…snap continues. The Back Yard is a sheet of ice. Freezing rain showers. Roads unsafe.Rhododendron augustinii with a few secondary flowers by Tin Garden.# Rhododendron augustinii At the top of…

…for the magnolias. Not a day to venture outside but in the Burncoose cash point I find a nice plant of Magnolia ‘Cleopatra’, one of Vance Hooper’s New Zealand creations….

…Magnolia stellata Magnolia stellata The Spanish bluebells are now showing up vigorously. Spanish bluebells Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ has been battered by the rain but is now attempting to come out…

…plant is not yet showing. The buds here are not bad in colour but overall they fade quickly and this one is nice but not really worthy of a name….

…and use old house martin nests. In Seaview one hears swift calling overhead all summer but our few have, so far, been entirely silent. The house martins take no notice…

…planting out. Camellia champetre ‘Fairy Blush’ – looks rather tender Camellia champetre ‘Fairy Blush’ Camellia champetre ‘Fairy Blush’ Camellia ‘Silver Chalice’ Camellia ‘Silver Chalice’ Camellia ‘Silver Chalice’ Camellia ‘Black Magic’…

…a semi-double medium pink. Camellia ‘Winters Joy’ Camellia ‘Winters Joy’ Quite a nice show overall with four more varieties yet to perform. ‘Polar Ice’ is nearly out and seems very…

…in the plans. Hardly accurate but quite nice today. Two more still to flower. Rhododendron ‘Mrs Butler’ Rhododendron ‘Mrs Butler’ A pheasant has pecked off the flower head of the…

…dropped. Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid Camellia x williamsii ‘Beatrice Michael’ with its first flowers. Camellia x williamsii ‘Beatrice Michael’ 2020 – CHW So now the first real frost of the…

…all! 1970 – FJW Flowers out on pale Gunroom door Saluenensis – very mild indeed to date. 1933 – JCW Fuchsias cut down excepting my father’s old one. Ice on…