2023 – CHW
Magnolia dawsoniana outside the front arch still fully clothed in leaves.
Decent autumn colour on Rhododendron weyrichii. Similar to the autumn colour on Rhododendron reticulatum which is no great surprise.
Magnolia lacei (formerly Michelia pachycarpa) growing on well.
A brief visit to Burncoose for several meetings.Sorbus wilsoniana by the garden entrance (or is it Sorbus wardii? Cannot remember without checking).
Cornus capitata with its huge ripe and over ripe strawberry-like fruits which the pheasants are now starting to eat. The branches are bowed down with the weight of the fruits.
Two cherries stand out with autumn colour below the castle today:Prunus ‘Gyoiko’ has a dullish brown hue as its leaves turn but not bad from a distance.
Strong easterly gales persist.A week or 10 days on the autumn colours on Liriodendron chinense have darkened and easterly gales have removed most of the show. What is left is a gorgeous yellow. This was the best autumn colour in the garden this year I think.
Stones raked off the new Isla Rose Plantation ready for planting soon. A huge area to deal with.
The ancient Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’ on the top wall is full out. The size is slightly smaller than the newer plants photographed a few days ago. There is certainly far less of a pink flash on the buds and on the petals especially when they are fully open. The tree is flowering well now that some of the overhanging ilex oak has been pruned back to give more light. An excellent display in fact. The leaves are smaller and lighter green too than the modern plant sold under the same name. One could argue that the newer version is better but there is far more scent on this much older plant which I think I personally prefer. John Bond, a former Keeper of the Gardens at Windsor, always said ours was the true original sasanqua ‘Narumigata’.
2015 – CHW
I have resisted the opportunity in this diary to pay my most sincere compliments and respects to Anthony Fortescue and his family for over a fortnight. Anthony was my successor as High Sheriff of Cornwall last spring but sadly and inexplicably committed suicide a fortnight ago. His achievements in restoring Boconnoc House to its former glory are immense. My Aunt Veryan worked there for several years helping organise events in the house. Not long ago I attended an excellent High Sheriff dinner there hosted by Anthony. Why do gentle, nice and capable friends do something like this? I will never understand but let us stick to plants and their problems here.
The revolting Jeremy Corbyn is making a buffoon of himself over war in Syria. Last week Edwina found, in the archives, an account of my great uncle’s death in the Great War and I include it here for (further) posterity. How my great grandfather ‘gardened’ after this which clearly nearly destroyed him? Perhaps he enjoyed gardening because of this (and other) wartime tragedies.
Letters:-Letter from Col Henry Streatfeild to JCW re death of his son Robert
Letter from Mr H Douglas Vernon to JCW re death of his son Robert
1989 – FJW
First frost of the back end.
1959 – FJW
Extraordinary year. November Pink never better. Flowers on Oleifera very large. Early plant of the Rho ruboginosum by Georges Hut covered with flower. Arboreums above Orchid House trying to come out. Enkianthus colour excellent. Fear few magnolias to flower in spring.
1926 – JCW
The Cardinal willow in the sun is very good indeed. Sasanquas are nice. The first white Daphne mezereum has been showing colour for some days. Two of the Maddeni hybrids on the hall mantlepiece have remained good there for 12 days, buds opening really well. Picked I stylosa.
1919 – JCW
Bits of Rhodo’n flower have begun to push again after the frost. Hydrangeas remain good also some roses and lapagerias.