24th August 1897 – 2020 | The Garden Diary

FJW 1955-2007

CHW 2015-

JCW 1897-1939

CW 1940-1955

2020 – CHW
Looking again at the Hydrangea paniculata varieties two to three weeks on into flowering is quite revealing as to which are the best value overall.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’ is just turning. Splendid!

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’ is not very pink really – more creamy-green.

Fruits on Crataegus x grignonensis which was top grafted.

Autumn colour already on Stewartia rostrata. Reddish today, it will turn black.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘White Lady’ is supposed to turn green! I suppose it may yet.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’ looks rather droopy and wish now.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ is still full out and the flowers are huge. To be fair this one was only out a little later than some of the others.

2019 – CHW
A few things looking good in the nursery with flowers or foliage:Tricyrtus hirta

Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’

Rehmannia elata

Echinacea ‘Green Jewel’

Imperata ‘Red Baron’

Jaimie has decided not to cut the main bank outside the front door for a second time as the cyclamen are out all over and the knapweed feeding butterflies in profusion.

Hedychium coronarium just out as the next heatwave is upon us. Some flowers still in bud and some nearly over.

Indigofera howellii ‘Reginald Corry’ is doing well above the wall.

As are the Fucraea and Beshorneria in full sun where they bake.

Malus hupehensis laden with fruit in only its second year from planting. Another few weeks before they are fully ripe.

2018 – CHW
Hedychium coronarium still just out on the top wall. No deer damage yet unlike last year.

Calliandra surinamensis with its delicate leaf structure. Too tender ever to thrive outside I fear although it lived through The Beast in an open frame and has grown well in the heatwave.

Eucryphia cordifolia full out beyond the Playhourse. It is actually two plants I put there 30 plus years ago.

2017 – CHW
I set off to photograph the hoherias but they prove not to be out – except Hoheria glabrata which is, as we know, over.A few flowers still left on Rhododendron prunifolium which is odd as late as this.

This Eucryphia x nymansensis ‘Nymansay’ was blown over in the 1990 hurricane. We righted the stump and it has regrown as a peculiar multi-stemmed tree. Flowers just finishing.

A tail end flower on Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’ with secondary purple new growth appearing as well.

Flower buds only, as yet, on Hoheria sextylosa ‘Pendula’. Later than usual to show.

A good show of secondary flowers on Rhododendron ‘Blue Tit’.

Seed forming in profusion on Styrax serrulatus.

2016 – CHW
The first pink and white Cyclamen hederifolium are out on the lawn perhaps a little earlier than usual. Time for another attempt to stop young Tim mowing the leaves, flowers or corns.

Outside the front door the Zantedeschia aetheopica is finally setting seed and flopping over nine months (yes nine!) after I first pictured it here in flower in the winter. Is this a record?

2015 – CHW
Certain rhododendrons produce a small secondary flowering in the autumn. Here Rhododendron ‘Elizabeth’ has a try.

Hydrangea aspera villosa, 25 years old and already partly dead, is putting on one (probably) last display.

While we have been away the Eucryphia lucida x cordifolias have come to their best. The flower on this plant is tremendous but the leaf form is nowhere near nymansensis ‘Nymansay’; the best of the crosses between these two species. We have several similar plants dotted about which predate my planting sprees. What else puts on such a show in late August ?

2005 – FJW
Rain after 3 weeks of dry weather.

1973 – FJW
All corn in – 80 acres corn (20 less than 1972) but total grain more.

1915 – JCW
Myrtles on the wane. decorums are very good. R auriculatum (quarry) is over, R auriculatum (Auklandii Garden) plant not yet open. Hybrid Gladiolus are nice. No other shrubs of any value.