22nd November

…– CHW Two cherry trees by the sales point are superb today. Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (‘Chocolate Ice’). Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (‘Chocolate Ice’) Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (‘Chocolate Ice’) Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (‘Chocolate Ice’) Prunus ‘Ichiyo’…

27th May

…in the nursery have finished flowering already in the heat. Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’. Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’ Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’ Syringa tomentella subsp. yunnanensis (SBEC 1022). Syringa tomentella…

3rd August

…‘Bressingham Blue’ Agapanthus ‘Bressingham Blue’ Agapanthus ‘Lavender Haze’ – lower growing and a gentle light blue. Agapanthus ‘Lavender Haze’ Agapanthus ‘Lavender Haze’ Rudbeckia ‘Peking’ – very nice but perhaps not…

13th April

…of the bunch. Certainly a great contrast between leaf and flower as the name implies. Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (syn ‘Chocolate Ice’) Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (syn ‘Chocolate Ice’) Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (syn ‘Chocolate Ice’)…

6th July

…fraseri ‘Magical Volcano’ Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Heavenly Blue’ is an evergreen sub-shrub unlike the other herbaceous penstemons. Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Heavenly Blue’ Geranium pratense ‘Delft Blue’ Geranium pratense ‘Delft Blue’ Salvia ‘Purple…

5th July

…Cornus kousa ‘Gold Star’. Hydrangea ‘Fireworks-Blue’ Hydrangea ‘Fireworks-Blue’ just full out. Hydrangea ‘Fireworks-Blue’ Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ (pale pink form) nearly over. Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ Still flowers on Magnolia globosa. Magnolia…

2nd August

…fine clusters of blue cones. Abies koreana More seeds than usual on Decaisnea fargesii but yet to turn blue. Decaisnea fargesii Camellia tsai with lovely red secondary new growth. Camellia…

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’…

13th May

…pulverulenta ‘Raspberry Ice’ [ALONGSIDE] Zenobia pulverulenta ‘Blue Sky’ Zenobia pulverulenta ‘Raspberry Ice’ Zenobia pulverulenta ‘Blue Sky’ Cornus alternifolia ‘Argentea’ – another plant which shows up well in a tent. Cornus…

19th April

…Azara dentata Rhododendron ‘Princess Alice’ at its best. Pinkish in bud. Rhododendron ‘Princess Alice’ Rhododendron ‘Princess Alice’ Rhododendron valentianum is an elderly low mound. Rhododendron valentianum Rhododendron valentianum 2019 –…

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

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…

1st January

…from under the Ilex x meserveae ‘Blue Prince’ which now looks rather scruffy. removed the ivy Camellia ‘Dewatairin’ (‘Hatsu Zakura’ as we have always called it) is very early for…

24th April

…Alice’ Rhododendron ‘Princess Alice’ Rhododendron ‘Princess Alice’ 2018 – CHW Last week’s heatwave while we were away in Ireland has certainly brought the rhodos rushing out but with a short…

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…

16th March 1897 – 2020

…Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’ – the same applies. This is Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Lennei’ x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’. Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’ Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’ Magnolia ‘Tina Durio’ is by far the…

9th January

…Azalea ‘Ledifolia Alba’. Azalea ‘Ledifolia Alba’ Frosted hydrangea leaves where the East wind caught them. Frosted hydrangea leaves Some ice still on the edges of the lake. some ice still…

12th March 1897 – 2020

…Camellia ‘Silver Ruffles’ Camellia ‘Silver Ruffles’ Camellia “Fire ‘n’ Ice” has been photographed in the diary once before. In the rain I may not have done it justice. Camellia “Fire…

24th August

…‘Pendula’. Later than usual to show. Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’ A good show of secondary flowers on Rhododendron ‘Blue Tit’. Rhododendron ‘Blue Tit’ Rhododendron ‘Blue Tit’ Seed forming in profusion on…

22nd July

blue and white picotee edging Hydrangea ‘St Clare’ Hydrangea ‘St Clare’ Hydrangea ‘Taube’ – easily the best blue lacecap HYDRANGEA ‘Taube’ HYDRANGEA ‘Taube’ Hydrangea ‘Fireworks blue’ – very floriferous and…