Crataegus chlorosarca with berries.

Crataegus ambigua with berries.

Crataegus ashei still with a few flowers.

Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’ – a very cut leaved form with interesting bud bracts.

Quercus x warei ‘Chimney Fire’ with reddish new growth and a very upright habit.

Quercus – label lost – I should have tried the IoS on this.

Tilia maximowicziana covered in yellow flowers with, here and there, a reddish petal. I have never seen this species performing before.

Tilia paucicostata has an attractive weeping shape. The second plant in Tin Garden may be dead.

Our own seedling of Prunus pilosiuscula with very interesting bark.

2024 – CHW
Gardens closed and no visitors so the front door is open and the dogs lie in the sun on the guard barking occasionally as stall holders turn up to collect things from the fete.The ancient dark red Azalea indica by the front door is nearly out.

Cornus kousa ‘Rasen’ just starting to turn colour.

A pigeon’s nest in the crown of a tree fern. The nest is badly made and falling to pieces.

Cornus kousa ‘Weberiana’ has a graceful shape.

Attractive new growth on Nyssa sinensis ‘Jim Russell’ which was a gift from Peter Mills.

A young Schima superba (Mu-he-shu) with light coloured new growth.

First flowers on one of Tom Hudson’s Manglietia insignis. The tree is now clear of all surrounding vegetation and one can actually see the flowers high up.

First flower on Magnolia laevifolia ‘Lennon’ – another gift from Raf.

This Laureliopsis philippiana was moved to a spot with more room in the spring but, so far, it is growing away perfectly well.

Styrax wilsonii, unlike many of the other species this year, is absolutely plastered in flower.

2023 – CHW

To the remarkable 60 acre Arboretum at Batsford which is a jewel! In marked contrast to my views on Ventnor Botanics last summer which stirred up a public furore this arboretum is extremely well cared for, full of new planting and perfectly labelled throughout. All the things which the National Trust now regards as irrelevant in so many of its once great gardens. Educating the public to the wonders of trees is exactly what the Batsford Trustees are all about. A remarkably good Souvenir Garden Guide as well. Cannot wait to revisit in a different season. With a pH of 7-7.5 they cannot grow many Rhododendrons but Magnolias are thriving. The best collection of mature Carpinus species I have ever seen all in full flower tassel mode. A visit to Batsfords National Collection of cherries is certainly on my list for next spring.

Here are a few general photographs of the Arboretum and Batsford House (private).

From the 240 plant pictures taken today here are just a few gems:-

Cytisus nigricans ‘Cyni’.

Philadelphus palmeri

Rhododendron ferrugineum.

Picrasma quassioides in full flower.

Quercus pontica with acorns forming.

Quercus glauca – our tree at Caerhays is nearly dead.

Ilex hookeri which once grew at Caerhays but never seen before by me.

Cistus salviifolius ‘Prostratus’.

2022 – CHW

Exciting news from Asia and seed germination this spring. Magnolia sapaensis had one seedpod last year (and has eight flower buds today) but loads of good looking seedlings now.

Rhododendron nuttallii has not germinated that well but perhaps a second germination to come?

A colourful display of dianthus at Burncoose this morning.

Acanthus sennii is a new addition to the catalogue now.

Nice plants of the very rare Camptotheca acuminata that was added to the website in the spring. Our tree at Caerhays is now 15ft tall after 11 years but can have minor dieback in cold winters.

Excellent young stock of Juglans mandshurica.

Two new low growing compact and very late flowering evergreen azaleas now in the catalogue – Azalea ‘Blue Moon’ and Azalea ‘White Moon’.

A fine batch of Agapanthus ‘Streamline’ ready for sale at Hampton Court flower show.

2021 – CHW
The Crown Inn at Benson which Hook Norton Brewery acquired over a year ago. It has traded only for eight weeks since renovation was completed last September. About an hour from Hook Norton itself in a large well heeled village near RAF Benson. A gastro pub but with plenty of outside space for rather cheaper food offering from a secondary kitchen. A good investment which has yet to get going after COVID and the 47 diners nearly all sat outside last night in the heatwave conditions.

A clipped Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ hedge of about 5ft in height in the pub garden just coming into flower.