18th March

…Jane’ is really rather splendid. Another new variety from Stervinou. Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’ Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’ Camellia ‘Sweet Jane’ 2020 – CHW Another cry off from the forthcoming gardening weekend…

26th March

‘Sweet Merlot’ Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ 2019 – CHW A trip to the greenhouses to see what new is out.The first full out patch of bluebells in the…

11th March

…under a statutory felling order. sweet chestnuts sweet chestnuts One forgets what a frost pocket Old Park is where the valley is much narrower. Here a Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ which…

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

…over flowering this year. layered his sweet peas layered his sweet peas layered his sweet peas Pear ‘Merton Pride’ was producing a big crop and Will had covered the tree…

16th March

‘Sweet Merlot’ Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ Pittosporum tobira ‘Nana’ and Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’ growing side by side. Pittosporum tobira ‘Nana’ and Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’ The last two flowers…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

13th April

…‘Gyoiko’ Magnolia ‘Sweet Valentine’ is nice by the Green Gate. Flowers are getting larger with maturity. Magnolia ‘Sweet Valentine’ Magnolia ‘Sweet Valentine’ Prunus ichiyo (syn ‘Pink Champagne’) is very good…

14th July

…front door. Crinum powellii and hydrangea. Shasta daisies and Meadowsweet. Flower arrangements Flower arrangements The flag flies for the Colonel, who has brought a canon to add to the festivities….

16th February 1897 – 2020

‘sweet’ but Magnolia ‘Pegasus’ is coming out nicely nearby with a bit more shelter. Magnolia ‘Sweet Sixteen’ Magnolia ‘Pegasus’ Three early flowers on the newish New Zealand Magnolia ‘Plum Pudding’…

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…