12th April

…‘Dr Clifford Parks’ Camellia reticulata ‘Hulyn Smith’ – another one much like ‘Captain Rawes’. Camellia reticulata ‘Hulyn Smith’ Camellia reticulata ‘Hulyn Smith’ Camellia reticulata ‘Hulyn Smith’ Camellia reticulata ‘Frank Houser’…

28th August

…wildflower seed from the bank opposite the front door. Volunteers Peter Bickford-Smith collecting the entries for the annual GWCT clay shoot here as he has done for 30 to 40…

19th May

…was also very fond of granny’s bonnets which still thrive outside the dining room. granny’s bonnets Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’ with the usual reversions. Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’ Weigelia florida ‘Variegata’ Jasminum…

24th April

…Ross Smith at Duchy College. Rhododendron floccigeum Rhododendron floccigeum Rhododendron floccigeum Rhododendron ‘Beauty of Littleworth’. We must layer this plant! Rhododendron ‘Beauty of Littleworth’ Rhododendron ‘Beauty of Littleworth’ Rhododendron ‘Hotei’…

4th May

…Rhododendron canadense, four ‘Beauty of Littleworth’, two helolepsis, two fargesi and several others. The ‘Moonstone’ and ‘Beauty of Littleworth’ were tissue culture grown by Ros Smith at Rosewarne in the…

8th April

…daffodil exhibit this year. R&A Scamp’s daffodil exhibit R&A Scamp’s daffodil exhibit Burncoose wins The Bickford-Smith Trophy for the best trade Exhibit. Burncoose wins The Bickford-Smith Trophy Jaimie collects 2…

22nd April

…‘Atropurpurea Nana’ particularly striking today. Photinia x fraseri ‘Atropurpurea Nana’ A novelty Aquilegia now in the Burncoose catalogue this year! A. viridiflora ‘Chocolate Soldier’. Yellowish ‘granny’s bonnets’ then turn brown-black….

6th May

…are untouched by the winter and in full flower already Granny’s bonnets – Aquilegia – my father’s favourite wild(ish) flower Euphorbia mellifera is about to come out. It’s a shrub…

31st July

…from Sept – May 1st almost non-stop. 1999 – FJW A hot dry fortnight. Everything well out. 1981 – FJW Granny’s 70th birthday – the rain came after a very…

12th March

…a very welcome new addition to our national collection. I find a brief reference to this in ‘New Trees’ but I believe this was a gift from Doug Smith who…