A young Camellia transnokoensis with its first flowers. We lost a large established plant of this species in the 2018 Beast from the East.

Turpinia formosana with frost damage on its new growth.

Camellia yunnanensis (17099 – seedling grown by us from RMCG seed list) flowering for perhaps the second time.

A young Fatsia polycarpa with its first flower.

Another good clump of Rhododendron ririei.

The trunk and flower on a mature Fatsia polycarpa with chubbier leaves.

A roe deer lay down here beside the Fatsia in the last 24 hours.

2023 – CHW
A warmer week and more camellias begin to show.Camellia ‘Lulu Belle’.

Camellia japonica ‘Kick Off’. Jaimie grew this plant from a cutting 26 years ago.

Camellia japonica ‘Mary Costa’.

Camellia japonica ‘Silver Chalice’ – a much newer introduction.

2022 – CHW
Overcast but still mild with a hint of drizzle as for several days.Camellia ‘Contessa Lavinia Maggi’ with its first flower. One of the old original japonicas on the wall by the arch. An Italian bred variety introduced to the UK from Belgium in 1858. Arrived here around 1903.

Another stretch of laurel well cut back below the Main Ride. The clump of Rhododendron chapmanii now has more light.

A few flowers on dad’s hybrid (unnamed) azalea clump above the tree fern. A muddy colour!

First flowers out on Rhododendron moupinense.

And on Rhododendron Golden Oriole Group (moupinense x sulphureum) raised here.

A few more flowers now out on Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’. It has not been rushing which may mean cold weather is coming.

A newly bought in Camellia x williamsii ‘Red Dahlia’ with its first flower.

2021 – CHW
Last night the RHS announced that Chelsea 2021 is to be moved from late May to late September. Not a great time of the year for delphiniums, lupins, iris, bedding, tulips, herbaceous or woody plants which are mainly spring/summer flowering and the mainstays of the floral marque and, either forced, or held back. Salvia, dahlia, asters and fruit will be “great for a change” they say but it is a bit early for autumn colour. The RHS used to have a Great Autumn Show in Vincent Square in October but, apart from those selling dry spring bulbs, there was never that much to see. Since the RHS never got beyond allocating us a notional space at Chelsea last October with reduced attendances and an extra show day I wonder what the threat or bribe will be now? I cannot see it will be worth our while financially or that we could mount a decent stand of any sort of size in late September. That is production time on the nursery and not show selling time. I do not blame them for trying but I suspect many longstanding exhibitors will take a similar view to ours. Their show tunnels, like ours, will be stocked with May flowering plants. Will the public get a raw deal? I see tickets are transferable but at the original high prices.Separately, the RHS President, Mr Weed, has demanded more ‘diversity’ in show judges. Judging used to be based on knowledge, experience and a collective committee vote by recognised experts in individual plant sectors. More recently a ‘fairer’ (?) and simplistic points system with less judges, many of whom are not experts in certain plant specialities, has been adopted. Now, I suppose, we are to have a ‘woke’ judging system based on diversity, ‘fairness’ (ie bias) and BLM rather than plant knowledge. All judges have to be ‘trained’ and you can guess what in. Roy Lancaster was invited to be trained as a judge when aged nearly 80. He said he had been doing it for 40 years and did not need much plant training so would decline their offer! What are Mr Weed’s gardening credentials and pedigree? Might the RHS be following the National Trust in trying to make a change to their traditions, purpose and approach in response to a minority opinion set against that of their older, loyal members who dislike any ‘change’ on principle? The old guard of lifetime Chelsea exhibitors will have a view but the RHS will not care unless it further hurts their bottom line which it may.The first ‘wild’ daffodil is out at the Four in Hand.

The central flower is Camellia x williamsii ‘Beatrice Michael’ and the two either side are ‘JC Williams’.

Our largest Neolitsea sericea looks sick and has defoliated a lot. However, the new growth shoots and buds are still evident. No rot at the base but perhaps a forthcoming honey fungus casualty?

Camellia ‘Cornish Spring’ a bit frosted but plenty of buds to come. A Tregrehan hybrid of great merit.

Camellia ‘Spring Mist’ with flowers coming.

The first flowers on the Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ have been frosted on Monday/Tuesday nights which were more severe than I realised.

Camellia ‘California Sunset’ just coming out.

Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ half frosted.

A carpet of frosted flowers below Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’ but plenty fairly untouched at the top of the plant.

2020 – CHW
Plenty of new growth on the evergreen Carpinus kawakamii.

The buds on Michelia doltsopa are swelling furiously.

First flowers on a young Rhododendron ririei.

Still a few leaves left on Rehderodendron indochinense.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Debbie’ just coming out.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Caerhays’ just now out as well on Burns Bank.

Still many yellow berries left on Ilex aquifolium ‘Bacciflava’.

2019 – CHW
The clump of taller growing snowdrops beside the drive is suddenly full out.Rhododendron siderophyllum, the pinker form, is full out beyond the Rockery. The white forms seem some way off coming out yet.

A seedling of Rhododendron ‘Mrs Butler’ is full out and well worth its place this early despite its colour. Pink fading to white.

2018 – CHW

Jaimie finds the old plant of Illicium anisatum full out above Crinodendron Hedge. We have seen young plants in flower before in February but never quite this early I think.

2016 – CHW
Arum italicum (lords and ladies) a good eight inches into growth already. Rivalling the bluebells. It does not seem long since the seed pods were visible here outside the front arch with their prominent orange seeds.