Pterocarya fraxinifolia with its large pendulous seed catkins beside the sales point.
Hydrangea seemanii is suddenly out high up on the castle wall.
Aristolochia sempervirens with its rather modest flowers by the standards of other Aristolochia.
Pyramid orchids in the Isle of Wight in a chalk downland meadow.
A visit to the Railway Inn (which was closed) in the outskirts of Ryde to view what was billed as a ‘rare and peculiar tree’ in the pub’s roadside garden. It turned out to be a large and clearly elderly Gingko biloba. The owners had tried to cut it down and caused a furore.
2021 – CHW
A young (from Mark Bulk) plant of what is called Styrax hookeri yunnanensis. The leaf looks a bit like Styrax hookeri but the flowers do not. I wonder what the history of this is?


Visits to Burncoose highlight the first flowering of some new plants in the catalogue.Agapanthus ‘Graphite White’ – the description from the grower says it should have a blacker stem?
Idesia polycarpa with flowers just coming out. The whole (Cornwall record) tree was alive with bees from top to bottom. Not sure if these are male or female flowers. Need to inspect our other two mature trees.
The 2019 catalogue proofing nearly finished at last and tedious as ever. Lots of interesting new plants for next year though and one I am particularly pleased about is Sorbus folgneri ‘Emiel’ which has featured many times in flower, fruit and autumn colour in this diary. A superb plant which ought to be more widely grown.Now that the gardens are closed we can concentrate on the new plague of young grey squirrels which has suddenly appeared despite the cold winter. I saw about a dozen on the drive yesterday and they are exploring far and wide. The Kania 2000 traps from New Zealand have dealt with nine so far this week. Next month the even newer New Zealand gas operated traps should be authorised for use. These do not have to be checked at least one a day.
Still in West Sussex – back home after a long lunch and a four hour drive.Stephanotis floribunda in the sun lounge is superb but the mealy bug are creeping up from the bottom.
A visit from Lizzie’s mother (Alice), her long-time nurse (Olivia) and gardener (Hugh). Alice was 92 on the Saturday. The plane is four hours late arriving at Newquay on the Friday night so the party do not arrive here until 10.15. Serena and John’s in-laws are invited but Johnny’s mum is sadly ill again so they cancel but we do briefly see Sue and Martin, who is also unwell. Nevertheless the party rages for 48 hours and Johnny stalks a roe deer amongst quite a few rabbiting forays.
Beyond the fernery is a rather dull record tree; Cornus walteri, introduced by Wilson. It is actually flowering quite nicely in the sun. The plant has self layered itself multiple times and has sparse black berries.
Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’ by Front Gate – excellent.
1989 – FJW
Styrax japonica out as well as Catalpa duclouxii and Ligustrum and Rho weyrichii, campylocarpum and argyrophyllum. Very hot, no rain since June 3rd.
Styrax, Wilsonii Langleyense, Hemsleyanus the hybrid and Japonica are all nice. Diaprepes is in flower well. Magnolia parviflora fairly good and some hypoleuca buds.
1924 – JCW
The big pink Viscosum in the Old Park is very good. Rho eriogynum and griersonianum and the Harrow hybrids with discolor and maddeni are very nice, also the big bed of Papa Gontier rose.
1923 – JCW
Have been back from Scotland for a week. Things just as in the above, have been crossing Souliei with the best orange Dichroanthum I have seen. Some Souliei x campylocarpum remain in flower. Some very good new white azalea hybrids of ours and two of P.D’s all in the Rockery are going over. Magnolia parviflora is nice now.
1921 – JCW
Came back from Scotland, all is very dry, some plants are dead, many are sick. The late white Obtusum is the best thing. Arborescens flowers well, most other things are over. Escallonia langleyense is very nice near the Hovel. Some R souliei are open now.