Magnolia denudata ‘Double Diamond’.

Magnolia ‘Anne Leitner’.

Magnolia ‘Pink Pyramid’ – second year of flowering.

Magnolia cylindrica ‘Bjuv’.

Magnolia mollicomata ‘Werrington’.

Magnolia ‘Venus’.

Prunus × persicoides ‘Spring Glow’.

Magnolia ‘Summer Rose’ now full out.

Sorbus aff. ligustrifolia just into flower.

The Queen Mother’s Magnolia.

Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’ and Magnolia mollicomata in the Ririei Opening.

2024 – CHW
A pleasant email from Seamus O’Brien at Kilmacurragh Garden in Ireland.

A quick walk through the Rockery today.

Rhododendron ‘Wee Bee’ just out in Rookery.

John Bond’s Magnolia ‘Columbus’ (M. denudata x M. veitchii) is just coming out on Bond Street. Most years much later than this.

Camellia japonica ‘China Doll’ laden with flowers.

Magnolia x veitchii above the Green Gate. His was an open pollenated seed from the Chollipo Arboretum in South Korea.

Magnolia ‘Sweet Merlot’ beside it.

Suddenly 3 dead young yew trees in the Rookery. Roots waterlogged I would say.

Melliodendron xylocarpum now at its very best. Partial shade suits them with their toes in a damp spot. Finally we have 2 of these magnificent trees of flowering size after many attempts and several disasters. Even the buds are magnificent!

More drought casualties now apparent. This Rhododendron sinogrande was lifted and taken to Chelsea in 2016. A sad disaster.

Beside it however is a survivor now in flower.

Yet another dead big leafed rhododendron.

2023 – CHW
Replanting a cleared and tidied area at The Vean.

Giddle Orchard today from the drive. The magnolia in the background is Magnolia ‘Athene’.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’ just starting by the castle wall.

Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ and the view through the arch today.

Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’ and Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’.

A sterile two year old female cone on Araucaria bidwillii which had fallen off the tree and had begun to disintegrate.

Buddleia pterocaulis longifolia in flower in the Isla Rose. Another new species to us.

A cock pheasant picks a fight!

Yet more pictures of the New Zealand form of Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ in its pomp.

2022 – CHW

Asia has started layering our rarer lapagerias in the greenhouse. This seems to be the only way of propagating these plants successfully.

James Williams from Tregullow sends me pictures of his seedling Magnolia ‘Lanarth’ ‘flowering as well as it ever has’ at the back of the house.

Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’ which was put up for an RHS award at the Rosemoor show last weekend and received a Preliminary Commendation. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ was awarded a First Class Certificate (FCC) at the same time which has pleased Jaimie and Michael.

Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’ – another plant just out while others are over.

From the nursery a picture of our excellent Lampranthus plants just starting to flower rather earlier than one might expect.

Here are more pictures of our exhibits at last weekend’s Rosemoor show with a cup for the best magnolia flower at the show.

2021 – CHW
Two of the four boxes of plants from Pan-Global have arrived well packed and in good order. Hopefully the other two will turn up. Pan-Global are just as short of rare stock as Burncoose and the list I chose from their website availability list had to be adjusted to what was actually left! We know the feeling all too well this spring, but plants do not grow and multiply without time and propagation. You can only sell them once. Crûg Farm’s response to our order was much the same. We will bring what we can from your list when we visit but do not expect too much of it. Lots of new plants to investigate and think through the best places for them.Nothaphoebe cavaleriei – greenish white undersides to the leaves. SW China – laurel family.

Calocedrus formosana – rather more tender than Calocedrus decurrens.

Pittosporum glabratum with flower buds to add to our species collection. This one looks rather dull, I fear!

Cornus excelsa (F & M 57) is an evergreen species from Mexico.

A garden tour in the afternoon to look at the magnolias at their best on what would normally have been the annual gardening weekend.

Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’ just out in the Auklandii Garden.

Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’ and Camellia japonica.

Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ and Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta.

Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ one day on and fading slightly in colour.

Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’ one day on.

Magnolia ‘Aurora’ just out in Kennel Close.

Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’ just starting but wind damaged overnight.

Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta in its pomp.

Magnolia ‘Ian’s Red’ now nicely out.