9th May

…full flower. Magnolia ‘Genie’ Magnolia ‘Genie’ Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ at its best although I have missed the true blue early buds. Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’…

27th May

…out into flower. Styrax still in bud. Stewartia pteropetiolata Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ flowering well for the first time in Kennel Close. Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’…

5th June

…M. ‘Woodsman’ and M. ‘Patriot’ which was out a month earlier. Odd and different! Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ Philadelphus satsuma (BSWJ 11004) – planted 2017. Less…

22nd May

…to white. A very good plant although grafted onto a Crataegus. Malus transitoria ‘Roundabarrow Ruby’ Malus transitoria ‘Roundabarrow Ruby’ Malus transitoria ‘Roundabarrow Ruby’ Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’. Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue

23rd May

…(BSWJ 11608) is now fully out although the leaves are still yellowish. Rhododendron ‘Mrs J.C. Williams’. Rhododendron ‘Mrs J.C. Williams’ Magnolia ‘Blue Opal’ at its best. Magnolia ‘Blue Opal’ Magnolia…

11th February

…as yet. Pulmonaria ‘Opal’ Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’ – a startling blue for February. Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’ The telehandler unloads a lorry – a busy day with 5 arctics in the…

26th May

…Magnolia ‘Southern Belle’ Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ flowering for the first time. Two previous plants died. Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ 2020 – CHW Over the bank holiday weekend many emails…

13th April

…Egg Hunt Easter Egg Hunt Pink bluebells outside the Rockery. Pink bluebells Grandchildren feeding the cattle with increasing confidence. Grandchildren feeding the cattle The aged flock of Guinea Foul appear…

29th May

…Monarch’ Flower buds appearing on Magnolia ‘Blue Opal’. Smaller but even bluer than Magnolia ‘Woodsman’ x ‘Patriot’. Magnolia ‘Blue Opal’ Leptospermum scoparium ‘County Park Blush’ has survived the ‘Beast’ in…

25th March

…have put this where more people will see it. Magnolia ‘Emperor’ Magnolia ‘Emperor’ Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Opal’. Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Opal’ Magnolia ‘Watermelon’ – another good new magnolia flowering for the first…

6th March 1897 – 2020

…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….

3rd August

…a very good sky blue – medium-tall growing. Agapanthus ‘Sandringham’ Agapanthus ‘Sandringham’ Agapanthus ‘Bressingham Blue’ – taller growing and very floriferous. Not quite as dark as Agapanthus ‘Navy Blue’? Agapanthus…

29th April

…askew. Rhododendron ‘May Day’ As good a bluebell bit as we have in the main garden near Rogers Quarry. Bluebells Illicium majus is making a fair tree. Good new growth….

29th March

…alpina ‘Blue Dancer’ looking good. Clematis alpina ‘Blue Dancer’ Clematis alpina ‘Blue Dancer’ Clematis alpina ‘Francis Rivis’ just coming out which is much darker in colour. Clematis alpina ‘Francis Rivis’…

20th April

…‘Patriot’ is blue in bud (but not as blue as ‘Blue Opal’) opening as you see. Different! Magnolia ‘Woodsman’ x ‘Patriot’ Magnolia ‘Woodsman’ x ‘Patriot’ Magnolia ‘Sensation’ is good and…

19th May

blueish yellow. Better than Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ I believe. Not the most startling magnolia from a distance but a genuinely new magnolia colour close up. One for Asia to…

25th July

…‘Eureka Blue’ Geranium ‘Eureka Blue’ Geranium ‘Dusky Rose’ – groundcover with dark leaves. Geranium ‘Dusky Rose’ Geranium ‘Dusky Rose’ Geranium ‘Blue Sunrise’ – blue at first fading quickly. Geranium ‘Blue

27th July

…in full flower. Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ excellent on the drive. Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ Hydrangea ‘Sunset’ looking good down opposite the lodge. Hydrangea ‘Sunset’ Hydrangea ‘Selma’ quite…

17th April

…clump of narcissus on Hovel Cart Road. Perhaps Narcissus x intermedius? narcissus Ceanothus ‘Trewithen Blue’ and Magnolia ‘Yellow Lantern’ – blue and yellow work well together here. Ceanothus ‘Trewithen Blue’…

17th February

…Deutzia to give summer colour. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ is the centrepiece with Magnolia ‘Raspberry Fun’, Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’, Magnolia ‘Blue Opal’ and Magnolia ‘Mighty Mouse’ included as well. A new…