27th February 1897 – 2020

…new sweet chestnut disease but a few older sweet chestnuts may have minor Phytophthora ramorum infection in basal water shoots which could easily be removed. So much for expensive aerial…

1st August

…peas but they are not exactly over flowering this year. layered his sweet peas layered his sweet peas layered his sweet peas Pear ‘Merton Pride’ was producing a big crop…

2nd September

…of the branches. Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ Secondary flowers on Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ below the lawn. Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ A badger has dug out a huge wasps nest below…

5th March

…good in the sun. Pieris japonica ‘Dorothy Wyckoff’ Pieris japonica ‘Dorothy Wyckoff’ Pieris japonica ‘Dorothy Wyckoff’ Cunninghamia konishii which we lost at home in a cold winter. Old cones and…

16th March

…stages as the colour fades. Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ Pittosporum tobira ‘Nana’ and Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’ growing side by side. Pittosporum tobira ‘Nana’ and Pittosporum…

18th March

…us. Camellia reticulata ‘Debut’ Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’ is really rather splendid. Another new variety from Stervinou. Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’ Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’ Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’ View 18th March 1897 –…

26th March 1897 – 2020

…x veitchii seedling Magnolia x veitchii seedling Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ is just out nearby and developing into a fine tree visible from the castle lawn. Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ Magnolia ‘Sweet

5th February

…hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’ in full flower. A good new thing in the catalogue. Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’ Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Winter Gem’ Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’ above the fern bed in…

18th October

…the Cordyline and Trachycarpus moved under cover for the winter. Cordyline and Trachycarpus Acanthus sennii comes from Ethiopia and therefore, correctly, needs to come inside for the winter. Acanthus sennii…

15th October

…not stopped a squirrel making a pile of eaten ones. Sweet chestnut fruits Sweet chestnut fruits Sweet chestnut fruits Large numbers of blue seedpods nearly ripe on Decaisnea fargesii. Decaisnea…

21st February

(Winter jasmine) Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter jasmine) Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter jasmine) An interesting mix of Jasminum nudiflorum and Sarcococca confusa. Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter jasmine) Anemone ‘Harmony Double Pink’. Anemone ‘Harmony Double…

17th November

…were out. Camellia “Winter’s Charm” – only just out and the large seed pods seen earlier have dropped. Camellia “Winter’s Charm” Camellia “Winter’s Toughie” – a large semi double pink…

5th March 1897 – 2020

‘Sweet Valentine’ Magnolia ‘Sweet Valentine’ Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’ – the first flower on this young plant is not as dark (yet) as expected. Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’ Magnolia sargentiana…

10th January 1897- 2020

…Camellia ‘Winton’ Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’ now nearly full out in three separate clumps. Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’ Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’ Rhododendron nobleanum and Rhododendron ‘Winter Intruder’ are also a good sight…

30th November

…Costa’ Camellia ‘Winter’s Snowman’ alongside Camellia ‘Winter’s Charm’. Camellia ‘Winter’s Snowman’ alongside Camellia ‘Winter’s Charm’ Camellia ‘Bokuhan’ with its anemone shaped flowers. They seem rather small to me this year…

28th October

…to nine feet tall bush. Camellia sasanqua ‘Winter’s Interlude’ Camellia sasanqua ‘Winter’s Interlude’ Camellia sasanqua ‘Winter’s Charm’ is another delicate pink but only one flower again as yet. Unlike all…

20th May

…Isle of Wight Sweet Pea stand was next to Burncoose. The Isle of Wight Sweet Pea stand The Isle of Wight Sweet Pea stand Quite what this exhibit was supposed…

14th July

sweet chestnut branch split and fell sweet chestnut branch split and fell The bracts on Cornus kousa ‘Gosia’ are turning from cream to pink on the drive. An attractive tree…

29th March

…has a couple of flowers despite the pruning and should recover. A small growing variety which flowers very early and copiously. Magnolia ‘Sweet Sixteen’ Magnolia ‘Sweet Sixteen’ Camellia x williamsii…

12th May

…Sanpei Tsubaki Camellia sasanqua Sekiyo Camellia sasanqua Setsugekka Camellia sasanqua Showa No Sakae Camellia champetre Sweet Emily Kate Camellia champetre Sweet Jane Camellia classique Tom Pouce Camellia classique Winter Gem…