1st June

…is just fully out but not quite yet specked with pink and red as the bracts will become later. Cornus kousa ‘Wisley Queen’ Cornus kousa ‘Wisley Queen’ In full sun…

5th February

…grown the South African Veltheimia capensis. Veltheimia capensis Veltheimia capensis Daphne ‘White Queen’ nicely out. Daphne ‘White Queen’ Daphne ‘White Queen’ A fine plant of Camellia ‘Dr Burnside’ in the…

27th September

…Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ A few good fruits on Cornus kousa ‘Wisley Queen’. Cornus kousa ‘Wisley Queen’ Trachycarpus fortunei and Olearia solandri ‘Aurea’ look great together. Trachycarpus fortunei Hydrangea aspera ‘Robusta’…

24th August

Queen’ Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ Rehmannia elata Rehmannia elata Echinacea ‘Green Jewel’ Echinacea ‘Green Jewel’ Imperata ‘Red Baron’ Imperata ‘Red Baron’ Jaimie has decided not to cut the main bank outside…

29th August

…‘Wisley Queen’ with now ripe fruits. Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ 2017 – CHW Sinowilsonia henryi has still not flowered in dappled shade on a hottish bank. Sinowilsonia henryi…

19th September

…the whole country prepares for todays state funeral for H.M. The Queen. Its, quite rightly, a bank holiday so we are all glued to the television. At Churchill’s state funeral…

20th September

…pleasant combination of Lobelia cardinalis ‘Queen Victoria’ and Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’. Lobelia cardinalis ‘Queen Victoria’ and Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’ Here is another – Euphorbia characias ‘Tasmanian Tiger’ and Heuchera ‘Obsidian’….

2nd March

…week with Raf Lenaerts party. Magnolia ‘Queen Elizabeth’ is suddenly full out. Magnolia ‘Queen Elizabeth’ As is Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum. Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum Rhododendron…

1st October

…crown More giant mushrooms on the lawn. giant mushrooms A fine late show on Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’. Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ Flower tassels well on on Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’. Garrya…

12th August

…Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tardiva’ Hydrangea paniculata ‘White Lady’ – likewise. Hydrangea paniculata ‘White Lady’ Hydrangea paniculata ‘White Lady’ Sorbus ‘Pearly Queen’ with berries forming. Sorbus ‘Pearly Queen’ Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’…

20th November

…many more days on tidying up fallen trees and branches when the worklist of new seasonal winter jobs awaits.Will these sheltered stumps of Rhododendron ‘Saffron Queen’ survive? Perhaps where there…

19th December

…Not good news to see the outer coatings falling of Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’. Magnolia campbellii ‘Darjeeling’ Suckers appearing on Magnolia ‘Queen Elizabeth’. Should we remove these? Magnolia ‘Queen Elizabeth’ Still…

April 2018 Irish trip (Day 4)

…in no time and needs the council money. greenhouse The climbing Hydrangea serratifolia with leaves much larger than ours. Hydrangea serratifolia Hydrangea serratifolia Rhododendron ‘Queen of Hearts’ a very dark…

24th July

…to the ground and reseeded each year. wild flower meadow wild flower meadow Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’ very fine. Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’ Agapanthus ‘Royal Velvet’ and Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’….

22nd August

…Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ on Hovel Cart Road is looking good. A pleasant surprise. Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ Dead Rhododendrons by Higher Quarry Nursery. Dead Rhododendrons The Queen Mother’s magnolia shedding leaves…

10th May

…Another plant which I had forgotten with a few decent flowers. Magnolia (Michelia) ‘Fairy Lime’ Magnolia (Michelia) ‘Fairy Lime’ Rhododendron ‘Saffron Queen’ far too out to cut for Chelsea. Rhododendron…

23rd July

…quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ has large florets which should show pink tinges later. More vigorous aged 25 years than ‘Snowflake’ and is said to hold its flower…

10th March

…all settling in well. Tunnel Field Tunnel Field An Italian grown batch of agave have just arrived in the nursery. agave Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Snow Queen’ in flower. Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Snow…

7th July

…glutinosa. Eucryphia glutinosa Well formed fruits on Passiflora ‘Snow Queen’. Passiflora ‘Snow Queen’ 2021 – CHW The customary pilgrimage to Will Caws’ secret 40 acres of chalk downland at the…

11th February

…Campylotropis macrocarpa Amazingly a Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ is just coming into flower in a pot. I do not fancy its chances in the howling gale. Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ Pseudopanax laetus…