Yellow berries on Cotoneaster ‘Exburiensis’.

Drought and death for another large Schefflera.

And more freshly dead rhododendrons below it.

A storm squashed Rhododendron ‘Norfolk Candy’.

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Kay Paris’ is reshooting but the trunk is badly skinned of bark and probably not worth keeping.

Two young Rhododendron calophytums now dead from the drought.

Secondary flowers on Rhododendron ‘Chink’.

2025 – CHW

Despite passing it three time yesterday I missed the third of the 5 ancient sasanquas in flower. This one nearest the ladies loo.

Then I find a single flower on the second of the white ones – so 4 of the 5 in flower by early October.

This is the second white one to flower with very different leaves.

The earliest sasanqua to flower is now quite a sight.

2024 – CHW
We probably got off lightly after last Sunday’s southerly storm but here a Magnolia ‘Atlas’ on the drive has got broken in half.

A capping stone on the battlements above the public loos was knocked down in the gale but did not do any damage.

To Burncoose.

47 large camellias destined for a client near Hungerford.

Thirteen different species and varieties of Osmanthus looking great in one tunnel.

Osmanthus armatus, with its huge leaves, also has a few flowers.

Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Prettycoat’ with fantastic autumn colour.

Hesperantha coccinea ‘Snow Maiden’ has a delicate touch of pink at least in bud and on first opening.

Skimmia japonica ‘Veitchii’ and Euonymus fortunei ‘Harlequin’.

Skimmia japonica ‘Veitchii’ and Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald n’ Gold’.

The Chelsea show stopper Hydrangea ‘Yulika’ still flowering away well.

2023 – CHW
A little sun for early October and no need to wear a jumper as the temperature remains at 18-20°c.Malus ‘Jelly King’ with secondary flowers and ripening fruit. The 5th or 6th variety of Malus with secondary autumn flowers here after this peculiar summer.

Sorbus commixta var. sachalinensis heavily laden with fruit. The largest crop so far on this 13 year old tree.

Mespilus germanica with a large crop as well. Quite a weight on the branches.

Sorbus hedlundii (KR1810A) with large faintly spotted fruits which are now ripe.

Betula utilis ‘Forest Blush’ peeling from pink to white.

Ripening seed on Tilia japonica ‘Ernest Wilson’ which I have not seen before here.

Crataegus calpodendron with orange-red pear shaped fruits appearing for the first time here. A US and Canadian native with few thorns which is well worth its place even it no autumn colour or so say the reference books.

2022 – CHW
A dozen or so Malus species and varieties now down form the greenhouses and at the assembly point for scores more to come up from Burncoose from 5 other nurseries for planting out in the Kitchen Garden shortly.

Vitex agnus castus – the Chaste Tree now full out in early October and quite splendid when little else is out.

Rhododendron pachysanthum dying after the drought.

Sinowilsonia henryi with early autumn colour in the late afternoon sun. This multi-stemmed? shrub has done very little in shade in 30 years.

Amaryllis belladonna (white form) nearly over with Nerine bowdenii nearly out just behind it in front of the Dining Room window.

The wild Iris foetidissima that has naturalised in a border with a good show of seed pods.

Helianthus salicifolius about half the height it usually is after the drought. Scorched leaves and few flowers.

First Nerine bowdenii nearly out.

A fine clump of Sedum spectabile just going over.

2021 – CHW
Cornus alba ‘Siberian Pearls’ developing its clusters of berries.

A multitude of camellias suddenly out in a nursery tunnel.
Camellia sinensis assamica

Camellia ‘Winter’s Interlude’

Camellia ‘Winter’s Charm’

Camellia ‘Snow Flurry’

Camellia ‘Shinonome’ is the first japonica out.

Camellia sasanqua (cuttings from the 100 year old plants here) are surprisingly still in bud.Camellia sasanqua ‘Rosea Plena’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Paradise Vanessa’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Rainbow’

Camellia sasanqua ‘Narumigata’

Even a single flower on Camellia x williamsii ‘JC Williams’.