Is the Ilex chapaensis as labelled? It looks very like the Photinia integrifolia which I photographed very recently.

Ailanthus altissima ‘Purple Dragon’ showing up well.

Seed heads aplenty on Paulownia kawakamii.

Drooping foliage on Tilia mexicana.

Pterocarya macroptera var. insignis with numerous seed tassels. Planted in 2018.

New growth on Nyssa sinensis (FMWJ 13122).

Hoheria populnea planted 18 months ago in flower.

Tilia japonica ‘Ernest Wilson’ in flower.

Catalpa speciosa ‘Frederik’.

Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’ about to flower again.

Cornus pumila getting going.

2025 – CHW

Magnolia ‘Todd’s Forty Niner’ in full flower in July.

Uplifting things planted in 2006 above the greenhouse after the grass cut.

I thought all our Rhododendron rhabdotum had died but Jaimie has found the last survivor. We must grow seed of this spectacular species.

Cuttings arrive from John Marston of his Magnolia ernestii ‘Red Bud’.

Jaimie’s cross of Rhododendron ‘Moser’s Maroon’ and Rh. ‘Polar Bear’. Excellent for this time of the year.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Early Sensation’ with a few flowers turning pink already.

2024 – CHW
To Burncoose to deliver the 2025 catalogue proof at its first stage.Agapanthus ‘Royal Velvet’ is quite stunning today.

Hydrangeas lined up for customers by the sales point.

Agapanthus ‘Windsor Grey’ really is grey!

This batch, supposedly, of Buddleia globosa from France are flowering yellow rather than the more normal orange. That is perhaps OK but the other half of the batch are pink and not quite globose at all.

Campsis x tagliabuana ‘Grenadene’ is a good new addition to the website. Orange-red on opening then turning redder.

Cardiocrinum giganteum in flower. I hope Cressy grabs the seed when ripe as they are very easy to grow.

Gomphostigma virgatum is a new addition to the 2025 catalogue. A South African plant with rosemary-like leaves and rather better flowers.

Persicaria alpina is another new entry for the catalogue.

Magnolia potting week in the nursery.

2023 – CHW

Seed heads farming on Sorbus gonggashanica maturing early.

Acer morrisonense also covered with strings of winged seeds.

Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ with its bark pealing nicely. 2014 planted.

Huge leaves on the latest new growth on Tilia mexicana. Larger than the original ones.

Lamorna with a seed head from Carpinus japonica which she wants to eat.

2022 – CHW

To Loxley in Warwickshire and a cottage garden with great interest.

A fine Clematis viticella ‘Dark Eyes’ growing up through an apple tree.

Clematis viticella ‘Dark Eyes’

Victoria plums developing well.

Crab apples formed but far from ripe.

A small red fruited crab apple.

A golden hop dominates an apple tree.

Flowers forming on Humulus lupus ‘Aureus’.

A fine display of potted Hostas.

Hosta fortunei albomarginata in flower.

Well clipped Buxus sempervirens and Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’.

Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’ and Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’.

2021 – CHW
Osborne House is run by English Heritage so they nearly refused entry since I had not prebooked. I was then asked if I was an OAP? When answering I was told it was the wrong answer and charged £14.50 to enter just the gardens (not house).A one way system in the walled garden and no entry to the display greenhouses ‘for your safety’! The rose garden looked a bit unexciting.If only they bothered to label a bit more herbaceous stuff in the walled garden and more of the specimen trees in the parkland the public might learn something. Generally the woodland garden well maintained even if little new planting apart from annuals around the house.Managed 103 ‘nicely’ plant photographs in two hours. Even more than at Ventnor. It is tedious driving everywhere at 20mph on the island’s dreadful roads.The climbing Rosa ‘The Garland’ was especially good. A very old variety but it ought to be more widely grown.

I think we ought to sell borage (Borago officinalis) in the nursery.

Lilium hansonii was the only variety in flower yet in the covered frames.

Cupressus lawsoniana ‘Stricta’ which was planted in 1897. Forty foot perhaps.

Sciadopitys verticillata with cones as I have seen here before.

A few views of the seaward side of Osborne House and the lavender lined pergola in the walled garden.