2025 – CHW
Our avenue of Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’.
Carpinus nimpoli with its red new growth.
Carpinus laxiflora – this one is correctly named.
Carpinus x schuschaensis.
This Carpinus is growing on Burns Bank and has no label. (Neither does anything much in this area appear on the master planting lists). We thought it was C. henryana and were uncertain during the Carpinus day. It does not key out correctly but Trees & Shrubs online has only one picture of a tree of C. henryana and lots of pictures of C. henryana var. simplicidentata.
2024 – CHW
A trip to South Devon to view the £27m project on the River Otter near Budleigh Salterton built by Clinton Devon Estates and the Environmental Agency. The sea had been kept out of the river valley farmland since the early part of the 19th century when an embankment was built. Some 55ha of farmland has been re-exposed to the sea water in this interesting project which acknowledges the likely 1 metre rise in the sea levels that is coming. The area is now a nature reserve with public footpaths all the way around the valley and two new bridges well above the tidal level.The tide was out as we arrive but you can see how the salt water is killing off the old field vegetation and the new mudbanks which are being created. The old embankment was only breached last September so the new changed ecosystem is just starting to take shape.
A trip to South Devon to view the £27m project on the River Otter near Budleigh Salterton built by Clinton Devon Estates and the Environmental Agency. The sea had been kept out of the river valley farmland since the early part of the 19th century when an embankment was built. Some 55ha of farmland has been re-exposed to the sea water in this interesting project which acknowledges the likely 1 metre rise in the sea levels that is coming. The area is now a nature reserve with public footpaths all the way around the valley and two new bridges well above the tidal level.The tide was out as we arrive but you can see how the salt water is killing off the old field vegetation and the new mudbanks which are being created. The old embankment was only breached last September so the new changed ecosystem is just starting to take shape.
Young ducks near a side stream.
Here we are looking inland and away from the sea.
An osprey nest platform has been built in one of the two conifers on top of the hill.
A very smart public footpath across what was a 1920-1970 rubbish dump in the estuary. The dump has been sealed off but was too expensive to move.
A bird watching area but, deliberately, not a hide as vandalism has been an issue.
Thousands of trees now cover the dump. A few are alive.
The tide was soon coming in again.
A new £2m clubhouse and cricket ground for Budleigh Salterton to replace the one previously very prone to flooding near the estuary.
Camera operated parking and another bird hide.
2023 – CHW
All rather strange and sad without the company of Nicky on my garden wonderings to take the Diary pictures. After ‘yesterdays’ rain everything looks much better.
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Parris’ is one of the best named clones of M. grandiflora both in term of its flowers and the attractive indumentum on the undersides of its leaves.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’ has tiny flowers in this years drought and they are turning pink almost immediately. No big September show this year.
Rhododendron ‘Harrow Hybrids’ now full out on Hovel Cart Road.
Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’ looking spot on in Tin Garden.
Callicarpa bodinieri ‘Profusion’ just out into flower and a really good show.
The rather rarer Callicarpa shirasawana nearby not yet out and nowhere as impressive although the berries are.
Carpinus japonicus seed cones starting to turn colour in the heat. The best show yet from this species. It was planted in 2010 and must have 300 flower/ seed cones now.
2022 – CHW
Hampton Court show underway. I get a text as I return to Cornwall asking for a plant identification which I hope that I get correct (Carmichaelia australis). Fuel protestors block the M5 and A30 so only the very slow coastal route home via Dorchester and Honiton.
Marwood Hill Garden have just won a Gold Medal at Hampton Court for a display of their national collection of astilbe. Wonderful! A great leap forward for a garden usually famous only for its camellias and woody plant collection. A credit to Head Gardener Malcolm Pharoah who is now retired but it was very probably his creation.
2021 – CHW
Eddington’s nursery was fully stocked with a sale ongoing. COVID has not been kind to them. They have reorganised the nursery a bit and dropped most of their shrub lines. New things seen included:Two new and good agapanthus – most not yet out:
Agapanthus ‘Ever Sapphire’
Eddington’s nursery was fully stocked with a sale ongoing. COVID has not been kind to them. They have reorganised the nursery a bit and dropped most of their shrub lines. New things seen included:Two new and good agapanthus – most not yet out:
Agapanthus ‘Ever Sapphire’
Agapanthus ‘Lapis Lazuli’
An excellent Geranium too:
Geranium ‘Azure Rush’
Geranium ‘Azure Rush’
Also Sisyrinchium ‘E K Balls’
Then on to Busy Bee Garden Centre which had less stock in variety than usual but was busy.
Photinia serratifolia ‘Crispy Pink’ was looking very attractive even if much of the pink had faded.
Some good new double flowered Osteospermum:
‘Blackberry Shake’
‘Double Orange Centre’
‘Double Rose’
