Proof that Lithocarpus pachyphyllus flowers only produce proper seed heads in their second year after flowering.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ on Hovel Cart Road.

The new drip feed watering of individual rhododendrons.

A young Schima superba (Mu He Shu) in flower. Nothing yet on the old plant.

Magnolia (laevifolia x champaca) x M. (laevifolia x maudiae) flowering for the second time this year.

2025 – CHW

Clethra fabri still not out.

Clethra mexicana has no flowers this year despite the heat.

Cleyera japonica in flower. (This originally came to us as Magnolia compressa).

Mallotus japonicus – I think this is a male plant and these are male flowers but need to check again when they are fully out.

Tiny leaves and new growth on Magnolia ‘Mighty Mouse’.

Tail end flower on Magnolia x foggii ‘Jack Fogg’.

Seed on Magnolia wilsonii.

2024 – CHW
A Burncoose visit in heavy drizzle and sea fret.Thunbergia ‘Battiscombei’ beside the till.

Campsis grandiflora out a month earlier than usual in the nursery but not yet here.

The first time I have seen the Australian Lagunaria patersonii in flower. Its unexpectedly good although I doubt we could grow it outside for long?

Clethra alnifolia just finishing flowering.

Clethra fargesii just finishing flowering.

Aesculus parviflora well out in a tunnel. The last Aesculus species to flower and one which is often forgotten.

Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’ is a shy flower particularly when pot grown but not bad here.

Secondary flower showing on Cercis chinensis ‘Shirobana’ which is odd but in this wet summer there is exceptional growth.

Citharexylum quadrangulare in flower. Seldom seen before and quite pretty.

Dianella caerulea ‘Cassa Blue’ just out.

A good crop of New Zealand acers have just arrived from their winter and been potted up.

A fine crop of rooted camellia cutting now all potted – 300 or so varieties.

Excellent liner plants of Pseudopanax also from New Zealand.

2023 – CHW

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Polar Bear’ and Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa Group’ looking good together.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Early Sensation’ has turned pink quickly in the drought.

Cornus drummondii ‘Sunshiny Drops’ nicely out. How on earth the nursery grower of this excellent new plant thought we could get it out in time to show at Chelsea remains a mystery.

Adinandra TH4557 developing well but will soon be nibbable by deer.

A young Lithocarpus pachyphyllus has lost a lot of leaves and suffered in the drought but the large acorn clusters survive.

I have been puzzled about these 2 trees besides Charlie Michael’s Nursery for years. They are both Carya ovata I am now pretty certain based on the 5 leaflets on each leaf and the fruits forming here. I looked at Carya at Ventnor and Osborne House.

2022 – CHW

Ross has started grinding up and digging out the 3 beech stumps and their roots below Higher Quarry Nursery.

Magnolia virginiana ‘Northern Belle’ was only planted a year ago but has taken off upwards in no uncertain terms. At least 3 feet of new growth already.

Magnolia laevifolia x maudiae, a 2020 gift from Raf Lenaerts has taken off as well. I need to send Raf these photos.

Aucuba aff. chlorascens now protected from deer nibbling and doing well. It was just a few stumps with no leaves last winter. Now the higher level wire netting has done the trick.

A 2017 planted Magnolia caveana is now 15-20 feet tall.

Magnolia floribunda (NTM 10.136) is doing well also. How many years until it flowers?

Cyclocarya paliurus (SICH 1784) has settled in after planting last autumn. Leaf like a Pterocarya but fruits rather different or so I read up about this new genus to us.

Magnolia floribunda ‘Fansipan Furry’ (FMWJ 13340) is another young Magnolia steaming ahead in the Rireii opening.

Quercus insignis with its unusual new growth which makes it so frost vulnerable later.

Merniliopanax alpinus has already put on about 2 feet of new growth this year.

Still a late flower or two on Michelia x foggii ‘Allspice’.

The very first two flowers just open on Eucryphia x nymansensis ‘Nymansay’. A little earlier than usual in this dry, hot, summer.

2021 – CHW
Myrica laruotteana var. parauayensis in flower.

Clethra monostachya full out.

Seed heads have formed very quickly after flowering on Styrax wilsonii.

Huge seed heads on Magnolia ‘Kew’s Surprise’ to gather in a month.

Lomatia fraseri in flower in the frames.

Brassaiopsis dumicola (KWJ 12217) with a flower cluster. We lost this in the garden last winter.

The aptly named Fuchsia ‘Blacky’ which I bought at Treseders Nursery. I rather suspect this may sell well in BLM times. Some flowers black at first then fading to red while others stay black?

Strobilanthes wallichii has grown now to a decent size and its flowers are much larger than a year ago.

A lunch party for retirees from Burncoose Nurseries following a successful year which we all wanted them to share in. Judi kindly brought me plants of Tritonia disticha formerly known as Crocosmia rosea.

A couple of female flower cones for the first time on the Australian Araucaria bidwillii. Lowdown on the tree which is now circa 25ft tall. I can, as yet, see no male flowers.