Rhododendrons nearly dead on Sinogrande Walk.

Even the bracken regrowth is only a foot high.

Blueberry crop non-existent and shrivelled on the bushes.

One of three Osmanthus fortunei dead in the drought.

Pterocarya macroptera var. insignis virtually defoliated with only the seed tassels left.

Euonymus hamiltonianus ‘Rising Sun’ defoliated and falling over.

Despite watering Rhododendron yuefengense still suffers.

Rhododendron kyawii is however recovering and producing new growth after watering.

Another dead Snake Bark Maple.

Surprising regrowth from an old cut back Pieris clump.

2025 – CHW

Heptacodium miconioides just coming out.

Fruits forming on Sorbus eleonorae.

Ripening seeds on Stewartia rostrata.

The new clearing on the drive all levelled off ready for planting.

Ross has split up the fallen beech tree by the Hovel for firewood.

Young cattle grazing the dry grass in White Styles.

Schefflera shweliensis from Tom Hudson making good headway.

Nyssa sinensis ‘Jim Russel’ with early (new growth) autumn colour.

2024 – CHW
Microtropis petelotii covered in seed heads.

First decent flowering here of Viburnum coriaceum (now V. cylindricum) stamens protrude from the individual white flowers.

Similarly the first proper flowering of Viburnum sambucinum. The name of the species well fits the flower. Not listed in Hilliers.
Euonymus echinatus with just a few seed heads.

Cornus macrophylla was only planted in 2021 but already becoming a tree and growing exponentially.

Euonymus oxyphyllus (BSWJ 10815) with a few seed heads and already dark red leaves.

Viburnum hoanglienense covered in reddening seed heads.

First flowers showing colour on Schima superba.

Every year I notice how early the autumn tint are in Acer henryi.

2023 – CHW
Armed with the updated Trees and Shrubs online I try to finally pin down our 3 Zelkova species. I had thought the two older plants were the same species but they are not. No sign of any seed on any of the 3 trees.This keys out to Zelkova carpinifolia which has grown in obscurity for c.35 years below the Main Ride. Interesting bark.

Planted only in 2020/1 Zelkova abelicea is already 12 feet or so tall and enjoying being in full sun. A native of Crete with a very readily recognised leaf structure and form.

Directly above the borehole tanks grows a c.35 year old Zelkova serrata. The leaves ae quite similar to Z. sinica and Z. schneideriana but the IDS website pictures enable you to key it out correctly. Very different bark.

Jaimie has pruned Prunus mahaleb which was leaning and weighted across the road by the Tower. Without this uplift it would have eventually collapsed.

The largest tree in the new Rookery clearing is now down so the burn up can begin and the timber removed.

Cotoneaster cornifolius (Ogisu – 9330) with its huge leaves and seed clusters turning in colour.

Ripe seeds on Ilex ficoides which I have seen before but not in August.

Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Crataegifolia’ in full flower. The first time I have seen this at its very best.

2022 – CHW
Frankie completes the pathways in the Kitchen Garden.

Sorbus wilsoniana becomes even better.

The virtues of leaving dead wood for woodpeckers to enjoy.

At the nursery a crop of Haresfoot Ink Cap, Coprinopsis lagopus, which grows on decaying compost or bark litter.

Mark Pheasey has done a splendid job replacing all the top vents on Asia’s greenhouse here.

2021 – CHW

A two hour garden tour here with Peter Mills.

I had thought this was Rhododendron glanduliferum from afar earlier this week but, on closer inspection, it is Rhododendron ‘Polar Bear’. The leaf shape is quite wrong for glanduliferum. I need to search further.

The new growth stem and bud colours on Salix fargesii continue to impress.

Secondary flowers on Magnolia ‘Apollo’ in Kennel Close.

Our old plant of Gevuina avellana needs cutting back to reshoot but some flowers low down on suckering growth.

Berries already eaten by pheasants on Ligustrum confusum.

Seed aplenty forming on Lomatia ferruginea.

Seed heads forming on Photinia prionophylla.

Although I suspect they will not develop properly acorn clusters forming on Lithocarpus variolosus.

‘Rabbit’s money’ (as we used to call elm seed as children) seed on Dipteronia sinensis.

Hoheria sextylosa nicely in flower below Donkey Shoe.

Hedychium coronarium just out into flower.