Syringa tomentella subsp. yunnanensis (SBEC 1022).

I cannot remember the name of this excellent dark red evergreen azalea.

Camellia japonica ‘Mathotiana Alba’ still in flower as usual.

Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ plastered in bracts.

Cutting back the deciduous azaleas to remove ivy and sycamore seedlings by the 4-in-Hand was curtailed by a wasps nest and a long tailed tits nest.

The long tailed tits nest.

Styrax formosanus var. hayatainus just coming out.

Styrax shiraianus making great headway.

New growth on Tetradium var. fraxinifolium.

Styrax hookeri var. yunnanensis. I wonder if it really is true to name? Nothing like S. hookeri really.

Styrax americanus – Kankakee form – just coming.

Sorbus dunnii (from Roundabarrow) is an impressive species.

Trachycarpus wagnerianus in flower above the greenhouse.

The last surviving Rhododendron ‘Crosswater Belle’ which has proved tender and temperamental.

2024 – CHW
Plenty of rain and thunder still around. If only we had had a bit more of this a year ago our losses would have been much less – especially rhododendrons. Today the hunt is to photograph new growth on the Scheffleras. It may take two days.Rhododendron nuttallii just out on the main ride. Overnight rain has reduced the scent today.

I forgot the name of the large flowered, dark red evergreen azalea above Roger’s Quarry. Asia will know. Very late flowering.

Rhododendron lindleyi is nearly over. Few flowers this year and plenty of bud drop as we saw earlier.

Magnolia laevifolia ‘Kunming’ is a gorgeous yellow and a very superior named clone.

Rhododendron ‘Penrose’ is a gentle colour but, again, few flowers this year.

Schefflera rhododendrifolia (CWJ 9375) most impressive at about 12-15 feet on a straight single stem.

Magnolia sieboldii ‘Genesis’ x Magnolia virginiana nearly out. Loads of buds.

This re-righted and cut back Laburnocytisus ‘Adamii’ has started to flower again after only 3 years. No sign of the Cytisus flowers as yet.

2023 – CHW
Styrax japonica ‘Jippei-Kawamure’ already full out. I need to get to see the rest of the Styrax. This one has large flowers and a single stem.

Styrax formosanus var. hayataianus is multi-stemmed and not quite out with much smaller flowers.

Cornus ‘Venus’ growing well and as plastered in bracts as ever.

Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ completely covered in flowers. Nearly the best thing in the garden today.

Crataegus ashei flowering for the first time here.

Crataegus ambigua interesting also.

Crataegus pontica just starting. Another new species for us. So about a third of the newly planted Crataegus species have now flowered but I have missed a couple while away.

Rhododendron falconeri has also come full out during the Chelsea absence.

Pruned camellias below the Stable Flat windows. They have been clipped like this every 5-10 years and thrive on it.

2022 – CHW

A garden tour after a week at Chelsea. New growth flourishing everywhere but most of the rhododendrons have now gone over.

Stewartia pteropetiolata just out into flower. Styrax still in bud.

Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ flowering well for the first time in Kennel Close.

Magnolia obovata perfectly out.

Rosa roxburgii is flowering sparsely and probably needs chopping down again.

Tail end flowers on Rhododendron concinnum.

A seedling Rhododendron falconeri flowering well in the bottom of Main Quarry (Rh. ovatum in the foreground). The old plants on Rookery Path have few flowers high up this year and are having a year off.

2021 – CHW
Work started five weeks ago to convert three barns in the hamlet of Trevarrick into dwellings. Fortunately the foundations of these barns sit on bedrock so underpinning all the walls with concrete should be unnecessary. This may be a major cost saving on the project. The foundations for the extension to the smallest of the barns are already laid with radon sumps as is now mandatory (but quite absurd) in locations like this.

Rhododendron (Azalea) calendulaceum ‘Sandling orange-red form’ is new to us and flowering for the first time. Unspectacular perhaps but an interesting colour. A very variable species.

The Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’ clump above the greenhouse lived only about 30 years. Exponential growth, a brief spectacle from the bottom lodge when in flower for 10 years or so, and a very short life in our climate. Just the stumps left to burn up. Very soft and spongy wood.

Uplifting a beech tree and a Cornus to give more light to clumps of scented rhododendrons which were being deprived of light. A vital job in parts of the garden which are 20 to 30 years old. The dappled shade from young trees on a newly planted hot bank is initially a good idea but needs managing over time. More light too for a nearby and rare Quercus morii.

A fine clump of Azalea ‘Rosebud’ just coming into flower. Late for an evergreen like the ‘Elsie Lee’ seen last Sunday.

A small tail end flower on Camellia ‘Drama Girl’; one of several and there will still be colour here in June.