Syringa vulgaris ‘Madame Lemoine’ on the drive.

Rhododendron quinquefolium ‘Fire Arrows’ – a gift from Exbury.

Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ – pink form.

Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ is not something which you often notice flowering.

Magnolia acuminata var subcordata flowering high up.

Magnolia ‘Genie’ still in full flower.

Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ at its best although I have missed the true blue early buds.

Magnolia ‘Ossie’s Yellow’.

Halesia macgregorii with sparse flowers this year.

2024 – CHW
The view from the entrance to the (Upper) Rockery today – stunning!

The Caerhays bred Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ and Rhododendron reticulatum out together.

Menziesia ciliicalyx ‘Honshu Blue’ in flower in the Rockery. It takes its name from the leaf colour. A Glendoich purchase with 2 other species of Menziesia which have died. All Menziesia are now apparently reclassified as Rhododendron species although this would inevitably mean a full name change as there is already a Rhododendron ciliicalyx which looks nothing like this. I am not up to speed here.

Rhododendron aperantum has struggled ever since it was planted here 20+ year ago. It is still just alive but only just. I have never seen a flower.

Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ at its finest but it needs cutting down to regenerate it.

The oldest plants of Rhododendron burmanicum which we have are in the Rockery. Last years drought or, possibly, January frost, led to all the buds going brown and failing to open now. Not a flower to be seen in the entire clump.

The bluebells on the bank outside the front door are nearly over and the seed is getting nicely. The grass on the bank will not be cut until September.

Very early flowers and some firm and vigorous new growth on Vallea stipularis. It likes to grow through something else and I have not got this right opposite the side door.

Still a few decent flowers on Camellia japonica ‘Optima’ by the side door. A good 6 weeks since I photographed this in its pomp.

A young Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ planted in memory of Christine Henderson flowers for the first time.

Serious regrowth on Azalea luteum from below the graft in one of the 9 groups of old fashioned Ghent azaleas in Kennel Close. I had no idea that they were all grafted.

A group of Rhododendron crassum planted last year have struggled. Small leaves but a decent first set of flowers.