20th April

…Not as good a colour yet as some years but still impressive. Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ This is one that I have read about but only seen once…

29th March

…proper show. Magnolia ‘Dark Bird’ – not registered or in the reference books as far as I can see. Magnolia ‘Dark Bird’ Magnolia ‘Dark Bird’ Magnolia ‘Angel’s Landing’ (M. ‘Pickard’s…

1st September

…with decent secondary flowers. We pick one for the house. Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ Sadly the Tilia henryana has collapsed. One bit of the tree…

4th July

…Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’ is also out early and a good blue. Perhaps the best hydrangea on the drive today. Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’ Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’ 2015 –…

3rd April

…plenty of flowers left on Camellia japonica ‘Gauntlettii’ which first showed last November. Extraordinary to see such a lengthy flowering span and we can forgive a little petal blight! Camellia…

2nd March

bird boxes new bird boxes new bird boxes A full day at Burncoose plotting this year’s planting programme and picking out the plants from the nursery. Cornus officinalis looking rather…

24th April

…Rhododendron floccigeum Rhododendron floccigeum Rhododendron ‘Beauty of Littleworth’. We must layer this plant! Rhododendron ‘Beauty of Littleworth’ Rhododendron ‘Beauty of Littleworth’ Rhododendron ‘Hotei’ now full out. Rhododendron ‘Hotei’ Rhododendron tanastyllum…

11th August

…syriacus ‘Blue Bird’ Hibiscus syriacus ‘Blue Bird’ Cautleya spicata ‘Robusta’ just out in flower. Not the most exciting ‘Ginger’ I have ever seen. Cautleya spicata ‘Robusta’ Marsdenia oreophila out in…

27th March 1897 – 2020

…Gala’ Magnolia ‘Golden Gala’ As was the champion tree of Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’. Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ 2019 – CHW Some newish magnolias in Kennel Close.In a magnificent…

12th April

…Magnolia ‘Dark Bird’ Magnolia ‘Dark Bird’ 2022 – CHW The three-phase electric cables awaiting connection outside the back yard. electric cables Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ showing its full colour…

13th April

…Magnolia ‘Scented Gem’ Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ is nearly over. Magnolia ‘Yellow Fever’, beside it, has yet to show. Most years they are out together but usually with some leaf already…

20th May

…popular) government diktat now that the police can do little to interrogate people in cars or turn them away.Boris has got this right!By June the frustrated city lockdown dwellers will…

11th April

…‘Yellow Bird’ just coming out. Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ Magnolia ‘Sybille’ (M. x soulangeana ‘White Giant’ x M. ‘Leda’). Magnolia ‘Sybille’ Magnolia ‘Sybille’ Magnolia × soulangeana ‘Brozzonii’ – in Penvergate –…

6th July

…rare agricultural weed introduced from America in the 16th century. My guess is it actually grew from the bird seed on the bird table which was here until my mother…

13th March

…showing a little frost damage and Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ with flowers just opening. Erica arborea showing a little frost damage and Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ A branch blown out and on…

14th April

…creation in New Zealand. (M. x soulangeana ‘Sweet Simplicity’ x M. ‘Cameo’). Magnolia ‘Tinkerbelle’ Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x M. ‘Gold Cup’ – only a little yellow. Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x M. ‘Gold…

3rd August

…atriplicifolia ‘Little Spire’ Perouskia atriplicifolia ‘Little Spire’ Then we get to some outstanding new agapanthus varieties all in full flower. We certainly need to add some of these to our…

23rd April

…record sized Magnolia ‘Yellow Fever’ just coming with the leaves. Magnolia ‘Yellow Fever’ Magnolia [?] Magnolia [?] Magnolia ‘Lemon Star’ Magnolia ‘Lemon Star’ Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ nearly over. Magnolia ‘Yellow…

27th June

…flowers contrasting with the yellow variegation. Nicer than I expected. Agapanthus ‘Golden Drop’ Echinacea ‘Firebird’ is a good red. Echinacea ‘Firebird’ Lampranthus orange – not obliging us by opening. Lampranthus…

28th September

…rankanensis and Kirengeshoma palmata flowering well together. Strobilanthes rankanensis and Kirengeshoma palmata Abutilon ‘Canary Bird’ still in full flower. Abutilon ‘Canary Bird’ Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’ and Eupatorium purpureum. Aconitum carmichaelii…