1st August

…‘Happy Anniversary’ Rosa ‘Happy Anniversary’ Rosa ‘Happy Anniversary’ Rosa ‘Many Happy Returns’ Rosa ‘Many Happy Returns’ Rosa ‘Ruby Wedding’ Rosa ‘Ruby Wedding’ Rosa ‘Deep Secret’ Rosa ‘Deep Secret’ Rosa ‘Peace’…

27th June

…in a sheltered spot at the Grimaldis’ house in Bembridge. Sollya heterophylla Sollya heterophylla Rosa ‘Fragrant Cloud’ Rosa ‘Fragrant Cloud’ Rosa ‘Chinatown’ Rosa ‘Chinatown’ The rose named after the Grimaldi…

30th May

Rosa canina full out in the hedgerows by Treberrick. Pink and white forms. Good news that hedges cannot be cut in the summer nowadays except on roads. Rosa canina Rosa

29th June

…tall it is here. blue fescue Rosa canina, the dog rose, is full out everywhere. Here a pink form. Rosa canina Rosa canina The more common form (here at least)…

12th May

Rosa rugosa ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’ – just coming out and a very gentle colour. Too delicate to take to Chelsea I fear but Rosa roxburgii may make it. Rosa rugosa…

13th May

…frail. Rhododendron campylocarpum Magnolia ‘Judy Zuk’ opposite the mist houses. Magnolia ‘Judy Zuk’ Magnolia ‘Judy Zuk’ Rosa banksia ‘Alba Plena’ at the front of Burncoose House. Rosa banksia ‘Alba Plena’…

3rd June

…Tregrehan garden entrance. Pachystegia insignis Pachystegia insignis Rosa ‘Alberic Barbier’ (climber) on Tom’s wall. Rosa ‘Alberic Barbier’ Rosa ‘Alberic Barbier’ Rosa ‘Golden Showers’ (climber) beside it. Rosa ‘Golden Showers’ Rosa

31st May

…flowering. rhododendron grown from Group seed (via Mayor Howell) 2024 – CHW Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ in a pot outside the Stable Flat. Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ Roy Lancaster sends…

7th July

…the flowers have not opened properly in the drought. Rosa ‘American Pillar’ Deer damage on Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’ nearby. Not a leaf left on the lower branches. Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’…

2nd July

…lawn. Rosa ‘American Pillar’ Rosa ‘American Pillar’ Rosa ‘American Pillar’ Mary Kaiser (nee Jobson), her daughter Sarah, and granddaughters Cora and Carter in the Tin Garden shed. A whistle stop…

2nd May

…to four main stems but has reshot well. This is however its first decent flowering since the cutback. Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’ Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’ The stock plant of Berberidopsis beckleri…

6th June

…‘Manhattan Lights’ Rosa ‘Kent’ a new one for the nursery. Rosa ‘Kent’ Also Rosa ‘Sussex’. Rosa ‘Sussex’ Rosea gallica ‘Variegata’ is something rather special. Rosea gallica ‘Variegata’ The hydrangea beds…

10th May

…the Playhouse. Wisteria sinensis A closeup of Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’; my mother’s favourite rose. Most of the flowers are 20ft up. Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’ Echium pininana and Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’ –…

10th July

…investigate. Hydrangea xanthoneura wilsonii Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’ – a gigantic edifice which is 85 years old (20m x 25m). Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’ Rosa filipes ‘Kiftsgate’ Gorgeous double blue flowered geranium…

4th February 1897 – 2020

…good pruning or, rather, a good thin out back to younger shoots without the old dead wood. Rosa banksiae ‘Alba Plena’ Rosa banksiae ‘Alba Plena’ 2016 – CHW The true…

14th August

…on Rosa ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’. Rosa ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ Rosa ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ and Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ and Hydrangea…

16th September

…this vigorous but beautiful specie climbing rose. Rosa filipes Rosa filipes Cornus kousa ‘Doubloon’ was covered in fruits. Since I spotted them first the pheasant poults have taken at least…

14th September

Rosa roxburgii Rosa roxburgii Seed heads have formed sparsely on Platycarya strobilacea. Platycarya strobilacea Plenty of good flowers still on Schima superba. Flowers on the other species are now virtually…

25th June

…Idesia polycarpa Rosa roxburgii just coming out on some lower branches. Rosa roxburgii A young Magnolia ernestii (formerly Michelia wilsonii or Michelia sinensis) is growing away nicely. The foliage is…

8th July

…everywhere at 20mph on the island’s dreadful roads.The climbing Rosa ‘The Garland’ was especially good. A very old variety but it ought to be more widely grown. Rosa ‘The Garland’…