27th May

…flower as usual. Camellia japonica ‘Mathotiana Alba’ Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ plastered in bracts. Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ Cutting back the deciduous azaleas to remove ivy…

2nd August

…before. Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ Olearia virgata, I think, in flower in the rain. Olearia virgata, Sorbaria tomentosa (possibly) var angustifolia with one flower still out. Sorbaria tomentosa…

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’…

23rd May

…Sally Hayward RCMG with posy for the Queen – Photo Courtesy of Sally. Queen’s Visit – Photo Courtesy of Sally. Then we get to the royal visit. The RHS say…

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 –…

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’)…

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…

11th February

…Campylotropis macrocarpa Amazingly a Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ is just coming into flower in a pot. I do not fancy its chances in the howling gale. Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ Pseudopanax laetus…

19th September

…rather good until now in the sun. Prunus ‘Kursar’ Prunus ‘Kursar’ 2023 – CHW Camellias in flower in the nursery tunnels today.Camellia ‘Polar Ice’. Camellia ‘Polar Ice’. Young plants of…

24th August

Queen’ Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ Rehmannia elata Rehmannia elata Echinacea ‘Green Jewel’ Echinacea ‘Green Jewel’ Imperata ‘Red Baron’ Imperata ‘Red Baron’ Jaimie has decided not to cut the main bank outside…

1st January

…Camellia reticulata Camellia reticulata No ice on the lake and most of the earlier flooding has subsided. the lake A large Pinus insignis has snapped off in Lower Hellens in…

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…

5th July

…few photographs of some new plants for the 2018 mail order catalogue:Agapanthus ‘Strawberry Ice’ opens white and then develops a delicate pink tinge. Agapanthus ‘Strawberry Ice’ Agapanthus ‘Strawberry Ice’ Parkinsonia…

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…

25th March

…are truly enormous. Magnolia ‘Atlas’ Magnolia ‘Atlas’ This is the Queen Mother’s magnolia planted by her in the 1970s. Not particularly unique but nice enough. Queen Mother’s magnolia Queen Mother’s…

15th October

…Magnolia globosa Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ at its very best. Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ An extraordinary sight. Secondary flowers on a red flowered tree peony in October! red flowered…

18th July

…this stage in the year. Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’ Podocarpus ‘Green Queen’ is another new one but very ‘plain’ indeed! Quite long and vigorous new growth though. Podocarpus ‘Green Queen’ Podocarpus…

21st September

…in a rather exposed, but prominent, situation. Blue Cedar The Queen Mother’s magnolia (seedling) was planted by her near George’s Hut on 11th April 1981. Queen Mother’s magnolia I have…

17th September

…fruits. No sign of a squirrel attack which shows that the trapping is working. Cornus kousa var chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ Cornus kousa var chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ Secondary flowers on young…