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

…‘Eureka Blue’ Geranium ‘Eureka Blue’ Geranium ‘Dusky Rose’ – groundcover with dark leaves. Geranium ‘Dusky Rose’ Geranium ‘Dusky Rose’ Geranium ‘Blue Sunrise’ – blue at first fading quickly. Geranium ‘Blue

27th July

…in full flower. Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ excellent on the drive. Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ Hydrangea ‘Sunset’ looking good down opposite the lodge. Hydrangea ‘Sunset’ Hydrangea ‘Selma’ quite…

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

…to the ground and reseeded each year. wild flower meadow wild flower meadow Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’ very fine. Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’ Agapanthus ‘Royal Velvet’ and Achillea ‘Cerise Queen’….

22nd July

blue and white picotee edging Hydrangea ‘St Clare’ Hydrangea ‘St Clare’ Hydrangea ‘Taube’ – easily the best blue lacecap HYDRANGEA ‘Taube’ HYDRANGEA ‘Taube’ Hydrangea ‘Fireworks blue’ – very floriferous and…

11th July

…Sun’ Elymus arenarius ‘Blue Dune’ – incredibly blue foliage in full sun Elymus arenarius ‘Blue Dune’ Elymus arenarius ‘Blue Dune’ Geranium pratense ‘Algera Double’ Geranium pratense ‘Algera Double’ Geranium pratense…

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

…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 Blue’ Salvia…

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

…‘Hobella’ Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ The Harrow hybrid rhododendrons on Hovel Cart Road are now full out. Harrow hybrid rhododendrons Harrow hybrid rhododendrons In Tin…

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…