2025 – CHW
The rain has perked the garden up no end and now much less risk of a drought summer.

The modern day replica of the Trevennen helmet, that was stolen from the church decades ago, has been returned to its rightful place.

A pendulous Styrax japonicus suddenly puts up a new leading shoot on the main ride.

The big leafed rhodos have really enjoyed the heavy rain.

Schefflera sp. nova (NJM 13.118) reaches for the sky.

One we missed with the Internation Oak Society – Lithocarpus fenestratus (NJM 13.074).

The rain was sadly too late for this rhododendron.

Metapanax davidii (from Pan Global Plants) with flowers appearing.

Rhododendron maddenii at Donkey Shoe – not much flower this year.

2024 – CHW
Two dry days on the trot. Quite an event this year!Syringa yunnanensis (SBEC 1022) still full of flowers and bees.

Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ even better than we saw it at the flower festival adorning the entrance to the church.

Cornus hongkongensis still not full out.

Styrax japonicus ‘Pendulus’ has plenty of flowers but you have to burrow your way inside the drooping branches to photograph the flowers properly.

Deutzia montbeigii is developing into a good later Deutzia show.

Calycanthus ‘Aphrodite’ and Deutzia montbeigii.

Styrax japonicus ‘Jippei-Kawamure’. This tree was ringbarked by deer but reshot from the base and is catching up on its former self. Very floriferous but the flowers on well-hidden in the midst of the bush.

Aesculus californica is probably the last of the Aesculus species to flower. A. wilsonii was early this year but the two usually overlap. A very slow growing but floriferous species.

2023 – CHW

I cannot resist showing you more of Batsford instead of telling you about the cricket which got rained off at 2pm at Edgbaston.

Ostrya carpinifolia with a multitude of flowers tassels.

Carpinus turczaninowii.

Carpinus orientalis.

Carpinus laxiflora var. macrostachya.

Carpinus cordata.

Carpinus caroliniana.

Juglans microcarpa.

2022 – CHW

Styrax japonicus ‘Farges Belle’ in the Isla Rose Plantation.

Cornus capitata flowering exceptionally well.

Styrax grandiflorus flowering for the first time. Unlike S. japonicus this species has small racemes of three or four flowers on one stalk. I had wondered how it was identifiable.

Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ just turning colour.

Styrax officinalis not quite out yet.

Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ at its outstanding best.

Liquidambar acalycina with its reddish brown new growth.

A perfect flower on Magnolia ‘Porcelain Dove’.

First flowers very early on Manglietia insignis.

The distinctive leaflet on top of the flower bud on Magnolia sapaensis. Ten flowers this year – the first one nearly out.

Secondary flowering already on Magnolia ‘Ossie’s Yellow’.

2021 – CHW
A great deal in the garden still at its absolute best despite what people might say about woodland gardens being ‘over’ by mid-June.Deutzia x hybrida ‘Strawberry Fields’ at its very best on the drive.

Styrax formosanus var. formosanus now full out.

Styrax hemsleyanus. Some of the flower racemes are doubles and some are single.

Styrax formosanus var. hayatianus has far less weight of flowers than formosanus.

Catalpa bungei f. duclouxii, the China bean tree, is suddenly full out and very fine indeed.

Magnolia obovata ‘Pink Flush’ still flowering away a month after the first flowers.

Azalea ‘Western Lights’ still good above Bond Street.