2023 – CHW
A tour with 19 Americans as the heatwave continues. They worry about ticks and will not walk off the paths in the grass. I tell them I wear gun boots against snakes and that livens them up!
The leaflet on top of the flower buds on Magnolia sapaensis.
Tom Hudson’s 1999 planted Manglietia 695 flowering for the first time here.
Styrax serrulatus still not quite full out.
The Crug Farm Manglietia insignis gets better and better.
Rhododendron auriculatum struggling in the drought.
Carpinus fangiana splendid.
New chimneys on the Stable Flat. Smoke was leaking out the sides rather alarmingly last year.
2022 – CHW
Pterocarya fraxinifolia with its large pendulous seed catkins beside the sales point.
Pterocarya fraxinifolia with its large pendulous seed catkins beside the sales point.
Hydrangea seemanii is suddenly out high up on the castle wall.
Aristolochia sempervirens with its rather modest flowers by the standards of other Aristolochia.
Pyramid orchids in the Isle of Wight in a chalk downland meadow.
A visit to the Railway Inn (which was closed) in the outskirts of Ryde to view what was billed as a ‘rare and peculiar tree’ in the pub’s roadside garden. It turned out to be a large and clearly elderly Gingko biloba. The owners had tried to cut it down and caused a furore.
2021 – CHW
A young (from Mark Bulk) plant of what is called Styrax hookeri yunnanensis. The leaf looks a bit like Styrax hookeri but the flowers do not. I wonder what the history of this is?
A young (from Mark Bulk) plant of what is called Styrax hookeri yunnanensis. The leaf looks a bit like Styrax hookeri but the flowers do not. I wonder what the history of this is?
Cornus iberica in full flower.
The equally dull (and looking very similar) Cornus hemsleyi beside it.
Flowers out on Liriodendron chinense and one was pickable.
The flower close up and about halfway through its flowering cycle.
Liriodendron tulipifera also in flower but far too high to reach. A very different colour combination.
Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Aureomarginata’ was still in tight bud.
2020 – CHW
Visits to Burncoose highlight the first flowering of some new plants in the catalogue.Agapanthus ‘Graphite White’ – the description from the grower says it should have a blacker stem?
Visits to Burncoose highlight the first flowering of some new plants in the catalogue.Agapanthus ‘Graphite White’ – the description from the grower says it should have a blacker stem?
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Magical Tinkerbell’. An odd name for a rather indifferent flower!
Calothamnus quadrifidus with its odd half bottlebrush flowers emerging from the main stems.
Sedum ‘Red Cauli’ is a vigorous tall growing form with attractive red stems.
A fine clipped hedge now in full flower outside Monica Trudgeon’s house in the village – Brachyglottis ‘Sunshine’ – not a bad name for it!
Hypericum olympicum ‘Citrinum’ looking good too.
Meanwhile the digger is at work in the car park. Laying trenches for cabling for the new automated car parking machines which will be operational soon. Jaimie has laid a new blue alkathene water pipe to the café in the same trench so we can replace the current and very old black plastic one which is likely to leak and fail soon.
2019 – CHW
Idesia polycarpa with flowers just coming out. The whole (Cornwall record) tree was alive with bees from top to bottom. Not sure if these are male or female flowers. Need to inspect our other two mature trees.
Idesia polycarpa with flowers just coming out. The whole (Cornwall record) tree was alive with bees from top to bottom. Not sure if these are male or female flowers. Need to inspect our other two mature trees.
Rosa roxburgii just coming out on some lower branches.
A young Magnolia ernestii (formerly Michelia wilsonii or Michelia sinensis) is growing away nicely. The foliage is similar to Magnolia martinii (Michelia martinii) which flowered for the second time here this year.
This is a young Magnolia crassifolia (FMWJ 13163) planted four years ago which is also doing well. As to whether it is in fact a Michelia or Manglietia I am uncertain since it is not featured on the list Tom Hudson gave me about the name changes. One to google to find out more. [The answer is Manglietia crassifolia but the name has now been officially changed to Magnolia fansipanensis. Magnolia crassifolia come from Ecuador. Magnolia fansipanensis comes from North Vietnam’s tallest mountain. If you are still confused so am I!]
Magnolia ‘Summer Solstice’ was clearly out for this big event although I am a day or two late myself (M. globosa x M. obovata).
First decent flowering on a young Philadelphus satsumi.
Half this Hydrangea aspera villosa died in last summer’s drought. Root suckers are emerging now which I would not have expected from this plant and have never seen before.
2018 – CHW
The 2019 catalogue proofing nearly finished at last and tedious as ever. Lots of interesting new plants for next year though and one I am particularly pleased about is Sorbus folgneri ‘Emiel’ which has featured many times in flower, fruit and autumn colour in this diary. A superb plant which ought to be more widely grown.Now that the gardens are closed we can concentrate on the new plague of young grey squirrels which has suddenly appeared despite the cold winter. I saw about a dozen on the drive yesterday and they are exploring far and wide. The Kania 2000 traps from New Zealand have dealt with nine so far this week. Next month the even newer New Zealand gas operated traps should be authorised for use. These do not have to be checked at least one a day.
The 2019 catalogue proofing nearly finished at last and tedious as ever. Lots of interesting new plants for next year though and one I am particularly pleased about is Sorbus folgneri ‘Emiel’ which has featured many times in flower, fruit and autumn colour in this diary. A superb plant which ought to be more widely grown.Now that the gardens are closed we can concentrate on the new plague of young grey squirrels which has suddenly appeared despite the cold winter. I saw about a dozen on the drive yesterday and they are exploring far and wide. The Kania 2000 traps from New Zealand have dealt with nine so far this week. Next month the even newer New Zealand gas operated traps should be authorised for use. These do not have to be checked at least one a day.
Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’ with its first decent crop of flowers against its variegated foliage. Here in full shade and another good cornus to grow. Hidden previously by the aucuba hedge.
Cornus kousa ‘Miss Petty’ has very dark green foliage and is also flowering well above Bond Street and below the old rubbish dump.
Azalea ‘Jane Fire’ is very late indeed and very red by the two cornus in this forgotten glade.
The cornus and deutzia are coming into their own in the garden with several exceptional plants. The hydrangeas are now starting into colour. Only a few flowers this year on the liriodendron unlike last year.
2017 – CHW
Still in West Sussex – back home after a long lunch and a four hour drive.Stephanotis floribunda in the sun lounge is superb but the mealy bug are creeping up from the bottom.
Still in West Sussex – back home after a long lunch and a four hour drive.Stephanotis floribunda in the sun lounge is superb but the mealy bug are creeping up from the bottom.
This unknown rose was clearly rather fine a fortnight ago. Dainty pink and highly scented flowers turning white. The flowers stand proud from the foliage on long stalks. Certainly a rose that is sufficiently different to merit growing. The owner had no idea of its name and neither had I even before lunch.
2016 – CHW
A visit from Lizzie’s mother (Alice), her long-time nurse (Olivia) and gardener (Hugh). Alice was 92 on the Saturday. The plane is four hours late arriving at Newquay on the Friday night so the party do not arrive here until 10.15. Serena and John’s in-laws are invited but Johnny’s mum is sadly ill again so they cancel but we do briefly see Sue and Martin, who is also unwell. Nevertheless the party rages for 48 hours and Johnny stalks a roe deer amongst quite a few rabbiting forays.
A visit from Lizzie’s mother (Alice), her long-time nurse (Olivia) and gardener (Hugh). Alice was 92 on the Saturday. The plane is four hours late arriving at Newquay on the Friday night so the party do not arrive here until 10.15. Serena and John’s in-laws are invited but Johnny’s mum is sadly ill again so they cancel but we do briefly see Sue and Martin, who is also unwell. Nevertheless the party rages for 48 hours and Johnny stalks a roe deer amongst quite a few rabbiting forays.
2015 – CHW
Beyond the fernery is a rather dull record tree; Cornus walteri, introduced by Wilson. It is actually flowering quite nicely in the sun. The plant has self layered itself multiple times and has sparse black berries.
Beyond the fernery is a rather dull record tree; Cornus walteri, introduced by Wilson. It is actually flowering quite nicely in the sun. The plant has self layered itself multiple times and has sparse black berries.
Styrax japonica ‘Pink Chimes’ is a little further on with its dropping habit that tends to hide the flowers below the branches. Hence why you need to grow it on a bank so you can look up at it. The flowers are pink in bud opening with a tinge of pink. Very floriferous.
1990 – FJW
Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’ by Front Gate – excellent.
1989 – FJW
Styrax japonica out as well as Catalpa duclouxii and Ligustrum and Rho weyrichii, campylocarpum and argyrophyllum. Very hot, no rain since June 3rd.
Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’ by Front Gate – excellent.
1989 – FJW
Styrax japonica out as well as Catalpa duclouxii and Ligustrum and Rho weyrichii, campylocarpum and argyrophyllum. Very hot, no rain since June 3rd.
1928 – JCW
Styrax, Wilsonii Langleyense, Hemsleyanus the hybrid and Japonica are all nice. Diaprepes is in flower well. Magnolia parviflora fairly good and some hypoleuca buds.
1924 – JCW
The big pink Viscosum in the Old Park is very good. Rho eriogynum and griersonianum and the Harrow hybrids with discolor and maddeni are very nice, also the big bed of Papa Gontier rose.
1923 – JCW
Have been back from Scotland for a week. Things just as in the above, have been crossing Souliei with the best orange Dichroanthum I have seen. Some Souliei x campylocarpum remain in flower. Some very good new white azalea hybrids of ours and two of P.D’s all in the Rockery are going over. Magnolia parviflora is nice now.
1921 – JCW
Came back from Scotland, all is very dry, some plants are dead, many are sick. The late white Obtusum is the best thing. Arborescens flowers well, most other things are over. Escallonia langleyense is very nice near the Hovel. Some R souliei are open now.
Styrax, Wilsonii Langleyense, Hemsleyanus the hybrid and Japonica are all nice. Diaprepes is in flower well. Magnolia parviflora fairly good and some hypoleuca buds.
1924 – JCW
The big pink Viscosum in the Old Park is very good. Rho eriogynum and griersonianum and the Harrow hybrids with discolor and maddeni are very nice, also the big bed of Papa Gontier rose.
1923 – JCW
Have been back from Scotland for a week. Things just as in the above, have been crossing Souliei with the best orange Dichroanthum I have seen. Some Souliei x campylocarpum remain in flower. Some very good new white azalea hybrids of ours and two of P.D’s all in the Rockery are going over. Magnolia parviflora is nice now.
1921 – JCW
Came back from Scotland, all is very dry, some plants are dead, many are sick. The late white Obtusum is the best thing. Arborescens flowers well, most other things are over. Escallonia langleyense is very nice near the Hovel. Some R souliei are open now.