30th June

…but is in shade so the bracts could be darker in full sun. Cornus florida ‘Red Giant’ Cornus florida ‘Red Giant’ Cornus florida ‘Red Giant’ Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’ has very…

25th June

…arborescens ‘Magical Tinkerbell’ Calothamnus quadrifidus with its odd half bottlebrush flowers emerging from the main stems. Calothamnus quadrifidus Sedum ‘Red Cauli’ is a vigorous tall growing form with attractive red

17th June

…CHW Azalea indicum has many coloured forms from mauve-purple to red and dark red. The clumps on the drive, in the Auklandii Garden and outside the front gate are full…

9th June

…Rodgersia. Primula and Rodgersia Sambucus niger ‘Golden Tower’ Sambucus niger ‘Golden Tower’ Cordyline australis ‘Red Star’ Cordyline australis ‘Red Star’ Protea cynaroides ‘Little Prince’ Protea cynaroides ‘Little Prince’ Sambucus niger…

24th May

…after the digger has cleared the stumps this week. a little planting above Red Linney The Rhododendron davidsonianum above HQN have all now been cut down. Rhododendron davidsonianum The stumps…

5th November

…Lapageria rosea Fuchsia and the ancient Camellia sasanqua (white form) out together again! Fuchsia and the ancient Camellia sasanqua Forsythia turning yellow then red by the gents loos. Forsythia Sorbus…

19th November

…mild weather is over soon. Azalea ‘Glendoick Glacier’ covered in semi-double, pure white, flowers. It has performed in winter before but never this well. Azalea ‘Glendoick Glacier’ Flowers now well…

17th November

…– a Loder bred variety “Everards’s Delight” “Everards’s Delight” ‘Slim and Trim’ ‘Slim and Trim’ ‘Slim and Trim’ ‘Tanya’ ‘Tanya’ ‘Tanya’ ‘Bonanza’ – the best red we saw ‘Bonanza’ ‘Bonanza’…

9th November

…roof water into the new tank. Then we are better prepared for the next drought. Tin Garden water tank A wasps nest in the Barn Owl box in Tin Garden….

7th November

…tank (and so on to the castle) when we cleared the Tin Garden area last February. old iron pipe Another oak tree fell in the gale last Friday/Saturday below White…

28th September

…plant loaded with fruits. Crataegus laevigata ‘Gireoudii’ Crataegus laevigata ‘Gireoudii’ Top grafted Sorbus reducta with a fairly small crop this year. Sorbus reducta Sorbus reducta A surprisingly good (secondary) flower…

31st October

…Several Rhododendron ‘Cornish Reds’ with plenty of secondary flower. Rhododendron ‘Cornish Reds’ Camellia ‘Gay Border’ and wasps in the sun and showers. Camellia ‘Gay Border’ Camellia ‘Gay Border’ Camellia ‘Gay…

16th October

…now over and shedding petals furiously as the wind gets up. A short and sweet flowering season. Camellia sasanqua which suddenly flowered 10 days ago Camellia sasanqua which suddenly flowered

10th October

…an excellent reddish show and, I think, earlier than usual. Stewartia monadelpha Quercus frainetto does not have autumn colour with us. Quercus frainetto Neither does Tilia caroliniana subsp. heterophylla. Its…

5th October

…CHW Heptacodium miconioides has been rather battered by the recent heavy rain. More to come tomorrow. Heptacodium miconioides The saga of the Planning Permission for the graveyard extension at St…

4th October

…which I have not seen before here. Tilia japonica ‘Ernest Wilson’ Crataegus calpodendron with orange-red pear shaped fruits appearing for the first time here. A US and Canadian native with…

8th December

…Grevillea ‘Fireworks’ now full out. Grevillea ‘Fireworks’ Sophora microphylla ‘Dragons Gold’ is out on time. Sophora microphylla ‘Dragons Gold’ Correa ‘Dusky Bells’ covered in flower. Correa ‘Dusky Bells’ Schefflera pauciflora…

1st December

…than history. mineral display cabinets The old fire engine is in the same garage space. old fire engine As is my great uncles Charles’ restored cart which he rode around…

3rd February 1897 – 2020

…No daffs in the Tin Garden, Irroratum, Moupinense, blood red Arboreum and blood red [?] show flower, Barbatum open and Scabrifolium is very good, also several Primroses are open and…

25th December

…The snake bark stems on Acer tegmentosum ‘Joe Witt’ are outstanding. Acer tegmentosum ‘Joe Witt’ Various Camellia sasanqua ‘Paradise’ varieties on Burns Bank are still at their best and covered