A Cornus kousa above the greenhouse which is plastered in flower. Pre 1996 planting and no name. Cornus have performed well this year in late June unlike the Styrax/Stewartia. They like it hot and dry but they are so terribly slow to make a show. I started planting lots of Cornus 20+ years ago but only a few are now a spectacle which extends the season. We have seen several kousa varieties in the last three weeks.

Leptospermum lanigerum is nearby and laden down with the weight of its flowers.

Hydrangea quercifolia just showing colour – very early.

Cornus capitata is an equally good show today also above the greenhouse.

Photinia glabra (?) has a few flowers. Confirming the identity of this one was a puzzle which we could not solve on the Photinia investigation day. Cracking on the main stem of this multi stemmed tree by Georges Hut.

This is Michael Lear’s record tree of Euonymus tingens. I have had my doubts about the naming of this old tree in the bottom of the Ririei Opening which was measured at 8m in height in 2006. The seeds looked right when I had occasionally found a few but I had never caught the flowers properly as here. Creamy white clusters of flowers with conspicuous purple veining as here. So it definitely is E. tingens. The Hillier’s description might have added ‘frilly edges’ too!

Small seed clusters forming on Lithocarpus variolosus which I doubt will make anything.

A suddenly dead old sycamore above the main quarry which threatens the old Rhododendron arboreum subsp. delavayi.

2019 – CHW
Rhododendron megacalyx scenting the area at the bottom of the Auklandii Garden. Did Asia get seed of this last year? The old clump has long since died out and these few were raised from seed here 30 or so years ago. Time to repeat the process as a 40 year lifespan is about the norm for this tender scented species.

Still flowers on Camellia ‘Mathotiana Alba’.

The second flower on Magnolia sapaensis (I have been spelling it incorrectly) is now just out. The first one is very rounded when full out and seems to last only for two to three days. I wonder if this would cross with other magnolias (eg virginiana or globosa which are both out nearby) or will it only cross with another former Manglietia species?

Manglietia yuyuanensis (now Magnolia yuyuanensis) is almost out in flower. No doubt we will miss it when away at Hampton Court flower show.

A two year from planting Rhododendron yuefengense with its first flowers. Fortunea Group so related to Rhododendron orbiculare and Rhododendron decorum.

2018 – CHW
The last flowers on Deutzia x hybrida ‘Strawberry Fields’ are just fading away after a tremendous show.

However, beside it, a very much older and historic Deutzia scabra ‘Pride of Rochester’ is full out. Pink in early bud with a pink flush on the outside of some of the many white flowers in the long panicles of flowers which cover the bush.

Here is a hedgerow full of small growing Cornish elms with tiny leaves. Largely untouched by decades of elm disease. Many small trees, saplings and suckers all together on top of a Cornish stone faced earth bank. Another one for the national survey on surviving elms. Ulmus minor subsp. angustifolia (or Ulmus carpinifolia var. cornubiensis).

Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’; one of several trees growing on the drive at Trewithen. A gorgeous colour in the sun today from a distance. Cheered up a dull squirrel meeting in the scorching heat.

2017 – CHW
Gentle rain all day which is just what the garden needed. It is about three weeks since we last had proper rain and everything will jump now as far as new growth and fodder crops are concerned.The Hydrangea seemanii is now full out on the arch and looking as splendid as yesterday’s climbing rose on the other archway. It will however need its new growth clipping back from the battlements in the autumn as before. So Hydrangea petiolans varieties are over but Hydrangea aspera villosa and Hydrangea sargentiana have yet to show. Seemanii is a mid season flowering species. Very vigorous and ideal for growing up tall or dead trees.

Ross has just started on the large new tree clearance above the old Playhouse and back to the Hothead. Only a small machine but what he has cut down and the stumps grubbed out in only one full day is startling. We start to investigate some of the trees on the top side of the path which we were not sure whether to fell or not now that there is some space to look back. It will be a huge new area for replanting next spring and the soil does not look as thin or stony as I was expecting. I have devised a plant list of hardier shrubs and things which will tolerate wind in a hot and potentially very dry location for the nursery to assemble. Another major improvement to the garden but we will be letting in more east and northeast wind into the main garden so we must expect a few big trees to blow down above the clearing. Fortunately the laurel, beech and ilex oaks planted above the path 15 or so years ago have come on well. They will soon have more light to grow on even better.