Podocarpus wangii with cold die back on its attractive orange new growth. Needs more shelter.

Although you can hardly see them here there are two flowers out on the Magnolia campbellii by the Tin Garden.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Sayonora’ also has quite variable flowers.

Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’ not too far off opening. The outer bud covers have dropped already.

Another Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ is equally impressive.

2024 – CHW
Camellia japonica ‘Takanini’ in Kennel Close has escaped the frost. One dead flower from natural causes.

Camellia ‘Fairy Blush’ (a C. lutchuensis cross) now rather specially good in several places in the garden and totally unfrosted. The first flowers showed about 3 weeks ago.

Camellia grijsii has been out for 2 months already but still very fine today by Donkey Shoe. Some signs of frost damage but plenty of new buds opening.

2023 – CHW
Pheasant hits Range Rover windscreen!

Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’ now full out.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’ coming out properly.

Frosted flowers and orange buds on Michelia ‘Fairy White’.

One of the new Crataegus species with new growth.

Chaenomeles flower and fruits.

Podocarpus matudae with ripe fruit.

2022 – CHW
First flowers out on a leafless Rhododendron ‘Chink’ – usually semi-deciduous.

Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ (yellow form) at its best.

Rookery Path laurel all pruned and tidied.

First flower on Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum.

A week on and Magnolia ‘Todd’s Fortyniner’ is progressing well with no frost damage.

Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ now at its best a month too late.

Early garlic shooting in the Auklandii Garden.

Plenty of early and scattered individual flowers as usual on Azalea ‘Hinomayo’.

2021 – CHW
Underneath a few elderly and moss covered oak trees something is pecking off chunks of moss and leaving a carpet under the tree. It is happening and being added to daily. Even after a night of rain there are fresh bits on the ground. Is this pigeons looking for grubs in the moss, jackdaws looking for early nesting materials or squirrels doing either or both of these?

Still prominent seed heads on Stewartia pteropetiolata.

A good set of well rooted layers of Rhododendron falconeri soon to be moved to a new location nearby to grow on.

Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans Aurea’ is a wonderful windbreak and attractive with the sun catching the top of this bulging multi stemmed ‘feathery’ small tree.

Three snakebark maple stems in the late January sun. All planted in 2007.

Acer rufinerve?

Acer rufinerve ‘Erythrocladum’

Acer tegmentosum has an ominous black fungal circle near its base and will shortly be another casualty to go with several others. Enjoy the bark while you can.

Then to the 1950s clumps of my father’s Camellia x williamsii hybrids. His near white one is not out yet. I am not sure of a name for this but it is between ‘Donation’ and ‘Caerhays’ in flower form. Tucked away out of sight but most floriferous and impressive today. Worth naming or has it already been? To research. Similar to ‘Gwarvas’ perhaps?

The next one has leaves which suggest a cross with a small leaved species (sasanqua?). Nothing that special but a large flower which is light pink.

Amid a hailstorm a brief glimpse of Rhododendron arboreum subsp. delavayi.