2024 – CHW
Storm Bert gave us a nasty weekend but it was a SW wind so thankfully little damage in the garden. The water meadows flooded a bit and the swans enjoying themselves there.
Large fungi below the greenhouse may be Lactarius deterrimus or False Saffron Milkcaps?
Still contemplating what to plant where the Turkey oak was felled in the Auklandii Garden.
Early flowers on Camellia cuspidata in the Rookery. All a bit battered.
The large dead white Rhododendron arboreum all cleared on Burns Bank.
Euonymus moupinensis (E. echinatus) with attractive ripe seed heads.
First flowers on Sarcococca wallichii in the Aucklandii Garden.
First flowers on Camellia ‘Yuletide’.
Also on Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’.
2023 – CHW
A new batch of pre ordered new plants from various nurseries.
A new batch of pre ordered new plants from various nurseries.
Picea pungens ‘Fat Albert’ makes its first appearance here.
Magnolia dawsoniana finally starting to shed its leaves outside the front gate.
Rehderodendron macrocarpum with autumn colour in front of the Monkey Puzzle.
The Gingko is starting to turn yellow but still way off its best.
2022 – CHW
Still a few premature flowers on a second clump of Rhododendron mucronulatum below the Fernery. This clump is normally paler in colour than that original clump beside the Rockery but these few flowers are not.
A young Abies grandis making headway 13 years after planting.
First full out flower on Camellia x vernalis ‘Yuletide’ about a week after colour showed on the first bud.
Two days ago we looked at our elderly Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’. Here is the proof on a younger plant. Less pink on the buds and smaller flowers!
The record sized Camellia x williamsii (unnamed) outside the front gate is almost past its best already but flowers will persist for months yet.
No yellow colouring yet on the large Ginkgo biloba beyond the record Camellia. No frost yet and no colour either!
2021 – CHW
Splendid new growth on Eriobotrya deflexa.
Splendid new growth on Eriobotrya deflexa.
Ripe fruit on Cornus capitata now being gobbled up by the birds.
Propping up a leaning Sorbus tainschanica.
Camellia ‘Setsugekka’
Enormous quantities of seeds on Styrax japonicus ‘Emerald Pagoda’.
More uplifting work above the Crinodendron Hedge on young oaks and acers.
First flowers this year on Polyspora axillaris var. tonkinense.
2020 – CHW
Erica arborea out in flower already but not every clump as yet.
Erica arborea out in flower already but not every clump as yet.
Prunus ‘Ichiyo’ (‘Pink Champagne’) with its autumn colours.
Taiwania cryptomeroides with its leader well staked. Our other plants have sprawled sideways for want of a proper stake to get them going.
Prunus ‘Matsumae-shizuka’ syn. ‘Fragrant Cloud’ not quite at its best as yet.
When Sorbus ullungdoensis arrived from Crûg it was a vast size. We trimmed it back on planting in 2017 and it has responded well as you can see here with multiple new shoots from the cut back leading stems.
A young Carpinus polyneura with a bit of good yellow colouring but mostly blown away.
Ilex x altaclarensis ‘Camelliifolia’ now in full berry and rather fine.
Camellia reticulata ‘Captain Rawes’ will shortly be showing colour. This is the Tregullow form which is a bit darker than our old original.
2019 – CHW
Camellia ‘Show Girl’ (Camellia reticulata Cornelian (‘Damanao’) x Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’) is growing away happily here by Lower Rookery Path and full of bloom today. I stand by what I said the other day when looking at the small plants in the greenhouse. Very good for November!
Camellia ‘Show Girl’ (Camellia reticulata Cornelian (‘Damanao’) x Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’) is growing away happily here by Lower Rookery Path and full of bloom today. I stand by what I said the other day when looking at the small plants in the greenhouse. Very good for November!
Torrential rain has again badly flooded the water meadows and lake. The three islands are virtually under water with just the pampas showing. The abdominal run of wet weather continues. A dead pheasant in the gutter caused flooding in the accountant’s office in a torrential downpour last Thursday. Drips continue in the Billiard Room.
Another tree down after last night’s gale on the road on from Tubbs Mill opposite Slydepark.
2018 – CHW
The team have been pulling ivy from around dead or cut back plants. Here a Pinus radiata seedling amid the leaf litter exposed after the ivy has been pulled.
The team have been pulling ivy from around dead or cut back plants. Here a Pinus radiata seedling amid the leaf litter exposed after the ivy has been pulled.
More unusual and unidentified fungi on a very old decaying stump. I need to get a fungi guide to try to identify and understand the many mycological pictures taken recently.
When we get to the base of the old dead Magnolia macrophylla one can see that the central core was dead and had been for some time before it blew over.
Hailstones in the backyard. Usually a touch of cold persuades more camellias to spring into flower. We will see shortly if this again proves to be true.
2017 – CHW
Another historic plant has bitten the dust. Quite when it fell over, unnoticed, is not clear but it had obviously rotted at the base.
Another historic plant has bitten the dust. Quite when it fell over, unnoticed, is not clear but it had obviously rotted at the base.
Acer palmatum ‘Senkaki’ (‘Sango-kaku’) has now shed its yellow leaves onto the ground. Still splendid in the sun.
Corokia buddleioides with flowers and unripe seeds. A dull plant perhaps but tough in a cold situation.
2016 – CHW
Acer palmatum ‘Scolopendriifolium’ has dropped most of its leaves but what are left are a brilliant yellow and beyond compare today by Georges Hut. The nearby planting of a new clump of Rhododendron williamsianum is finally getting going. They are far too close together really. There are fully grown, full flower pictures of Rhododendron williamsianum on the Burncoose website.
Acer palmatum ‘Scolopendriifolium’ has dropped most of its leaves but what are left are a brilliant yellow and beyond compare today by Georges Hut. The nearby planting of a new clump of Rhododendron williamsianum is finally getting going. They are far too close together really. There are fully grown, full flower pictures of Rhododendron williamsianum on the Burncoose website.
The Magnolia globosa seed pod has been collected but just look at the bronze indumentum left covering next year’s leaf bud. This is the best form of this species which came from Nigel Holman’s plant at Chyverton.
Quercus buckleyi has nice autumn colours but note that the secondary new growth is still green and growing. It was last December as well.
I sold two Acer palmatum ‘Atropurpureum’ to a shooting guest on the strength of this 20 to 25 year old tree this week. When I got there today most of the leaves had fallen which is no great surprise. The ground is still however covered in red.
The first daffodil bulbs on the drive have crept above ground. I saw them a week ago but forgot to photograph them until now. About on time or about a fortnight early? Need to check back.
No flower yet on Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ but it will not be long.
2015 – CHW
The last of the Camellia sasanquas along the castle wall is now full out. It is the upright growing single white one. All the others still have a flower or two left but are largely now over.
1997 – FJW
Flash flood at Polgooth and London Apprentice. Our valley badly flooded.
1994 – FJW
Very warm for 3 weeks – flowers on Camellia noblissima by front door and Rho mucronulatum. November Pink very well out.
1990 – FJW
Picked flower of Camellia japonica on Old Park – cold after 2 ½ days of rain. Daffs on move.
1965 – FJW
Very wet period for 3 days.
1931 – JCW
Picked the first Maddeni x two days ago. C sasanqua could yet bits of say 12 species of rhodo. Lonicera halleana been good for two months.
1912 – JCW
Daffs moving slowly, a very nice lot of roses. C sasanqua has been poor.
1907 – JCW
Two year old daffs are up, plenty of them, hardly any yearlings, a few grown-ups. Some roses are hanging on well. C sasanqua a few flowers. Coums just to swear by.