…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….

…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…

…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…

…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…

…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…

…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…

…(New Zealand bred) FCC Rhododendron ‘Michaels Pride’ (Charlie Michael retired as head gardener in 1955 and I suspect that this had never been exhibited for an award before)The recommendations from…

…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…

…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…

…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…

…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…

…sasanqua ‘Minato-No-Akebono’. Camellia sasanqua ‘Minato-No-Akebono’ Camellia sasanqua ‘Voimao’. Camellia sasanqua ‘Voimao’ Camellia sasanqua ‘Bonanza’ is going to be one of the very best sasanqua red varieties but still a small…

…bred by Philip Tregunna hybrid bred by Philip Tregunna hybrid bred by Philip Tregunna hybrid bred by Philip Tregunna First ever flowers on a magnolia labelled ‘Mazara’. This may be…

…furry and rather tropical looking leaves An unnamed Callicarpa species with red undersides to the leaves. unnamed Callicarpa species with red undersides to the leaves unnamed Callicarpa species with red…

…Very red leaves which may or may not hold through the winter. unnamed Eriobotrya unnamed Eriobotrya Turpinia formosana – a gift from the Taiwan Forestry Institute. It would seem Asia…

…longicarpa WWJ 11604 Polyspora longicarpa WWJ 11604 Jaimie and the team have started work on trimming back the laurel hedge along from Rogers Quarry. Just before he retired, some four…

…of Camellia japonica ‘Adeyaka’ in what is perhaps its second flowering is a standout red. Camellia japonica ‘Adeyaka’ Camellia japonica ‘Adeyaka’ Camellia japonica ‘Adeyaka’ Camellia japonica ‘Italiana Vera’: also with…

…cash point. This variety is a sport of ‘Betty Sheffield’ which is pure white! ‘Betty Sheffield Supreme’ has red frills so we appear to have propagated a branch that has…

…coming out in the Auklandii Garden. How do you describe this colour in words? Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ Magnolia ‘F J Williams’ Magnolia ‘Red Lion’ is now full out in…

…trying to write to all our shooting clients asking if they are prepared to honour their shooting deposits due (mainly) on 1st June. If they will not then they leave…