1st April

…subsp. jacquemontii ‘Knightshayes’ Betula pendula subsp. szechuanica ‘Liuba White’. Betula pendula subsp. szechuanica ‘Liuba White’ Betula pendula subsp. szechuanica ‘Liuba White’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis – the best catkins today….

8th February

…the wind already. The flowers do have a little yellow in them as they open. Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’ Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’ Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’ Podocarpus elongatus ‘Blue…

10th April

…better form than ours at Caerhays flower wise. Michelia maudiae Michelia maudiae Wonderful Telopeas in full flower too in the nursery:‘Shady Lady White’ TELOPEA ‘Shady Lady White’ TELOPEA ‘Shady Lady…

28th April

…flower colours. Rhododendron montroseanum Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ and Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’. Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ and Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ and Rhododendron davidsonianum. Rhododendron loderi ‘King

21st March

…is nothing like as good as his Magnolia maudiae yesterday. Magnolia floribunda Sophora microphylla ‘Sun King’ full out and superb. Sophora microphylla ‘Sun King’ Sophora microphylla ‘Sun King’ Sophora microphylla…

26th April

…C. x superba ‘Apple Blossom’ – pink and white – variegated C. x superba ‘Issari White’ – tiny flowers in profusion C. x superba ‘Pink Trail’ – white flowers age…

12th April

…Isla inspect Magnolia ‘Fairy White’. Magnolia ‘Fairy White’ Betula utilis jacquemontii ‘Pink Champagne’ has shed its old bark and now has a pinkish trunk. Betula utilis jacquemontii ‘Pink Champagne’ Impressive…

8th April

…4ft tall after a cold winter. Hydrangea lobbii Hydrangea lobbii Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Silver King’ leafing up nicely. The silver variegation is irregular. Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Silver King’ Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Silver King’…

15th April

…– greenish-cream flower bracts turning white. They will get much bigger yet. Cornus ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’ Cornus ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’ Cornus ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’ Boquilla trifoliata ‘out’ as far as…

16th March

…and we will all be home working soon as the country shuts down completely. Plenty of time for writing and thinking amid the gloom. The Cornwall Garden Society show at…