4th March | The Garden Diary

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CONTRIBUTORS:

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2025 – CHW

The Garden Weekend continues here. Frosty but fine and sunny by day.

Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Marwood Spring’ flowering in Old Park.

The grandchildren on the garden tour – Zara, Isla and Bea.

Jaimie’s Rhododendron ‘Maisie’ just out.

A young Magnolia ‘J. C. Williams’ at Tin Garden flowering decently for the first time.

Magnolia ‘Laura Saylor’.

Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’ at its best in the sun.

Magnolia ‘Shirazz’ just starting in the Isla Rose.

Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ on the lawn.

2024 – CHW
A garden tour here and then to Tregothnan.One of the original Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’s’ in Old Park just coming to its best show.

Isla, Lamorna and Bea in Old Park.

Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ with Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ behind it.

Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ in Roger’s Quarry.

Tom Hudson inspects Juniperus recurva var. coxii.

Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta in the Ririei Opening.

Roy Lancaster beside the Michelia tree he fell out in the 1960’s.

The biggest Michelia doltsopa by Donkey Shoe.

Michael, Tom and Marie Louise Agius inspect our Aucuba omeiensis.

Then on to Tregothnan.

Rhododendron arboreum ‘Blood Red’ has always been one of the highlights of Tregothnan in March.

Jonathan Jones marshalling us on the Bowling Green.

Roy Lancaster thought this was Stachyurus nitida with its shiny leaves from Mt Omei and not Stachyurus
yunnanensis.

Michelia doltsopa at its splendid best.

The group in front of it.

Magnolia ‘Eileen Bailes’.

A good dark red form of the Rhododendron spinuliferum.

Camellia oleosa we were told but I cannot find this in the Chinese Camellia species reference book.

The view of the pagoda over the tea plantation.

Abies delavayi.

Picea morrisonicola is Taiwanese. Covered in cones here.

The first time I have met Camellia azalea in the flesh! Rather battered even in a mild winter.

Camellia reticulata ‘Mystique’ a new one for me and a bicolor.

2023 – CHW
Our 2022 Jubilee planting of Malus in the Old Kitchen Garden has been formally recorded as part of The Queen’s Canopy map and is there as historical record for all to see.

Camellia japonica ‘Midnight Variegated’ a good new addition to the collection.

Hydrangeas bursting into leaf.

On Bond Street a Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ seedling is a better colour than I have ever seen it before as it appears above some huge Camellia x williamsii ‘J.C. Williams’. The drought has indeed improved the magnolia colours this spring.

Rhododendron oreodoxa var fargesii is doing well above the drive in our thriving young rhododendron plantation on from the Symplocos paniculate.

2022 – CHW

Another one of those truly great magnolia days with sun, at last no wind, and a blue sky.

Jaimie discovers a grass snake emerging from hibernation rather earlier in the year than normal.

A huge limb collapsed, but still hanging onto the main trunk, on a Pinus insignis near the Engine House and a tree surgeon had to make it safe for the team to cut up on the ground. Storm Eunice but we had not noticed this until recently. It has hit a rather nicely shaped liquidambar which was a gift to my father from Lord Falmouth.

Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’ now full out beside a Michelia doltsopa. The adjacent M. campbellii is now over. Breathtaking!

Camellia ‘Mimosa Jury’ (C. saluenensis x C. japonica ‘K Sawada’)

The Magnolia campbellii seedling with the huge flowers on the Main Ride.

A view today of this from along the Main Ride with the tree fern to the right.

Jaimie’s homebred Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ at its splendid best.

Magnolia ‘Suzannah van Veen’ now fully out with M. ‘Caerhays Belle’ in the background.

Magnolia ‘Jersey Belle’ at its very best as well.

The emerging view of magnolias into the Ririei Opening with M. ‘Jersey Belle’ in the forefront.

2021 – CHW
Outside the back yard is nearing its best.

Setting out the 12 newly purchased species of bamboo below the Old Kennels.

Eight groups of deciduous azaleas go in on the path up from the Kennels to give more late spring colour to Old Park.

Bergenia ciliata (?) just coming into flower by the front door.

I did not stop today to photograph each new bamboo individually but Phyllostachys aurea ‘Koi’ already has interesting canes.

Borinda (Fargesia) frigida (syn. frigidorum) likewise.

Interesting seed cones from the very ends of twigs blown off Cunninghamia lanceolata. These were on the path 30 yards from the old tree.

Michelia ‘Fairy Cream’ nicely out in Old Park. Impressively quick growth into a sizeable small tree.

Tree surgeons felling some elderly sweet chestnuts in Old Park.

Camellia sasanqua ‘Yume’ is very late into flower for a sasanqua.

The Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ seedling outside the arch is at its best today despite the cold east wind and minimal sun.

The new laundry sorting and storage shed is moving on quickly in the farmyard.

Having just paid an enormous bill for the Hovel conversion into two dwellings this month I thought it sensible to have a look! The windows and two staircases are now in and it is really taking shape. Should finish on time in May.

Osmanthus americanus is a new species to us. Here its first flowers in the greenhouse. Nothing special really!

Sorbus zahlburckneri already in leaf with flower buds in the first week of March.

Our stock plant of Camellia transnokoensis now lives in the greenhouse after the best plant was killed in the 2018 Beast. It grows very happily outside at Trewithen, so I need to find a better location when we try it again in the garden.

2020 – CHW
A wonderful time in the garden with magnolias galore.The Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ seedling in the Auklandii Garden is at its best in the sun. Pinkish flamingos indeed!

Petals falling under the Magnolia campbellii which has been out for a month.

Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’ just coming out.

The original Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ at its peak today.

Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’ just starting.

Magnolia ‘Elizabeth Holman’ quite superb. Planted in 2014.

Magnolia ‘Vairano’ (Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’ x Magnolia campbellii) as good as I have seen it yet.

Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’ (Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Deep Purple Dream’) just coming. Planted 2013.

Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x ‘Black Tulip’ has small rounded flowers. Not sure how these will turn out.

Sorbus aff. ligustrifolia (HWJ 948) is in flower but I am not convinced this is correctly named. 2010 planted. New leaves should be bronzy according to Hillier’s but the leaves are indeed privet-like.

Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’ is a much lighter colour in flower than ‘Felix Jury’. Excellent!

Wonderful peeling bark in the sunlight on Betula prattii. Planted in 2010.

A Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta seedling planted by the Queen Mother in 1981 is worth its place today. The plaque is showing its age.

Our best Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta in the Rireii Opening. Plastered in flower on every twig.

2019 – CHW
It just gets better and better in the garden!Ilex cornuta in full flower. A tight dome shaped bush now 6x8ft wide planted pre 1997. This species would make a good low hedging plant given time and is well worth Asia propagating.

Jaimie’s hybrid Rhododendron ‘Maisie’ full out.

Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’ measured beside Lizzie’s hand.

Caerhays bred Rhododendron Golden Oriole Group – ‘Talavera’.

Magnolia ‘Plum Pudding’ with another ‘pudding’ underneath (Nicky).

Camellia reticulata ‘Fiesta Crane’

Camellia reticulata ‘Lovely Lady’
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Magnolia ‘Shirraz’ in its pomp.

Acacia cultriformis was given to us by Richard Carew-Pole. Here it is flowering away for the first time here six to eight years after planting. Not listed in Hillier’s and only one reference to it in ‘New Trees’ under A. craven which it looks nothing like? One for Asia to propagate from seed or cuttings.

The dogs have taken to eating camellia flowers. Brock started it and now they are all in the game even picking them from the bush.

2018 – CHW
The last bits of snow outside the front door in the sun. Then heavy rain so only the snowdrifts remain on the roads.

The Zantedeschia aetheopua which had one early flower 10 days ago is now reduced to a pile of ‘mush’.

The lepagenas are however untouched by the cold.

Already lots of decent new flowers are emerging on the Camellia ‘Lady Clare’ which was in the teeth of the east wind. The wonders of spring!

Likewise on the Camellia x Williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’.

The primroses have survived, and prospered even, under the snow!

The Euphorbia mellifera has not despite a flower or two surviving, Dodo!

The Echiums are in a terrible state too with many seedlings from last year already dead and the larger plants which would have flowered this year blackened to the core.

Off then to the induction of Paul Young-Jamieson as High Sheriff of Cornwall at Carnanton. A very jolly party and lunch after the legal bit. About as archaic as it gets as I well remember from 3 years ago.

2017 – CHW
Glorious sun and a blue sky for the magnolias. I will let the pictures do the talking today. Fortunately the in house artist from The Nare hotel arrives today to paint a magnolia to launch ‘Spring has Sprung’ formally on Monday. She will need to paint quickly and I give her my secateurs so she can cut and take back flowers to the studio.

Great feature of the Castle in the Western Morning News today.

Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ on the lawn before the artist arrived.

Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ (New Zealand form) below Donkey Shoe.

Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’

Magnolia ‘Aurora’

Magnolia [to look up] — Magnolia ‘Aurora’

Magnolia ‘Sweetheart’ – its first proper flowering in Kennel Close.

Rhododendron barbatum is now full out. We saw this three weeks ago just starting.

Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ in the quarry. The pictures are poor as the sun is the wrong side of the tree.

Magnolia campbellii alba seedling with the huge flowers.

Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’

Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ – just going over.

The new planting above the Magnolia veitchii from last year with the small Rhododendron ‘Ostara’ just out.

Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ in the Auklandii Garden is at its very best.

Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rowes’ (Tregullow form) – first flower this year.

Narcissus cyclamineus in the Auklandii Garden – the original clump is now in semi shade.

The reds, pinks and purples involved in these magnolia flowers and the different shapes are quite breathtaking.

2016 – CHW

Eighty or so people here last night for the Game Conservancy talk and fundraiser about woodcock. We gave them all a free supper in three rooms and raised £20k for research (including tax relief) spread over the next three years. About the same amount as three years ago.

An early morning walk to catch up on a few missing pictures for the website and to see quietly what is out. The dogs are smelling spring bitches and only one bothers to come.

Quercus rysophylla ‘Maya’ is ready to plant out shortly. The most impressive thing about this fairly recent introduction is its reddish new growth which is not yet visible.

Huodendron biaristratum – we have planted this out twice before without success. We have three plants at this size which are big enough to take a risk with at least one this year.

Daphne bholua alba has grown behind the wall near the greenhouse for 15 to 20 years. There were three forms but they live a very short period of time and over flower.

Afrocarpus falcatus also ready to go out although we have a large one already doing well at Slip Rail. Looks very like a podocarpus!

Saxegothaea conspicua is developing a very columnar habit unlike its parents from which cuttings were taken at Tregullow. A record tree there I believe which looks much like a yew!

I think this is Camellia reticulata ‘William Hertrich’ hidden away above the Magnolia veitchii. The other mature plant blew over recently. The photos have come out badly as it is a very dark shady place.

This is a Pickard magnolia below Slip Rail which I have not seen out before but I cannot read the label. It is very ordinary and just above Magnolia ‘Pickards Sundew’ which we have several of.

What I think and hope is Acer mandshuricum has been in full leaf for two to three weeks. There is another plant by the Red Linney. We used to use the original tree above Red Linney as a measuring rod as children. It was a tiny slow growing tree and my brother and I were taller than it by our teens. This looks to be a rather more vigorous tree. Annoyingly neither plant are included in the planting records.

I would have expected Lindera obtusiloba to be out by now but the buds are still closed tight. This species is often confused with Lindera triloba but they have rather different habits here. Lindera obtusiloba is already a small tree here although only planted in 1991. We are quietly accumulating quite a nice collection of lindera species some of which are new introductions by Crug Farm and Tom Hudson. When they come out I will do a review.

Magnolia mollicomata ‘Mary Williams’ named after my Great Aunt Mary and registered in 1946 is full out now against a blue sky but the camera seems to believe it is a dark day so I have probably cocked up the settings.

By Georges Hut Peter Borlaise’s creation from Lanhydrock, Magnolia ‘Albatross’, is out but a bit battered. Its leader bends over to one side proving its parentage from Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’.

Then I find a supposedly true Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ grafted (supposedly) from our scion material from the genuine original Chinese plants here. It is in fact a rather poor Magnolia campbellii alba seedling as any fool can see and a terrible shape too. Probably for the chop. Unlike Eisenhut to cock up the grafting like this.

Quercus semecarpifolia has beautiful bark and the leaves have a nice downy indumentum on the undersides. The leaves have more spines on the edges when young.

Eucryphia moorii has blown over. Cut it back to 4ft and prop it upright so it can shoot again just like the original did after the 1990 hurricane.

Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’ is full out but strangely the ancient Magnolia campbellii, mollicomata and sargentiana robustas in the clearing behind it are not showing atall. Normally it is entirely the other way around.

Sadly our best and largest Daphniphyllum macropodum is nearly dead. It looked sick last autumn and I suspected honey fungus but when I look now it is a ‘doubler’ with two leading trunks from just above ground level. It looks as though this is where rot has got in. There is another daphniphyllum on the drive and a couple of other new species from Crug which are not doing well.

The first sycamore is in leaf in the sun. This tree is always the first on the main route but there are others in the Rookery.

One of my father’s evergreen azalea hybrids beyond the Rockery is full out. There are several different plants here in this clump. This is a rather turgid colour and dad never had much to say about any of them but we have propagated a reasonable red and purple which grew on the Main Ride above the tree fern.

As I have forewarned you twice already the Spanish bluebells ARE indeed out today. A good month earlier than ever before. Worthy of a letter to the newspaper? Beside them the snowdrops have just the odd flower left. How peculiar is that even in this extraordinary year?

The last flower on Rhododendron mucronulatum is a very dark purple beside the bluebells. This showed colour first in November and is testament to a frost free winter (so far).

Rubus tricolor ‘Betty Ashburner’ is a marvellous plant to cover a steep bank or a wall where you do not want anything else to grow because weeding is difficult without a ladder. Burncoose sells hundreds of these plants for this purpose.

And then suddenly Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ in sun against a blue sky. I have seen it better and hail has taken its toll but what a gentle pink!

2015 – CHW

Camellia 'Royalty' - Close up — Camellia ‘Royalty’ – Close up

Camellia reticulatas in an exposed site by the old playhouse coming out early. ‘Royalty’ and ‘Mouchang’ covered in flower although only six years from planting.

2001 – FJW
At 2.40pm DFW fell.

1965 -FJW
Magnolias frosted very badly also the Michelias. It would have been a good year.

1963 – FJW
Camellias just began very slowly. Moupinense has come through well.

1961 – FJW
Soulangeana Magnolias at Penver Gate in flower. Rhodo’s good in Beech Walk.

1934 – JCW
No magnolias yet, next to no daffs in the Tin Garden, Lent Lily moves, Rho lutescens very good in spite of sharp frost.

1910 – JCW
Just about 1908 for daffs, Arboreums coming on, Rho praecox over, heaths becoming nice.

1908 – JCW
K A hardly shows colour. Nar maximus nearly open, G Spur just open, Rho praecox good, some nice pink Arboreums at their best.

1906 – JCW
Sir Watkin has been open for some days, Magnolia H for two days, Shilsonii at its very best, King A just burst, 387 open, and most of the Arboreums.

1904 – JCW
The flowers named in ‘97 other than the Magnolia and Horsfiledii and Soleil are just opening, the Rhodo’s at their best.

1901 – JCW
The bulk of the above are a fortnight to three weeks late.

1897 – JCW
Magnolia halleana open a little, Narcissi Golden Spur, H Irving, Tenby, Horsfieldii, Sir Watkin these are most of them fully open, Rhodo praecox over.