9th April

…‘Titan’). Magnolia ‘Melon Sky’ Magnolia ‘Melon Sky’ Michelia laevifolia ‘Honey Velvet’ finally out in flower. Michelia laevifolia ‘Honey Velvet’ Michelia laevifolia ‘Honey Velvet’ This is labelled Magnolia ‘Green Diamond’ but…

23rd May

…bought from Millais Nurseries Rhododendron ‘Glendoick Velvet’ Rhododendron ‘Glendoick Velvet’ Rhododendron ‘Glendoick Velvet’ – plastered, but not my colour. Rhododendron ‘Norfolk Candy’ Rhododendron ‘Norfolk Candy’ Rhododendron ‘Norfolk Candy’ – Millais….

25th May

Velvet’ Rhododendron ‘Glendoick Velvet’ Reevsia sinica has shed what was left of its old leaves after the ‘Beast’ and is thankfully producing attractive red new growth. An unexpected survival. Reevsia…

26th March 1897 – 2020

…surprising white with, I admit, a blackish velvety stem. Wrongly named? No idea as it is entirely new to me and not in any reference book. Magnolia ‘Black Velvet’ Magnolia…

8th July

‘Royal Velvet’ is quite stunning today. Agapanthus ‘Royal Velvet’ Hydrangeas lined up for customers by the sales point. Hydrangeas Agapanthus ‘Windsor Grey’ really is grey! Agapanthus ‘Windsor Grey’ This batch,…

8th June

…of Jazzy potatoes The Burncoose Nurseries stand at the Royal Cornwall Show. Burncoose Nurseries stand at the Royal Cornwall Show Burncoose Nurseries stand at the Royal Cornwall Show Burncoose Nurseries…

24th July

…fine. Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’ Agapanthus ‘Royal Velvet’ and Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’. Agapanthus ‘Royal Velvet’ and Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’ Cynara cardunculus and Verbena bonariensis. Cynara cardunculus Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Heavenly…

14th April

…on. 20+ house martins today. Magnolia laevifolia ‘Honey Velvet’ flowers do not seem to open out flat but drop once they are cup shaped. Magnolia laevifolia ‘Honey Velvet’ Magnolia stellata…

20th May

Velvet’ out on Burns Bank. Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Red Velvet’ Acer pycnanthum – a dullish rarity. The Japanese counterpart to the North American Acer rubrum as its leaves show. A slow…

14th August

…acuminata ‘Koban Dori’. Magnolia acuminata ‘Koban Dori’ Magnolia acuminata ‘Gold Finch’. Magnolia acuminata ‘Gold Finch’ Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’. Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’ Magnolia ‘Apollo’, Magnolia ‘Apollo’ Magnolia laevifolia ‘Velvet and Cream’ with extraordinary…

16th June

…at Edgbaston. Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureus’ in full flower. Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureus’ Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureus’ A tremendous show of flowering on Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’. Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ Cotinus coggygria…

28th May

…Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ A mature Acer with upright flowers that I do not recognise and have not noticed flowering before. mature Acer One of the two Rosa…

24th May

‘Royal Flush’ – Yellow (centres – yellow in bud). Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ – Yellow Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ – Pink but slightly different to the one earlier. Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ Rhododendron…

19th December

‘Royal Beauty’ Malus ‘Royal Beauty’ Malus ‘Admiration’ Malus ‘Admiration’ Malus ‘Golden Gem’ Malus ‘Golden Gem’ Malus ‘Red Sentinel’ Malus ‘Red Sentinel’ Malus x robusta ‘Fruitilicious’ Malus x robusta ‘Fruitilicious’ Malus…

Royal Cornwall Show – 2022

…reticulata ‘Dr Clifford Parks’ Camellia reticulata ‘Dr Clifford Parks’ Camellia reticulata ‘Emma Gaet’ Camellia reticulata ‘Emma Gaet’ Camellia reticulata ‘Royalty’ Camellia reticulata ‘Royalty’ Camellia reticulata ‘Miss Tulare’ Camellia reticulata ‘Miss…

29th January

…spike. B. ‘Santana’ is better than our B. ‘Harlequin’ which reverts a lot to being unvariegated in its leaves. B. ‘Buzz Velvet’ and B. ‘Sugar Plum’ are better than B….

12th May

…more. Enkianthus campanulatus Enkianthus campanulatus Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’ has fine new leaves. Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’ Acer platanoides ‘Royal Red’ Acer heldreichii looks very much like an A. platanoides!…

26th May

…despite a decade of research after he retired in our planting archive. Perhaps my great uncle (Charles Williams) bought these? Azalea ‘Royal Command’ or ‘Golden Flare’ Azalea ‘Royal Command’ or…

19th June

…viscosum x ‘Midsommer Maiden’ Rhododendron viscosum x ‘Midsommer Maiden’ Another form of Rhododendron royallii ‘Royal Flush’ full out which is I think a solitary survivor of what was ‘Royal Flush…

16th July

…seed. Eucryphia cordifolia Our best clump left of Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ – Pink is on Burns Bank. Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ Seed heads on Buddleia limitea. I suppose…