2025 – CHW
Schefflera delavayi has dropped all its seeds from the flower stalks.
Magnolia lacei (Michelia lacei) is a large leafed evergreen. No flowers with us yet.
A good young Daphniphyllum macropodum to replace the elderly ones which have died.
Magnolia compressa (Michelia compressa) is a small leaved evergreen – again no flowers here as yet.
First flowers on Camellia x williamsii ‘Jovey Carlyon’.
In the sunlight the flowers on the Tin Garden Magnolia campbellii.
Flowers and buds on Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Umbilicata’.
The Magnolia campbellii above Crinodendron Hedge won’t be long.
Gunnera bed in dormancy but a few leaves still nearly green. No sign of the snowdrops here yet.
2024 – CHW
Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ just starting to drop its flowers. No frost damage at all. It has been out for at least 5 or 6 weeks already.
Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ just starting to drop its flowers. No frost damage at all. It has been out for at least 5 or 6 weeks already.
Likewise Camellia japonica ‘Lady Clare’ now in full flow on the castle wall. Surprisingly unfrosted.
A young Dicksonia antarctica above a large and cut throat Rubus squarrosus in a damp corner.
Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ still in tight bud – odd how much later this one is than all the other bholua varieties.
No flower tassels at all this year on Garrya elliptica ‘James Roof’. I wonder why?
Very frosted and dead young Echiums outside the Library window. Elsewhere the larger one year old plants just survive.
Lapageria rosea ‘Picotee’ now about full out. No frost damage. Surely very late for any Lapageria? I wonder why?
Frost damage on the Arum lilies.
And on the agapanthus but we know that both will fully recover very quickly.
2023 – CHW
Frosted new growth on Rhododendron maddenii.
Frosted new growth on Rhododendron maddenii.
All seeds have dropped on Schefflera delavayi.
Acacia cultriformis nearly out.
Mahonia japonica nearly over.
2022 – CHW
A new laurel shelterbelt on Bond Street.
A new laurel shelterbelt on Bond Street.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’ at its best.
Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’ just going over.
Rubus tricolor and Erica arborea growing on a bank.
Swelling magnolia buds outside the back yard but both the bud protection coverings remain in place.
Twenty new varieties of Amelanchier from Starborough Nursery for a new planting in Old Park.
2021 – CHW
Camellia japonica ‘Bokuhan’ just out by the Playhouse. Only a single flower as yet.
Camellia japonica ‘Bokuhan’ just out by the Playhouse. Only a single flower as yet.
Stewartia monodelpha has tilted even more! We need to secure it back to the dead oak tree behind it quickly.
Honey fungus kills another decent large leaved rhododendron species which has grown here for six to seven years below Donkey Shoe.
The buds on the New Zealand form of Magnolia mollicomata subsp. Lanarth look unfrosted (thankfully).
A decent flower on Camellia x williamsii ‘Jovey Carlyon’.
More seeds collected from Schefflera aff. myriocarpa.
The yellow foliage on Podocarpus totara ‘Aurea’ stands out proud today in the afternoon light.
Fruits still aplenty on Malus x micromalus. They have been here since leaf drop and nothing seems to want to eat them. What a show!
The elderly Daphne bholua on the top wall is now full out despite being in its dotage.
Daphne bholua ‘Gurkha’
Evening sunlight. The weather has gone mild after an unusual frozen night of -4°C.
These are the first upright and bluish-green shoots of Allium vineale (wild onion) which we photographed with extraordinary seed heads last June/July on the bank.
At 4pm still plenty of ice despite the thaw.
