7th January

‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ We left this old yew tree in the Isla Rose Plantation to try to grow climbing roses up it. Two failures so…

5th September

…albosinensis ‘China Ruby’. Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ A similarly confusing range of bark colours on Betula…

14th March

…later than this. Magnolia ‘Columbus’ Camellia japonica ‘China Doll’ laden with flowers. Camellia japonica ‘China Doll’ Camellia japonica ‘China Doll’ Magnolia x veitchii above the Green Gate. His was an…

17th March

…Magnolia ‘China Town’ (syn. ‘Jing Ning’) in full flower. Magnolia ‘China Town’ (syn. ‘Jing Ning’) Podocarpus elongatus ‘Blue Chip’ badly frosted above the mist houses. Podocarpus elongatus ‘Blue Chip’ 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…

29th July

…Magnolia ‘Lu Shan’ Look how the bark has peeled off on the wind on another Betula ‘China Ruby’. Betula ‘China Ruby’ Big leafs struggling into new growth in the dry…

17th June

…late flowering evergreen azaleas now in the catalogue – Azalea ‘Blue Moon’ and Azalea ‘White Moon’. Azalea ‘Blue Moon’ and Azalea ‘White Moon’ Azalea ‘Blue Moon’ and Azalea ‘White Moon’…

4th August

…new growth on Quercus phellos. Quercus phellos Pink and blue Hydrangea ‘Fireworks’ together. Pink and blue Hydrangea ‘Fireworks’ Pink and blue Hydrangea ‘Fireworks’ See what a hit this clump of…

30th May

…Iris ‘Jane Phillips’ Rehmannia elata Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Milky Way’ Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘Milky Way’ Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘China Girl’ Cornus kousa var. chinensis ‘China Girl’ Styrax…

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…

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’…

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…

23rd June

…factory in Lowestoft and to discuss their show garden. Blueberry fruit changing colour already in the Harrod Horticultural vegetable garden. Blueberry fruit Wisteria venusta starting to grow up the new…

23rd October

…‘White Lace’. Hydrangea paniculata ‘White Lace’ Young Acer campestre showing autumnal yellow. Acer campestre Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ turning to reddish purple. Hydrangea ‘Fireworks Blue’ First yellowing on Liriodendron tulipifera ‘Aureomarginata’….

30th November

…Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Schefflera pauciflora (WWJ 11999) with nearly ripe seeds. Schefflera pauciflora Schefflera pauciflora Not quite ripe seeds on Illicium…

2nd June

…Williams Subject: Rhodoleia spp. Dear Charlie, Thanks for your note regarding the Rhodoleia flowering. As usual this genus is a completely mixed up mess taxonomically and the Flora of China

27th May

…in the nursery have finished flowering already in the heat. Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’. Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’ Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’ Syringa tomentella subsp. yunnanensis (SBEC 1022). Syringa tomentella…

26th June

…Burncoose. This is the attractive golden form. Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera’ Hibiscus ‘Blue Chiffon’ – a good double blue. Hibiscus ‘Blue Chiffon’ Then to the nearby Dalverton garden centre established much…

8th August

…A better blue than some years and this clump are in full shade. Hydrangea ‘Blue Wave’ Hydrangea ‘Blue Wave’ Alison’s hanging basket begonias at the top lodge as good as…

21st July

…similis var. delavayi. Lonicera ‘Dropmore Scarlet’ Bergenia cordifolia ‘Rotblum’ out in flower already. Bergenia cordifolia ‘Rotblum’ Ceratostigma willmottianum ‘Forest Blue’ out earlier than usual as well. Ceratostigma willmottianum ‘Forest Blue’…