8th March

…‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x ‘F J Williams’ Tom Hudson’s gift of three Rhododendron ririei have never looked better. Rhododendron ririei Bluebells well up. Bluebells Narcissus cyclamineus looking very fine in the…

12th April

…flowers are smaller and paler than usual. Magnolia ‘Serene’ Magnolia ‘Serene’ Tilia mongolica ‘Harvest Moon’ just coming into leaf. Tilia mongolica ‘Harvest Moon’ Laurus azorica nicely out and covered in…

10th March

…of easterly gales. Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ Rhododendron ‘Chink’ is semi-evergreen. Grows just below the bishop. Rhododendron ‘Chink’ Rhododendron ‘Chink’ Magnolia sargentiana ‘Blood Moon’; one of several now getting established in…

16th April

…but these were bought in plants with Dutch labels. Rhododendron ‘Blue Diamond’ Rhododendron ‘Blue Diamond’ Rhododendron ‘Michaels Pride’ is just coming out at least a month early for Chelsea where…

25th July

…– big flower and quite unusual. Crocosmia ‘Okavango’ Crocosmia ‘Okavango’ Geranium ‘Eureka Blue’ – another nice blue but the name might sell it. Geranium ‘Eureka Blue’ Geranium ‘Eureka Blue’ Geranium…

27th July

…Wine’ Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ excellent on the drive. Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ Hydrangea ‘Sunset’ looking good down opposite the lodge. Hydrangea ‘Sunset’ Hydrangea ‘Selma’ quite superb by the nursery entrance. Hydrangea…

17th April

…clump of narcissus on Hovel Cart Road. Perhaps Narcissus x intermedius? narcissus Ceanothus ‘Trewithen Blue’ and Magnolia ‘Yellow Lantern’ – blue and yellow work well together here. Ceanothus ‘Trewithen Blue’…

24th July

…in full growth but no flower heads. Miscanthus sacchariflorus Miscanthus sacchariflorus Agastache ‘Blue Boa’ – might have been blue originally but fading quickly. Taller growing than some. Agastache ‘Blue Boa’…

22nd July

…‘St Clare’ Hydrangea ‘St Clare’ Hydrangea ‘Taube’ – easily the best blue lacecap HYDRANGEA ‘Taube’ HYDRANGEA ‘Taube’ Hydrangea ‘Fireworks blue’ – very floriferous and vigorous grower Hydrangea ‘Fireworks blue’ Hydrangea…

11th July

blue foliage in full sun Elymus arenarius ‘Blue Dune’ Elymus arenarius ‘Blue Dune’ Geranium pratense ‘Algera Double’ Geranium pratense ‘Algera Double’ Geranium pratense ‘Algera Double’ Digitalis ‘Spice Island’ – a…

4th December

blue cedar was planted on 24th April 1984. I could not remember the other day. blue cedar Camellia ‘Show Girl’ is out. A tiny bud but a huge flower which…

6th July

…‘Pink Crispy’ Photinia fraseri ‘Magical Volcano’ Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Heavenly Blue’ is an evergreen sub-shrub unlike the other herbaceous penstemons. Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Heavenly Blue’ Geranium pratense ‘Delft Blue’ Geranium pratense ‘Delft…

26th April

…grew opposite here. Rhododendron williamsianum x campylogynum Rhododendron williamsianum x campylogynum Rhododendron williamsianum x campylogynum Rhododendron ‘Moonstone’ is also making a fine clump. Rhododendron ‘Moonstone’ Rhododendron ‘Moonstone’ Rhododendron ‘Moonstone’ Magnolia…

13th July

…best.The four quarters of the blue garden. blue garden Acer x conspicuum ‘Silver Cardinal’ covered in seed which I have never yet seen on the Burncoose plant and an exceptional…

31st May

…flowering. rhododendron grown from Group seed (via Mayor Howell) 2024 – CHW Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ in a pot outside the Stable Flat. Rosa ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ Roy Lancaster sends…

9th May

…full flower. Magnolia ‘Genie’ Magnolia ‘Genie’ Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ at its best although I have missed the true blue early buds. Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’ Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’…

8th September

…colour. Cornus amomum ‘Blue Cloud’ Cornus amomum ‘Blue Cloud’ Cornus amomum ‘Blue Cloud’ Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Sun’ looking very fine. Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Sun’ Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Sun’ Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Stephi’ now…

1st November

…first fall of birds in these nights of full moon. Some frost today in the valley. 2017 – CHW Hoheria populnea ‘Alba Variegata’ in full flower but very late in…

30th November

…a full moon.A number of plants ordered from Crug Farm have unexpectedly arrived. The plants grown from seed from their plant hunting expeditions a decade or more ago get larger…

14th February

…Sunny days but near freezing by night with a full moon of late. Magnolia campbellii The now pruned up Cedrus deodara by Tin Garden. Interesting bark. The twigs are less…