10th March 1897 – 2020

…hybrid Magnolia ‘Manchu Fan’ Magnolia ‘Manchu Fan’ Magnolia ‘Pickards Snow Queen’ (Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Picture’ x unknown) Magnolia ‘Pickards Snow Queen’ Magnolia ‘Pickards Snow Queen’ Magnolia ‘Pink Flamingo’ Magnolia ‘Pink…

25th March

…label but, looking today, I am glad we did not ditch or move either of these quite good plants. Magnolia ‘Pickards Coral’ Magnolia ‘Pickards Coral’ Magnolia ‘Pickards Coral’ These Rhododendron…

5th March 1897 – 2020

…‘Blood Moon’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Pickards Ruby’ – first interesting flowers on this as yet unnamed hybrid which I strongly suspect is of Belgian origin. Darker than ‘Pickards Ruby’…

11th April

…very ‘pink’ or ‘diamond’ either. Magnolia ‘Pink Diamond’ Magnolia ‘Pickards Crystal’ – see for yourself! Magnolia ‘Pickards Crystal’ Another Pickards hybrid – could not read the label. Another Pickards hybrid…

21st April

…it. Actually I think it is ‘Pickards Ruby’ – Garnet is nearby. ‘Pickards Ruby’ ‘Pickards Ruby’ ‘Pickards Ruby’ ‘Pickards Ruby’ Magnolia pseudokobus ‘Kubimishimodori’ at its very best. Magnolia pseudokobus ‘Kubimishimodori’…

13th March 1897 – 2020

‘Pickards Garnet’ which is a good magnolia for a smaller garden slowly comes out. A long lasting flower by magnolia standards. Magnolia ‘Pickards Garnet’ Magnolia ‘Pickards Garnet’ First flowers on…

14th April

…Amos Pickard seedling from Magnolia x soulangeana ‘Picture’. Magnolia ‘Pickards Ruby’ grows nearby and on the drive. Magnolia ‘Pickards Garnet’ Magnolia ‘Pickards Garnet’ 2020 – CHW First cuckoo heard by…

31st March

…the first of the 23 Amelanchier in the new collection planted above the kennels are just into flower. Amelanchier laevis ‘Snow Flakes’ Amelanchier laevis ‘Snow Flakes’ Amelanchier laevis ‘Princess Diana’…

17th April

…early. Rhododendrons ‘Saffron Queen’ Rhododendrons ‘Saffron Queen’ Our younger Quercus lamellosa by Donkey Show has lost virtually all its leaves already as the new buds swell up. The old plant…

4th March 1897 – 2020

…not seen out before but I cannot read the label. It is very ordinary and just above Magnolia ‘Pickards Sundew’ which we have several of. Magnolia ‘Pickards Stardust’ Magnolia ‘Pickards

11th March 1897 – 2020

…of flowers. Again this started flowering in December. Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ First flowers on a young Rhododendron calophytum. They will soon fade to white but the blotch…

7th March 1897 – 2020

…think I see where the name comes from having been rude about this last year. Magnolia ‘Pickards Stardust’ Magnolia ‘Pickards Stardust’ Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ with the sun at the right…

21st September

…in a rather exposed, but prominent, situation. Blue Cedar The Queen Mother’s magnolia (seedling) was planted by her near George’s Hut on 11th April 1981. Queen Mother’s magnolia I have…

6th March 1897 – 2020

…appropriate! Enca carnea ‘Winter Snow’ Enca carnea ‘Winter Snow’ Edgewrthia chrysantha just coming out and undamaged. Edgewrthia chrysantha The leaves on Pseudowintera colorata have enjoyed the cold and now exhibit…

14th February 1897 – 2020

…and Azalea ledifolia Alba (Azalea ledifolium now apparently) is showing colour. Magnolia denudata ‘Forrest Pink’ has a few flowers out and so does Magnolia ‘Pickards Ruby’ which is especially dark…

23rd May

…Sally Hayward RCMG with posy for the Queen – Photo Courtesy of Sally. Queen’s Visit – Photo Courtesy of Sally. Then we get to the royal visit. The RHS say…

1st March 1897 – 2020

…next weekends Rosemoor show. snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow snow The Daphne bholua outside my window is definitely deceased in the cold wind. How many magnolias…

12th October

…sun. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Galissonniere’ Camillia ‘Snow Flurry’ is full out above the Hovel. Camillia ‘Snow Flurry’ Camillia ‘Snow Flurry’ A clump of hydrangea ‘Joseph Banks’ which was cut back when…

18th July

…has made a much larger plant. Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ 2019 – CHW The RHS have just given AGMs to 17 or 19 new varieties of…

3rd August

…rest of neighbouring Europe hits over 40°C. Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ is already turning an autumnal pink in the drought. Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ Magnolia ‘Todds…