…at least for the moment to give more wind protection. Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Squarrosa’ Another casualty of the drought – a 5 year old big leafed rhododendron seedling. Two 17 year…

…Catalpa bignoniodes (as so often). Catalpa bignoniodes This Hydrangea villosa half died last summer in the drought. It has now blown over onto the drive but we saw unusual suckering…

…the islands. The resident pair and their 6 cygnets are not impressed and after a big fight the 3 upstarts are driven off. We think the 3 upstarts were actually…

…but now I wonder if it is in fact Yucca rostrata. Yucca rostrata Quite the biggest and the best clump of Strobilanthes rankanensis I have ever seen. Strobilanthes rankanensis Strobilanthes…

…few showers but main rain has fallen elsewhere in the country. Not too hot but east wind.1969 – FJW All grain and straw in – big rain hold up for…

…large beech tree. Three more big ones, a sycamore and an ash still to go. beech tree This Clethra pringleyi is still not quite out in flower although another plant…

…and yellow new growth appears. Olearia solandrii Olearia solandrii Olearia solandrii Saw yet another big deer just above the Auklandii Garden even though Kerry was working nearby. The dogs were…

…– JCW German line on the Somme is now bending under heavy French and English attack. 1914 – JCW The solanums on the big wall are very fine, cyclamen very…

…white berries but only a small growing shrub. Sorbus prattii First flowers now just out on Vitex agnus – castus. Vitex agnus – castus A bigger crop of seed heads…

…good and so the cassia, roses in 3 beds also, and the big group of hydrangeas are just taking a fine colour. There is little else but the lapagerias which…

…but not this early! Acer rufinerve ‘Erythrocladum’ Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’ with its first big crop of seeds. As a very early flowerer it normally sees its flowers frosted. Well…

…grown well in the nursery but sadly no flowers in the summer. Bignonia capreolata Bignonia capreolata Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ with just a hint of pink. Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ Hydrangea paniculata…

…– FJW Corn gathered in. A big lot of straw but yields poor. 1964 – FJW Very blustery easterly gale (no rain). Lapageria good. 1958 – FJW Returned from Scotland…

…‘Blue Tit’ with a sparse second flowering. Rhododendron ‘Blue Tit’ Rhododendron ‘Blue Tit’ The biggest Quercus acuta has small acorns as we have seen occasionally before. This year they do…

…was originally, in 1999, a clump of ten plants of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pink Diamond’. They have done well and are a big impact today although no sign of a colour…

…1916 – JCW After heavy rain some roses are coming on, but there is very little flower of any kind except for the big Solanums, hybrid Gladiolus are very nice….

…orangeish flowers. More in a big clump by the Fernery. No idea of a name. evergreen azalea with orangeish flowers evergreen azalea with orangeish flowers Another clump of low growing…

…nursery. A well-known Belgian wholesale nursery declined our £20k spring order due to Brexit. Will they relent now, as most big European nurseries have already done, and include our Caerhays…

…with 3 or 4 males. Cephalotaxus fortunei I was only looking at a big tree in full flower at Ventnor last week and here is our own Myoporum laetum with…

…are just over. 1916 – JCW Buddleias goodish. Romneya at its best. Plagianthus at its best. R ungernii fair. Daffs big and small are about sorted out. 1914 – JCW…