2018 – CHW
The first flush of autumn colour on Cladastris kentuckea.
The Beast damaged Rhododendron stenaulum is shooting away nicely at all levels after its hard pruning and despite the drought which has brown tipped the new leaves. The dunging has clearly helped.
A young Zanthoxylum coreanum with its first fruits which are still green. This is another new Zanthoxylum species to us even if the spelling is incorrect. Cannot find anywhere to check it in the reference books.
I pruned out the three branches on Populus deltoides ‘Purple Tower’ which had reverted to green.
Betula albosinensis ‘China Rose’ had some serious regrowth from below the graft which I also cut out today and you can see piled beside the young tree.
Cedrus brevifolia is making serious new growth after the drought has now ended.
2017 – CHW
Astonishingly good blue new growth on Rhododendron cinnabarinum concatenans Group.
Astonishingly good blue new growth on Rhododendron cinnabarinum concatenans Group.
Lindera sericea had appeared to be a rounded bush but suddenly four new growth stems have shot up tall. A new species of lindera to us.
Neolitsea polycarpa is making good growth. The leaf form resembles the lindera below Donkey Shoe. It is certainly hugely different from Neolitsea sericea.
Rehderodendron kwatungense is now growing well. Nice bark too.
Polyspora longicarpa is full of bud for late autumn or early in the New Year. This plant was windblown and nearly dead four or five years ago but has now settled in.
Yet another good Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’.
Secondary, and very dark, flowers on Magnolia ‘Genie’.
Sadly the last old clump of Rhododendron ‘Charles Michael’ is now dead.
2016 – CHW
A visit by Harry Watkins who is writing a PhD paper on magnolias. A very wet afternoon so the pictures are dreadful. Harry is not fazed by the rain. Copious fruit on Cornus kousa ‘Gold Star’. Very good indeed.
A visit by Harry Watkins who is writing a PhD paper on magnolias. A very wet afternoon so the pictures are dreadful. Harry is not fazed by the rain. Copious fruit on Cornus kousa ‘Gold Star’. Very good indeed.
Lomatia ferruginea is just going over.
Gevuina avellana, the Chilean nut tree, is just coming out and we discover a few green turning black nuts close to the base of this year’s flowers. They do not look that significant.
Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’ is now coming out properly a week on from the last inspection.
Eucryphia cordifolia is just starting to shed its flowers. Two to three weeks later this year than usual this year.
2015 – CHW
Hoheria sextylosa is at last out. Very late and later than other hoheria species but Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’ is still in tight bud which is most unusual. In the nursery they had flower in early August.
Hoheria sextylosa is at last out. Very late and later than other hoheria species but Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’ is still in tight bud which is most unusual. In the nursery they had flower in early August.
1995 – FJW
It looks as if the drought is now over – the worst since 1976 and probably the worst I have seen.
1971 – FJW
All corn in – and nearly all straw – yield good.
1962 – FJW
Pinnatifolia past best, Nymansensis at its best – no lapageria. The season has been 3 weeks late all through the year.
1914 – JCW
Cyclamen, solanum, cassia, hydrangeas, roses are very good. The lapagerias coming on. R flavidum has some nice flowers open and also R decorum, Wilson’s best Intricatum is good.