.
Arbutus xalapensis with its unbelievable bark.
This large growing Fuchsia had an extraordinary and very pleasant smell. Not sure of the name but it might be F. perscandens?
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Charles Dickens’.
Hypericum canariense nearly over.
A specialist tree surgeon had operated on all the Phoenix canariensis to tidily remove all the old leaves and expose more of the interesting trunks. A major improvement all over the garden.
Celtis caucasica – Caucasian Nettle Tree – had not, I think, been spotted before on my annual visits to Ventnor?
The Olive grove has been tidied up and all the Echium, bindweed and thistles removed. Not before time!
We are trying to grow Brahea armata – Mexican Blue Palm – in Kennel Close and above the greenhouse. So far they are doing well but not as well as these.
Hoheria angustifolia just out as it usually has been here in mid-July.
A new creation which I assume commemorates the Coronation. Trachelospermum at the end of an avenue of white agapanthus backed by a Griselinia hedge. The Griselinia will need a fair amount of clipping very soon.
Strelitzia reginae in full flowers outside!
Ventnor Botanics now have a garden design and planting service with a lorry and 3 vans. Good for them but where do they buy their plants from as they grow nothing? Perhaps the large Burncoose order was for a client?
2023 – CHW
Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Stardust’ has been slow to come fully out into flower in Kennel Close.
Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Stardust’ has been slow to come fully out into flower in Kennel Close.
Hoheria ‘Glory of Amlwch’ (H. glabrata x H. sexstylosa) is not really that different in habit or flower but it is now more or less over.
This year we have happened upon Maackia hupehensis while the flowers are still full out. For the last couple of years they have been nearly over. It’s the outstanding blue new growth shoots rather than the flowers which clearly distinguish this Maackia hupehensis from Maackia amurensis which grows at the top of the garden. The plant has been grown in too much shad and has, at some point years ago, flopped over on its side so it is now rather more of a shrub than a tree. Planted in 2000 and the spelling in the planting records for that year needs a little correction (Maackia chinensis ‘Hupense’).
An attractive compilation of Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa Group’ and Buddleja lindleyana.
Buddleja lindleyana flowering exceptionally well this year after a haircut 2 or 3 years ago.
Rhododendron decorum ssp. diaprepes just coming out below Hovel Cart Road.
Cornus angustata ‘Empress of China’ flowering for the first time here although still in its deer shelter. Evergreen and vigorous.
Juglans major is really taking off.
2022 – CHW
A time of the year when deads show up – casualties of old age and drought or honey fungus.
The very rare Rhododendron monosematum with its very hairy stems (AC 5978) below the Engine House.
New growth on Persea thunbergii as good as ever. Delayed by the drought I guess.
I had forgotten the huge fir branch below Engine House that was a ‘hanger’ and dropped by tree surgeons.
Still a winter mess here to clear up but no new planting places. It has hurt Lord Falmouth’s Liquidamber a bit.
Another good clump of Rhododendron maddenii near The Pound.
Meliosma beaniana is on its last legs but not quite there yet.
Acer nickoense (now maximowiczianum) on its last legs too. Cut down this winter? Replacement well away on the drive.
Zanthoxylum nepalense var. oxyphyllum (HWJK 99) finally getting going after deer damage. The other 2 species planted here in 2014 in for too much shade have now died or been eaten.
Quercas suber blown over yet again. Wrong place for this too.
Quillaja saponaria getting going with deer damage to the trunk. The right shady place for this it seems.
2021 – CHW
Jaimie’s cross of Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ with Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’ has a slight scent and is full out today. Nearby is a late flowering Rhododendron decorum and a Rhododendron maddenii just going over.
Four very different forms of Hydrangea sargentiana:
One outside the front gate.
One outside the front gate.
A smaller paler version beside it.
The Donkey Shoe plant which grows where the old original died.
The surviving old original plant in the Auklandii Garden.
A new clump of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Polar Bear’.
You could be forgiven for thinking there are now too many newish forms of H. paniculata that are not much different. Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’ is however a good new variety.
Tree felling of the two beech and the pollarding of the oak have made a good new planting area for the autumn.
At last after several failures we have at least one Melliodendron xylocarpum going ahead.
Pomaderris elliptica is about to flower.
Seed heads on Viburnum hoangliense.
Why did the tree surgeons have to burn the laurel hedge rather than having the fire on the tree stump itself?
Rhododendron emarginatum (CW + T 6278 1/9/2012) with two flowers. The Pocket Guide to Rhododendron Species says this is a Pseudovireya which I find hard to believe.
Lilium superbum
I have no idea what this orange-red rhododendron is but am delighted that we have layered it now.
So “nothing” out in the woodland garden in late July!
2020 – CHW
Now that the knapweed is in full flower on the front bank you can clearly see that there are two species present. There is one patch of Common Knapweed or Centaurea nigra with much extended florets or floral rays around the flower. However most of the knapweed is the rarer Centaurea nigra ss. with much smaller tighter flower heads (Centaurea nigra subspecies is rare in Cornwall and largely confined to the Isles of Scilly).
First flowers out on Hoheria angustifolia.
A young Magnolia delavayi with its first flowers. This plant was a gift and is certainly a different form with what appears to be less tepals than normal.
A final flower on Magnolia globosa with seeds now fully formed as well.
Secondary flowers on Magnolia ‘Spectrum’ on Hovel Cart Road.
A garden tour with Rob Hunt who was staying at The Vean.
2019 – CHW
A nice new thing in the greenhouse frame to go out next spring – Ailanthus altissima ‘Purple Dragon’.
A nice new thing in the greenhouse frame to go out next spring – Ailanthus altissima ‘Purple Dragon’.
Gordonia axillaris was planted in 1991 but I have never yet seen it flower here.
A few huge seed pods are forming on Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’. The largest is about 10in long and covered with bristles which are turning reddish.
This is (I think) Rhododendron aperantum which I have never seen in flower here but did once much earlier in the year at Werrington. The flowers are almost double and seem to have two corollas. Is this a secondary flowering? The buds are rounded and reddish opening more rose pink-white. Very few flowers on what is now a 5ft tall erect shrub.
A young Pieris with secondary new growth or perhaps it has been so dry it is only now coming into growth?
Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Pendulum’ with its trailing ‘skirt’ nibbled by roe deer.
Rhododendron fortunei ssp. discolor full out in the main quarry and splendid as usual.
Secondary flowers on the old wisteria by the Playhouse.
A very dark self-sown dierama below the wisteria.
And next to it the first flowers on Crinum powellii.
2018 – CHW
Following the visit to Tregrehan earlier this week I had promised to compare photographs of our two Lithocarpus cleistocarpa (100+ and 50 years old) with the Tregrehan one planted in 1992 and viewed there.The comments I made during the visit were:1. The younger leaves and the leaves on some branches here were rounded rather than all pointed as on the Tregrehan tree. Examples here to make the point. Perhaps wind damage in the ‘Beast’?
Following the visit to Tregrehan earlier this week I had promised to compare photographs of our two Lithocarpus cleistocarpa (100+ and 50 years old) with the Tregrehan one planted in 1992 and viewed there.The comments I made during the visit were:1. The younger leaves and the leaves on some branches here were rounded rather than all pointed as on the Tregrehan tree. Examples here to make the point. Perhaps wind damage in the ‘Beast’?
2. We had found, over the years, just the odd occasional small acorn on the ground under our oldest tree (they did not germinate). This had suggested to my father that our tree might actually be a quercus rather than a lithocarpus? This has to be nonsense as these pictures clearly show loads of male lithocarpus catkins. I could not however find any chubby female inflorescences where a group of lithocarpus seeds would set. The odd acorns we have found presumably got carried there by squirrels and were actually nothing to do with this tree. Later in the year I will need binoculars to check the top of it for seed clusters but none have ever been seen here before in 100 years.
3. The younger of our two trees has a whiter sheen on the undersides of its leaves than the Tregrehan plant or our older one. This appears to be correct but the plant is growing in the open on a hot bank rather than in some dappled shade.
4. I have tried to compare the bark. Clearly the bark on an older tree will not look much like a 26 year old one. Sadly our younger plant has too much moss (and ivy) on its trunk to make a fair comparison.
The conclusion is however that we are indeed both growing Lithocarpus cleistocarpa. It will grow from cuttings!
2017 – CHW
More from Ventnor.Muehlenbeckia complexa completely covering and smothering an Olearia dartonii as you can see.
More from Ventnor.Muehlenbeckia complexa completely covering and smothering an Olearia dartonii as you can see.
Hedychium gardnerianum out rather earlier than with us.
Crinum powellii ‘Album’ looking very fine and no slug damage!
Clerodendron trochotomum growing as a small suckering tree and just coming out.
Melianthus major with its odd seed heads ripening after flowering. I have never seen this on our Burncoose stockplant.
Firmania simplex in full flower. Note the huge leaves with five lobes.
Musa basjoo growing as a huge multistemmed clump. Leaves 6-8ft long. Tallest stem perhaps 18-20ft. No flowers in evidence.
The very rare Mallotus japonicus in full flower and new growth. A male form of this dioecious tree. The ‘food wrapper’ plant.
No idea what this evergreen climber is so need to look it up! Rather extraordinary! Probably an aristolochia?
I could not identify this yellow flowered plant last year but was being thick. It is Caragana brevispina. Here just setting its pea seeds.
Ceratonia siliqua looking very fine in full growth.
2016 – CHW
Ventnor Botanic Garden have acquired a few more plant labels since last year which is good. I have not visited in late July before and much that is new to me is out in the South African garden. Conversely the echiums seem to have taken over far too much, decimating a lovely bank of libertia and looking rather horrid now that they are all over.Several outstanding new plants to think about getting:This (I assume) is a cuphea species in the car park which is attractive.
Ventnor Botanic Garden have acquired a few more plant labels since last year which is good. I have not visited in late July before and much that is new to me is out in the South African garden. Conversely the echiums seem to have taken over far too much, decimating a lovely bank of libertia and looking rather horrid now that they are all over.Several outstanding new plants to think about getting:This (I assume) is a cuphea species in the car park which is attractive.
Swathes of lavender in the herb garden were superb.
Psoralea affinis was entirely spiny heather-like foliage and blue-white pea flowers. Growing here to 8-10ft as a multi stemmed shrub.
Pink watsonia – equally good.
Anisodontea capensis is not that hardy but an excellent coastal plant in full sun. Should we stock it again?
Watsonia aletroides – a delicate orange-pink.
A new plant for our 2017 catalogue here in full flower. This rather odd South African salvia species certainly has an odd flower and remaining bract – Salvia africano-lutea (Beach salvia).
Crassula coccinea with striking red flowers. Much better than our Crassula sarcocaulis.
Banksia ericifolia with its yellow ‘pineapple’ flower – new to me.
Olearia argophylla (musk wood) – dullish but a new species to me.
Olearia megalophylla (large leaf daisy brush) – ditto.
Eucalyptus globulus was setting seed heavily. I think I caught its white flowers last year.
Melaleuca gibbosa had little tufts of pinkish purple flowers.
Melaleuca hypericifolia was a much more impressive bottlebrush.
Abutilon ‘Red Bells’ a larger flower than our Abutilon ‘Ashford Red’ and taller growing. About 10-12ft tall here and free standing in shelter.
2015 – CHW
Went in search of an elusive late/last July camellia flower but nothing found today. Need to look for Camellia mathotiana varieties in full shade to have a chance but it has probably been just too hot in June/July this year. There is a chance if I have time at Burncoose on Thursday below the paddock.
Went in search of an elusive late/last July camellia flower but nothing found today. Need to look for Camellia mathotiana varieties in full shade to have a chance but it has probably been just too hot in June/July this year. There is a chance if I have time at Burncoose on Thursday below the paddock.
The old original Hydrangea sargentiana struggles on. A rather insipid flower with few florets at the edge but very large. The slugs have done great work on the leaves after the weekend’s rain despite them being hairy, and you would have thought, unpalatable. Large snails perhaps?
Two more even later flowering plants at the top of the Azalea indica clump in the Auklandii Garden. Surely the last azaleas to show colour this season and, although red, a slightly different red to the ones photographed a month or more ago. Worth propagating just for this purpose?
Here is the long promised and frequently cut down Escallonia ‘Iveyi’ named after the daffodil gardener at Caerhays pre 1900. It is a hybrid between a Brazilian species called Escallonia bifida and Escallonia xexoniensis; itself a hybrid raised at Veitch nurseries in Exeter. It got an RHS AGM in 1891! So Mr Ivey may have even made the cross himself pre 1880. I do not see JCW having any interest in crossing escallonia especially in the (pre Chinese) daffodil era. Still perhaps the nicest escallonia I know and a freestanding shrub for the shrub border not even a faintly hedging variety. As it is a Caerhays bred plant I can be biased. Presumably a daffodil gardener was a bit short of work in July!
The five Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ in the old paeony bed have survived the heatwave and grown rather well in their first year of planting. Slug bait is essential to keep the first set of leaves undamaged on newly planted magnolias. Long may they last (as now)!Pheasant poult losses in Brownberry Wood are nearly 2,000 after the weekend’s torrential rain. Replacements impossible as now too late. Good job we did the four extra late hatch offs but we had better go steady on letting any more days and hope no disease hits us on top of the wet/cold disaster with eight week old birds. I fear a wet August after such a dry spring and summer. Thank heavens the rearing field is now only on gas heating after three power cuts on Saturday which would have caused chaos with the electric hens. Not lightening or thunder (apparently) but a transformer on fire somewhere.
2005 – FJW
Damp week – rain persistant – not heavy.
1929 – JCW
Rhodo ungernii, ungernii x auriculatum, decorum x auriculatum, Harrows crop and eriogynum all give flower, ungernii x in particular. ‘The last’ Coombe Wood auriculatum flowers well. American Pillars, Rosa brunonis are the best things with the Romneyas.
1908 – JCW
Buddleias good.
1906 – JCW
A few cyclamen. The R auriculatums have started well.
1903 – JCW
Several cyclamen, a lapageria or two. Roses and sweet peas nice. Bulbs and seeds all finished.
1901 – JCW
Just two cyclamen and one lapageria, some roses good in particular P Gontier, Princep, de Lagan, M Horte etc etc. Go north tomorrow. Lonicera henryi not open yet.