Styrax wilsonii full out.

Styrax americanus just starting.

Rhododendron auriculatum.

Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ is the best thing in the garden today.

Cornus hongkongensis.

2024 – CHW
Rain overnight and a very wet day tomorrow. What a contrast to the last two dry summers. The garden is full of lush growth and several things which had died back are re-growing and have nearly recovered.5 swifts above the lawn last night. This morning they appear to be eyeing up the very tallest battlements on the Rabbit Warren tower. Presumably they have old nests there or they will simply colonise and use old house martin nests. In Seaview one hears swift calling overhead all summer but our few have, so far, been entirely silent. The house martins take no notice of them.

Deutzia pulchra just into flower. Originally a gift from Roy Lancaster.

First flowers out on Cornus walteri by the Fernery.

First showing on Hydrangea ‘Hobella’.

And on Hydrangea ‘Fireworks’.

Cornus kousa ‘Wendle Weeping’ is in too much shade under a magnolia.

I regret that we have lost the label of this 1991 planted Cornus kousa variety which is a huge and impressive tree today plastered in flower.

Hydrangea ‘Lanarth’ just showing.

Stewartia rostrata has fewer flowers than usual this year but is still as good as anything in the garden today.

Hydrangea serrata ‘Tiara’ is full out already.

2023 – CHW

Dicentra scandens in the greenhouse.

Deutzia calycosa; a gift from Martin Rix and Peter Moore.

Roy Lancaster’s unnamed rose and Cestrum fasciculatum ‘Newellii’.

Viburnum wrightii.

Viburnum betulifolium ‘Hohuanshan’ from Taiwain. A Crug Farm introduction but not acquired from them. Collected at 10,000 feet!

Leaves on a Nothofagus moorei in the frames. A species which grew here until the 1990 hurricane.

New growth on Neolitsea sericea BSWJ12738 – a new purchase.

Also on Neolitsea sericea – yellow fruit – CWJ 12830.

3 different ages on these cones on Cedrus libani.

2022 – CHW

So to the Caerhays charity fete which attracted a record turnout of families and dogs (201 entries to the dog show). We hope for record profits for the church, Cornwall Air Ambulance, local schools and the scouts. The third carpark more used than I can ever remember it with long queues. A perfect day weatherwise; slightly crowded and not quite beach weather. A photo shows only about 15 families on the beach at midday.

Leptospermum scoparium ‘Red Damask’ beside the garden entrance.

Four shire horses arrive in a huge lorry.

An enormous bouncy castle and tents await the influx. (They make a donation of £150 which shows the usage).

Neil, Lamorna, Neil’s father and Lizzie – an early moment when there were still spare seats on the lawn.

Visitors begin to arrive.

The lawn fills up.

Food stalls outside the front door. One sells out by 2.15.

Mevagissey choir were impressive but so were Swamp Circus, Tregony Teachers and Suzi, the vicar’s daughter, who sang beautifully.

Archery and axe throwing.

Picnics everywhere and the craft tent with good sales.

A flyover by the Cornwall Air Ambulance on the way back from taking a patient to Derriford hospital in Plymouth.

Canoes on the lake with the swans and cygnets disgusted but keeping well away.

Our MP, Cherilyn Mackrory, draws the first raffle prize – most of the 12 prizes won locally.

4.30pm and only the bar still has something to sell. Ice cream sold out hours ago as did the food stalls.

2021 – CHW
The promised heatwave finally arrives.Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’ is finally recovering from the February cold.

Jasminum beesianum full out on the lawn.

Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ nearing its best.

Illicium griffithii in full new growth.

Flowers just out on Styrax formosanus var. hayatiana.

Also on Styrax wuyuanensis.