26th July

…have in fact been ‘rediscovered’ as new species recently (eg Quercus griffithii). Quercus hansei Quercus hansei Some original Chinese oak species took 70 years to actually name in the garden…

2nd August

…chinensis var. rubrum ‘Pearl’ full out in July? Odd. Loropetalum chinensis var. rubrum ‘Pearl’ Loropetalum chinensis var. rubrum ‘Pearl’ Indigofera howellii has a very dark pink flower – almost reddish….

21st July

…Honnor & Jeffrey Garden Centre. Both had far less stock than usual and looked fairly tired with last years plants not having wintered well. The manager of Thompsons, who I…

5th July

…some good photographs if we change our mind. Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants Triteleia laxa is one of those bulbous plants whose leaves…

29th June

…but much cooler now than earlier in the week.A very dark red deciduous azalea above the Trevanion holly. very dark red deciduous azalea Rhododendron auriculatum now full out. Rhododendron auriculatum…

18th June

…four flowers on one stalk. I had wondered how it was identifiable. Styrax grandiflorus Styrax grandiflorus Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ just turning colour. Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Wisley…

13th June

…holly to be producing an abundance of red berries in June? Some are still green but most are ready for the birds who have scattered seedlings of this plant allover…

25th August

…seed heads and already dark red leaves. Euonymus oxyphyllus (BSWJ 10815) Viburnum hoanglienense covered in reddening seed heads. Viburnum hoanglienense First flowers showing colour on Schima superba. Cornus Schima superba…

10th January

…Eucalyptus mannifera var. praecox 2023 – CHW A welcome and unexpected day off as two shooting parties appeared yesterday at 9am on the same day. Consternation but the second shooting…

21st December

…so good at Tregothnan. 1950’s or early 1960 planting. I took cuttings at Tregothnan but need not have bothered! Camellia sasanqua ‘Rosea Plena’ 2022 – CHW Red sky over Porthluney…

9th January

…A rather unnoticed clump of snowdrops above Bond Street are the first clump to be fully out this year. snowdrops The near white flowered Camellia x williamsii bred by my…

7th January

…to look at how a few rare evergreens have fared in the cold and gales. Clethra mexicana still looking good (surprisingly). Clethra mexicana Turpinia formosana from the Taiwan Forestry Institute…

6th January

…‘Debutante’ Camellia japonica ‘Margherita Coleoni’ also a bit storm battered but nicely out. Camellia japonica ‘Margherita Coleoni’ Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’ is full out here but, yesterday, on the…

30th December

red flower on a pure Camellia japonica. Camellia japonica Jaimie’s new magnolia hybrid which showed great promise last year with six buds has many more for this spring which you…

22nd December

red japonica of no great merit. single red japonica An early and unformed flower on Camellia ‘Adolphe Audusson’. Windblown I guess. Camellia ‘Adolphe Audusson’ Rhododendron ‘Bo Peep’ – yellow form…

21st November

…Tin Garden A few more arrivals for the Malus collection. Here is Malus ‘Red Obelisk’. Malus ‘Red Obelisk’ Ilex colchica has arrived from Mallet Court Nursery. A new species for…

20th December

…Acer palmatum ‘Red Pygmy’. Acer palmatum ‘Red Pygmy’ Sally Denis. Sally Denis’ leaving party Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’ just out on the drive here. Camellia x williamsii ‘Monica Dance’…

5th December

…workshops at Burncoose Fruits on Sorbus needhamii planted out in October. Sorbus needhamii Jaimie and Michael inspect their aerial layers on the newly registered Michelia ‘White Phantom’. Nothing showing yet…

28th November

…below White Styles All now planted and wired up with deer and rabbit protection. wired up This should one day make a fine show for visitors walking on to Old…

24th November

…longicarpa with its first flowers out. This plant suffered from cold winds when first planted out but has now prospered and also has its first seed pods. Polyspora longicarpa Polyspora…