2008 review of the year
A few of the highlights of the year. Keep an eye for part two coming soon (need another wet day!)
January
Started the year with Roy's 25th anniversary celebrations on the 14th and contrary to some press at the time he didn't retire and is still hard at work planting bamboo today.
The Magnolia campbellii subsp. mollicomata seedling, which is behind you as you look into the cock pit, continued its reliable first flowering date on the 21st this year, three days later than last January.
February
Early February saw the delivery of an artic lorry of plants direct from Italy. Back in October 2007 I went to North west Italy with Tracy Wilson from Pengelly plant centre with the idea of sourcing large specimens for several new planting areas within the garden.
Also the new central granite water feature was installed and finished from stone sourced on the estate. York electrics did the wiring and we had it running for the first time. I think this is the key to the success of the design of the Rose garden.
March/April
In March after the initial excitement of opening we extended the sale area into the Rose garden to allow a view across the area while selecting the varieties to buy.
The international dendrology society visited on Easter Monday. A very enjoyable and educational tour ensued with a few new idents of trees being made.
The last week of March and the first week of April blended into one as Neil and Roy selected, picked and staged the entries for the Cornwall garden societies spring flower show held at Boconnoc. While I helped and attended the International Camellia societies bi-annual congress based at Falmouth Beach resort hotel with the opening ceremony here at Trewithen. The whole event was amazing with 200 odd delegates from over 20 different countries attending the four days. I met Prof. Gao Jiyin from china and Chuji Hiruki from Japan. Gao has been an invaluable source of information and seed with Chuji sending me some camellia ‘Tama-no-ura' from Goto island in Japan as an exchange for some Williamsii hybrids from the nursery.
Also this month was the annual head gardeners day held jointly by Tremeer and Pencarrow, many thanks to Bradley and Gavin the two head gardeners, and you can see it was a hectic start to a year.
Part two coming soon and part three will include my top three count down of plants of the year.
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