6th March 1897 – 2020 | The Garden Diary

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2020 – CHW
A delivery to Burncoose Nurseries from Italy. Only plants which cannot host Xyella of course so a much reduced consignment this year as in recent years. Italian wholesale nurseries must be suffering badly with their export orders. This lot came from northern Italy so there is an added risk of coronavirus if anyone had shaken hands with the driver. It turns out he was Romanian and only picked up the container from a Channel port. Makes you think though does it not on both fronts of the reality of viruses in our everyday lives.

The quantity of flowers up the stems on some of the young Daphne bhuloa ‘Mary Rose’ in the nursery has to be seen to be believed and the scent!

This is a large rhododendron beside the road at the bottom of the hill in Grampound Village which I have been admiring for the last three weeks. I had thought initially that it was Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ but it clearly is not when I get out and inspect it. The indumentum under the leaf suggests a white form of Rhododendron arboreum. Perhaps not quite pure and out a bit early for arboreum perhaps but one hell of an advert for rhododendrons none the less. At least 40 years old I suspect and there must be a story as to why it is in such a prominent position opposite the village school and a very fine weeping beech on the other side of the road? Does anyone know the story? I should ask Michael Galsworthy who might know.

Then off to Portloe Harbour for a meeting between the commissioners and representatives from South West Water about yet more leakages of raw untreated sewage into the harbour from 1958 pipework running across the bottom of the slipway. Since Portloe is not an environment bathing water quality beach it is not subject to any mandatory water quality testing and pumping (or leaking) sewage into the sea is, supposedly, not an issue. A long battle ahead just to get some repairs done to protect this beautiful village, its visitors, and the two remaining working fishing boats.

2019 – CHW
A visit to Stone Lane Garden near Chagford in Devon. It is only five minutes off the A30 and a real gem. Once the home of Kenneth Ashburner the renowned birch expert it is now the home of one of the national collections of Betula as well as a national collection of Alnus. Today it is run as a charity but needs more visitors!The only flower we saw was a hellebore and a clump Rhododendron mucronulatum around a pond.

A breathtaking display of birch bark with different species planted in clumps for greatest effect. My favourite was Betula utilis and the named clone Betula ‘Greyswood Ghost’ was also superb.

The bark of 24 species was photographed and a few named clones or hybrids. The collection has 40+ species out of the 47 which exist worldwide. Some of the mountain top low growing species do not survive our climate. If you do not find this all too dull click here to see the true beauty of so many of them.

Betula ermanii from South Korea

Betula ermanii from Mount Zao, Japan – an extraordinary combination of colours and we were given a plant of this

ALSO Betula ermanii from South Korea

Betula utilis

Betula albosinensis var. septemtrionalis

Betula raddeana

Betula utilis ssp. jacquemontii

Betula pubescens

Betula papyrifera

Betula var. commutata

Betula alleghaniensis

Betula dahurica

Betula albosinensis

Betula pendula ssp. populifolis

Betula x caerulea

Betula pendula ssp. szechuanica

Betula cordifolia

Betula mandschurica

Betula utilis ssp. utilis

Betula ‘Greyswood Hill’ (a Betula ermanii clone)

Betula ‘Greyswood Ghost’ (a Betula jacquemontii hybrid)

Betula ashburneri – again we were given a plant

Betula albosinensis

Betula insignis

Betula grossa

Betula medwedewii

Alnus viridis

Alnus pendula

Alnus sieboldiana

Alnus subcordata

Alnus cordata

2018 – CHW
To Burncoose to check on the snow/cold damage there. Two tunnels split and a great many burst pipes now mended. With some exceptions the plants all look to have survived pretty well in the nursery with blankets of snow for protection. The herbaceous beds seem to have even enjoyed the cold burst and are showing signs of breaking dormancy already. Reasons to be cheerful especially as February was another record month for mail order orders. The best since our records started. 1160 orders in all!

Enca carnea ‘Winter Snow’ full out and undamaged. How appropriate!

Edgewrthia chrysantha just coming out and undamaged.

The leaves on Pseudowintera colorata have enjoyed the cold and now exhibit fantastic red blotching. What a wonderful plant for the aftermath of a cold spell.

The large clump of Romeya coulteri outside the packing shed had clearly taken a hit but much new growth undamaged and now growing again.

Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Nivalis’ also untouched in flower on a wall in the nursery.

Then a lengthy presentation from an excellent business consultant hired to find a few improvements to our catalogue and website. He does and all are pleased!Back at Caerhays with a group from Holland and two Canadians who hope to bring a smart tour group to the Great Gardens of Cornwall next spring. No magnolias to show them today of course but they seem excited none the less. We create a tour plan but can they rustle up the necessary customers?

Camellia reticulata ‘Royalty’ nicely out as though last week never happened.

Rhododendron siderophyllum just coming out and undamaged.

A hybrid of Camellia lutchuenense also undamaged.

The party somewhat exhausted but still smoking hard at the Isla Rose Plantation.

The tree ferns again blasted but unbowed.

2017 – CHW
Showers and brief sunny periods.

Rhododendron Golden Orieole var ‘Talavera’ is a Caerhays hybrid between Rhododendron moupinense and Rhododendron lutescens. Short lived and not hugely floriferous but it has lovely smooth bark.

Magnolia sprengeri var diva faces the wind on the drive. Note the drooping branches of this pure form.

This magnolia seedling (unnamed) close to the entrance to White Styles field makes a good show from the drive today.

The clump of Rhododendron moupinense on the drive is outstanding today although we pictured the odd flower a while ago in February.

An early and windblown flower on Rhododendron ‘Emma Williams’.

Magnolia denudate ‘Forrest Pink’ is showing colour but still far from out.

The New Zealand bred Magnolia ‘Brixton Belle’ is perfect today. Look at its useful spreading habit. Never going to be a big tree and very ‘dainty’ flowers.

Magnolia ‘Susannah van Veen’ is the New Zealanders answer to ‘Caerhays Belle’ and said to be an identical cross. Last year these two smallish trees were very similar but not this year. Susannah has clearly been blown open early. The flowers are small and have a strange bicolour effect.

Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ is much better today (this year anyway) as I am sure you would agree here.

Another group of my father’s hybrids which I need to track and identify.

The group of five are all different and one has a hint of pink. They may be a Rhododendron calophytum cross.

The Magnolia campbellii which took 43 years to flower is just now out.

A young Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’ with its first two flowers.

The original and true Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ has snuck out in a few days. Nothing doing last Monday. Awkward to photograph it properly. I have seen it darker in colour.

2016 – CHW
Off to Forty Acres wood to check the American magnolia collection.I can see from the drive that it has been blown and frosted away much like last year but worse. It is a pity it is so far away with so much to catch up with much nearer in the main garden.Magnolia ‘Pickards Opal’ has a few flowers of no great note.

The panorama view of the now nearly 20 year old replanting does however show how well those plants which have survived the deer have done. Most are now established small trees but I wonder if I have planted them all in too much of a frost pocket? We did have a good Magnolia ‘Ethel Hillier’ in January which clearly did not get frosted (and is now over) but this lot have had it apart from those (several) still in tight bud.

Magnolia ‘Candy Cane’ might have been quite nice.

Magnolia ‘Eleanor May’ has one decent flower left which is not too bad a colour. One to watch out for perhaps next year.

Magnolia x loebneri ‘Mags Pirouette’ is largely still to come out and has made sturdy growth. A very good magnolia indeed.

A smallish (six to eight foot) Michelia doltsopa seedling in the teeth of the wind (north) has its first few flowers. Quite a surprise.

The hugely dull Magnolia amoena has a few flowers out. It is very like Magnolia zenii indeed and just as boring but it has made a very nice tree if anyone cares?

Magnolia ‘Frank Gladney’ is about to open and looks nothing special either but will make a big tree in the open as it is here.

We planted a row of cutting grown Crabiodendron yunnanense at the bottom of the main clearing. Strangely they have set quite a crop of seed. I do not remember the original plant in the Auklandii Garden ever setting seed after flowering.

A rather better plant here too of Saxegothaea conspicua which is rather less drawn and leggy than the one a day or two ago. A good place for this!

A nice clump of narcissus that might be a cross with Narcissus cyclamineus next to the bluebells.

The varied wild forms of daffodil and some that may well have crossed naturally with more cultivated species are at their best allover the place towards the Four in Hand among a crop of primroses that are just emerging.

I have picked out a few of the better ones to enjoy but sadly I have no idea of any names. The sun belies a coldish day.

2015 – CHW
The best magnolia in the garden today is a Magnolia mollicomata seedling above Crinodendron Hedge. Although hidden from the main visitor route it is probably today more impressive than the record Magnolia campbellii. Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ in the Auklandii garden coming out. A good rich colour this year with no wind or frost damage.

MAGNOLIA FJ Williams coming out — MAGNOLIA ‘F.J. Williams’ coming out

1955 – CW
No colour on any Magnolia. A few early buds of Campbellii show Feb 20 all gone. Camellias coming again including a few Reticulata large double white and hybrid pink below Tin Garden good flowers. About 6 labelled daffodils coming out – very few Rhodo’s, some reds and Sutchuenense hybrids coming out.1950 – CW
Magnolia campbellii out and flowers on stellata, Diva, White campbellii and a young Robusta almost show colour. Camellia hybrids past best, reticulata species very good. Rho moupinense hybrids good. A lot out in wood and Tin Garden. Big Michelia a lot coming out, say 100 buds.

1910 – JCW
We have a bud of Mag halleana (stellata) open, all Caerhays, Irving, Tenby etc since long, Rho argenteum and ciliatum are both good. R praecox has opened heaths very nice. Prunus triloba good, one Cam reticulata.

1903 – JCW
The same as the above, but I see no Emperor but plenty of Princep Mary, Victoria, Sir Watkin etc, it is a very early year so far and we have had hundreds of inferior seedlings open.

1897 – JCW
Most of one batch of Sir Watkin out, all N Horsfieldii, some G Spur and H irving. First Emperor shows colour, Italian trumpet out.