30th July

…and the leaves hairy. Wisteria brachybotrys ‘Shiro-Kapitan’ Alchemilla mollis and Erysimum ‘Apricot Twist’. Alchemilla mollis A fine display of Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’. Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ An early seed head on…

25th June

…excellent. Rhododendron viscosum ‘Mermaid’ Rhododendron viscosum ‘Mermaid’ Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ – apricot form. Covered in flower below the Fernery. Rhododendron ‘Royal Flush’ Sorbus hemsleyi ‘John Bond’ growing away well. Sorbus…

27th May

…or fox cub but why did the dogs not give chase? More likely a stoat surprised a squirrel on the ground or perhaps a polecat which was seen recently in…

21st March

…Melliodendron xylocarpum Melliodendron xylocarpum Magnolia ‘J.C. Williams’ and Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’ on a very wet afternoon. Magnolia ‘J.C. Williams’ and Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’ Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’. Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’ Magnolia…

22nd March

…Magnolia ‘Philip’s Surprise’ with a blue sky. Magnolia ‘Philip’s Surprise’ 2024 – CHW The Garden Society Dinner in London and 4 species of Lindera for members to look at:-Lindera triloba…

17th March 1897 – 2020

…the lawn. Magnolia ‘Kews Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Kews Surprise’ Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chyverton Red’ by the rockery. Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chyverton Red’ Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’ by the old walled garden. Magnolia ‘Sir…

24th April

…x ‘Pink Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Woodsman’ x ‘Pink Surprise’ (unnamed hybrid). This horror is a surprise alright and gets my vote as the most insipid and revolting ‘new’ magnolia colour yet….

5th April

…Michael’s breeding. Quite close to M. sargentiana – pure which is one of its parents. Magnolia ‘Sargent’s Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Sargent’s Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Sargent’s Surprise’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x M….

30th March

…Castle’ Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’ Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’ First colour showing on Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’. No frost damage! Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ Camellia ‘Ivory Chalice’ is a good new white…

1st April

…‘Caerhays Surprise’ a cross by our Head Gardener Phillip Tregunna in the 50’s. 2018 – CHW It is not an ‘April fool’! The magnolias are finally performing as expected after…

14th March

…gardening weekend. Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’ just out in the Auklandii Garden. Magnolia ‘Kew Surprise’ Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’ and Camellia japonica. Magnolia x loebneri ‘Merrill’ and Camellia japonica Magnolia ‘Philip…

2nd April

…nitida Magnolia nitida The trio of sprays which won 1st prize. Magnolia ‘Tropicana’. Magnolia ‘Tropicana’ Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Apollo’. Magnolia ‘Apollo’ Also on the Magnolia show…

3rd April

…orientalis. Picea orientalis Cephalotaxus fortunei. Cephalotaxus fortunei Picea likiangensis. Picea likiangensis Magnolia pseudokobus ‘Kubishimodoki’ just out. Magnolia pseudokobus ‘Kubishimodoki’ Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ on The Vean drive. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ Jamie…

13th April

…the front of The Vean. hatch of flies A Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ looking fantastic on The Vean drive. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ 2022 – CHW Some good things out at the…

1st May

…‘Pink Surprise’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x ‘Pink Surprise’ Another Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’, later out than the original and nearby. Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ is very…

18th June

…white rhododendron A late white rhododendron A very late flower and a couple of buds on Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ Hosta sieboldiana elegans in full…

11th March 1897 – 2020

…years. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ Magnolia denudata ‘Double Diamond’ battered by hailstorms earlier this week in Kennel Close. There is a large tree at Burncoose but this is…

10th March 1897 – 2020

…recently registered seedling of some note. Again variation in flower colour due to wind. Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Lanarth Surprise’ A fine show on Camellia ‘Ruby Wedding’…

1st March 1897 – 2020

…long. Rhododendron moulmainense Rhododendron moulmainense Rhododendron moulmainense Magnolia ‘Philip’s Surprise’ just coming out at the very top of the garden. A huge tree now. Magnolia ‘Philip’s Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Philip’s Surprise’…

2nd March

…(fine) day of new crossing. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Caerhays Surprise’ as it was named when it came here. Planted in 2019 but, as far as I can ascertain,…