26th March

…‘Black Velvet’ is a 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….

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’ –…

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…

6th May

…plastered in flower. The form of this which grew near the Burncoose Lodge had a much floppier habit and more ruffled flowers. These too are 100 year old plants. Azalea…

1st July

…that the 25 to 30 year old Stewartia pseudocamellia at Burncoose at Burncoose by the mist houses has ruffled edges to its petals as it should. I now need to…

3rd August

…but a good ruffled flowered form. Leucanthemum ‘Ooh La Spider’ Interested to see these willow creations which would look good in the right situation if pruned and maintained. Stupidly I…

14th August

…‘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 and colourful seed pods. Magnolia…

24th July

…year. wild flower meadow wild flower meadow Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’ very fine. Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’ Agapanthus ‘Royal Velvet’ and Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’. Agapanthus ‘Royal Velvet’ and Achillea ‘Cerise…

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,…

20th May

…full out. Rhododendron ‘Mrs Lionel de Rothschild’ Rhododendron ‘Mrs Lionel de Rothschild’ Rhododendron yakushimanum looking good as well in a clump on Burns Banks. Rhododendron yakushimanum Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Red Velvet’…

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…

10th May

…new crosses. These are what Jaimie and Michael attempted using griffithianum as the seed parent and a variety of different pollen parents as shown. R.GRIFFITHIANUM x glendoick em velvet cross…

28th May

…the Burncoose catalogue for next year whatever I think. Schefflera taiwania Schefflera taiwania Schefflera macrophylla has lovely brown ‘velvet’ on its new growth as it emerges above its gigantic leaves….

30th May

…Magnolia figo var crassipes x (M. foveolata x M. laevifolia) with its first flower. Orange velvet on the new growth. Magnolia figo var crassipes x (M. foveolata x M. laevifolia)…

19th December

…in Storm Darragh. snakebark maple Velvet buds on Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’. Michelia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’ Nice scent on Camellia grijsii. Camellia grijsii Camellia reticulata ‘Mary Williams’ and…

12th January

…apace. laurel cutting laurel cutting Velvet covered flower buds nearly ready to flower on Michelia ‘Fairy White’. About a fortnight I guess unless the weather changes. Michelia ‘Fairy White’ Michelia…

14th January

…with good new growth. Schefflera shweliensis (TH 3330) Michelia laevifolia x Michelia maudiae ‘Eternal Spring’ with no velvet on its buds. Michelia laevifolia x Michelia maudiae ‘Eternal Spring’ Michelia laevifolia…

29th January

…our B. ‘Harlequin’ which reverts a lot to being unvariegated in its leaves. B. ‘Buzz Velvet’ and B. ‘Sugar Plum’ are better than B. ‘Royal Red’. A fair bit of…

6th January 1897- 2020

…styracaceae. Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii Alniphyllum aff eberhardtii Flower buds on Michelia doltsopa still covered in velvet indumentum. Two years ago they were blown open in January on…