This Pterocarya macroptera var. insignis was only planted in 2017. Like the one in Kennel Close it is already producing flower/seed tassels.

Philadelphus (?) ‘Oeil de Pourpre’ which I have not seen in flower before.

A better plant of Rhododendron kyawii than the one by Tin Garden.

Rhododendron yuefengense just coming out in Orchid House Nursery.

Cornus capitata and Picea glauca ‘Piccolo’.

2025 – CHW
A very hot few days but the onshore winds have helped lower the temperature.Denis White, aged at least 84, still at work in the nursery now that he has been extracted from the old folks home where his wife has dementia. Watering with a zimmer frame!

Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala (CWJ 12441). The 3 plants do not all have quite the same flowers.

Nice tints on the new growth of Disanthus cercidifolius.

Gladiolus ‘Prins Claus’ in Roy Key’s garden at The Pound.

Rosa ‘Fairy Girl’ also at Roy’s.

Not named but a gorgeous scent.

The Porthluney car park after the car fire.

The strong southerly winds have covered the beach with green seaweed.

3 swifts seen and heard all week over the lawn. Only one youngster?

Lomatia ferruginea too far out to cut for the Hampton Court Show. Attached is the updated list of our Carpinus collection after the Carpinus study day.

2024 – CHW
I have never known a year like it for ticks in the long grass. The result, I assume, of the incessant rain this year. The dogs are plastered every time they go out but, fortunately, their treatment means the ticks dies after they bite. Not the case when the latch onto me!

Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ is very late into flower.

The very last flower on Michelia ‘Touch of Pink’.

Acer sikkimense with seed tassles.

The base of our largest Camellia taliensis.

Several clumps of Rhododendron maddenii now coming out.

During lockdown the IDS put on a lecture about Acer pentaphyllum and how rare this small tree now is in Sichuan. I thought we had at least one plant of this which was probably a gift from Kew or Windsor. This species is very late indeed into leaf and, by reputation, rather tender. Here are a few pictures of how this looks today. I saw another plant at Tregrehan of about the same size.

Three plants of Desfontainia spinosa. One full of flower, one with no flowers, and one half dead due to water logging.

The rather dull and unusual smelling Buddleja loricata.

Beside the garden entrance the white form of Rhododendron viscosum. The pink form is in Old Park on the top ride below the gunnera. Gorgeous scent.

A new enclosure for the car park ticket machines.

The new electric charging points are finally fitted at Porthluney.

2023 – CHW

First flower out on the Magnolia delavayi hedge below the lawn. The start of a 6 month flowering season if we get no frost.

Rhododendron yuefengense producing a fine show but water needed!

Acer carpinifolium with its (as we now know) sterile seeds.

Quercus variabilis with few acorns yet to be seen. Almost a cork oak trunk.

Schefflera trevesioides (BJW 15158) looking unhappy. Perhaps drought or perhaps just not hardy?

Rhododendron megacalyx has failed to open its flowers due to lack of rain and may well die.

Schefflera shweliensis (TH 3330) looking to be getting going well despite the drought.

2022 – CHW
More Tilia species to inspect today.Why is it that so many species of styrax hide their flowers within the inside of their foliage canopy? What in nature makes them do that rather than show off their flowers to insect pollinators? The exceptions are S. wilsonii, S. americanus, S. hemsleyanus and, partly, S. hookeri. S. japonicus (all forms) is perhaps the worst, followed by S. formosanus (all forms), S. obassia and S. wuyuanensis. S. shiranus and S. officinalis are too small here as yet to see if they qualify or not but I suspect that shiranus is a ‘hider’ too from the few flowers seen so far.First flowering of Crûg Farm’s Hydrangea angustipetala f. macrosepala (CWJ 12441). Three plants above the sales point but only one fully out. The sterile florets start out small but then become huge. Very distinctive leaves. Well worth propagating to create more clumps of this in the garden. Asia please.

Tilia amurensis from Chollipo.

Seedpods forming nicely for Asia to gather later on Paulownia kawakamii.

Irregular variegation on Ginkgo biloba ‘Variegata’ but this is a very variegated twig.

Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’ with its drooping branches which touch the ground.

Tilia mexicana has similarly huge leaves and a drooping habit. New leaves are bronzy green and the leaves are just as huge as on ‘Petiolaris’ but a different shape.

A young Tilia zamoyskiana with flower buds.

Tilia endochrysa with its exceptional early spring leaf colour now looks rather normal.

The first time we have seen seed cones on Carpinus caroliniana.

2021 – CHW
A warm visit to the nursery today.Bergenia ‘Morgenrote’ in full flower which is odd in June.

Phlox paniculata ‘David’ especially fine.

I finally locate Primula vialli ‘Alison Holland’.

The new to us Azalea ‘Blue Moon’ is a good thing.

All the camellia liners now potted on and looking good.

Huodendron biaristratum in full flower.

Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’ buzzing like a beehive with bees.

Campylotropis macrocarpa is a totally new plant/shrub to me. Need to look up what its flowers are like. From China and Korea.