2026 – CHW (images to follow)
A nursery visit.
Ilex x attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’ covered in berries in the cash point.
Grevillea gracilis ‘Alba’ is very slow into flower.
Leonotis leonurus imported recently from France and still in full flower. Much larger flowers than on our own stock plant.
Gaultheria mucronata ‘ Signal’ with a fine show of berries.
2025 – CHW
Camellia sasanqua ‘Elfin Rose’ now out.
Camellia sasanqua ‘Plantation Pink’ also out.
Acer freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’ showing up well below White Styles with its autumn tints.
M. (laevifolia x champaca) x (laevifolia x maudiae) still in flower in the Rookery. Planted 2023. A gift from Raf.
Ants carry moss and soil up inside the spiral tube on a young tree. A certain way to kill it unless the debris is removed.
2024 – CHW
Three different phases of autumn colour on the same clump of Rhododendron schlippenbachii.
Three different phases of autumn colour on the same clump of Rhododendron schlippenbachii.
The first few high up flowers on the unnamed Camellia x williamsii clump on the drive.
Stewartia rostrata now at its reddish-black best.
Stachyurus praecox just starting to turn.
Still plenty of fresh new flowers on Hydrangea ‘Madame Emile Mouillère’ as is normal now particularly after such a wet summer.
Vibrant colours on Hydrangea quercifolia.
Hydrangea ‘Tricolour’ still not bad.
2023 – CHW
Two elderly camellias near Donkey Shoe were crowding out the path so have had a haircut. They may be Camellia japonica ‘White Nun’ but that isn’t quite the correct name.
Two elderly camellias near Donkey Shoe were crowding out the path so have had a haircut. They may be Camellia japonica ‘White Nun’ but that isn’t quite the correct name.
Beautiful autumn colour on Mallotus japonicus. Even better than last year.
Seed collected from various Lithocarpus pachyphyllus. Only the very large acorns will be viable. Cartloads of seed this year.
A large Ilex oak has split in half at The Vean and, annoyingly, smashed the posh metal fence. Quite a bit to clear up here and the rest of the tree has also to come down.
Seed heads now ripe on Hedychium ‘Assam Orange’ outside my study window.
A fine vase of x williamsii camellias in the hall – the unnamed one from the drive.
2022 – CHW
Liquidambar formosana with leaf turning and fruits setting.
Liquidambar formosana with leaf turning and fruits setting.
Oddly distorted new leaves on just one branch of Lithocarpus cleistocarpus. Drought reaction I assume?
Secondary flower on Rhododendron morii x Rhododendron euchates. Much paler than in the spring.
The leaves have dropped on Magnolia dealbata.
I have never seen secondary flowers before on Rhododendron prunifolium. Again very pale.
Wonderful autumn colour on Mallotus japonicus.
A new Sophora in the ground to replace the drought casualty here.
Another snake bark maple with terminal infection in its trunk.
Hoheria populnea rather closer to than we saw on the main tree last week.
2021 – CHW
Another 20 new magnolias planted out in Forty Acres wood with high level deer protection.
Another 20 new magnolias planted out in Forty Acres wood with high level deer protection.
Two gifts from Peter Mills – Nyssa sinensis ‘Jim Russell’ just starting to go red.
And Viburnum plicatum ‘Opening Day’ with its amazing autumn colours.
Morus cathayana planted on the bank below the medlar. Good light yellow-white autumn colour.
The third and darker pink ancient Camellia sasanqua has been out for a week.
The fourth and white ancient Camellia sasanqua is just starting to flower. A large upright bush.
The earlier into flower white sasanqua has a much more drooping habit and longer more pointed and more serrated leaves.
The earlier white sasanqua has five or six petals in each flower.
The later white sasanqua has only four petals.
