4th November

King’ with ripe fruits. Malus ‘Jelly King’ Malus ‘Jelly King’ 2022 – CHW A huge Pinus insignis tree twists, turns, and falls at the Red Linney on the drive last…

April 2024 Ireland Trip (Day 1)

Back to the 25th April First day of our annual trip to Ireland, first stop Hillsborough Castle Gardens…… A fine isolated clump of Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’. Rhododendron loderi ‘King

14th April

…davidsonianum in various colours. Rhododendron davidsonianum Rhododendron davidsonianum First flowers out on Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’. Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ The best camellia in the garden today is Camellia ‘Fairy…

1st May

the whole thing in flower without a drone. Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ Rhododendron floccigerum which is one of my favourite species. This form an excellent colour….

5th May

…of Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’. You have a job to see the best of the crowns. Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ An upright trunk of a dead…

9th May

…not the pink one next to it. yellowish royalii hybrid yellowish royalii hybrid This is another Rhododendron ‘Loderi King George’. I was looking for ‘loderi’ ‘Pink Diamond’ but this is…

13th May

…brood of cygnets. Not sure how many yet. 3 of the last years brood are still sulking in the lower moor. Saw 2 Kingfishers in their full plumage.We only have…

15th May

…Slipper’ Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’ Azalea ‘Silver Slipper’ Podocarpus lawrencei ‘Purple King’ may have very dark old leaves but the new growth is delightful. Podocarpus lawrencei ‘Purple King’ Podocarpus lawrencei ‘Purple…

1st June

…magnolias. Many changes and improvements planned to our propagation facilities.Rhododendron ‘Gwilt King’ flowering late as usual. Three clumps in the garden at Burncoose. Rhododendron ‘Gwilt King’ Rhododendron ‘Gwilt KingThe

31st May

…Chelsea. Azalea ‘Orange King’ Azalea ‘Orange King’ A rogue Rhododendron ponticum is suddenly visible opposite Rhododendron stenaulum. It must go! Rhododendron ponticum Rhododendron ponticum Podocarpus ‘Blue Gem’ has the most…

28th June

…distance. Cheered up a dull squirrel meeting in the scorching heat. Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ 2017 – CHW Gentle rain all day which is just what…

27th August

…Sophora ‘Sun King’ Sophora ‘Sun King’ Ligustrum confusum has shed nearly all its seed head in the drought. Normally a good crop of eventually black seeds. Ligustrum confusum 2021 –…

4th October

…with secondary autumn flowers here after this peculiar summer. Malus ‘Jelly King’ Malus ‘Jelly King’ Sorbus commixta var. sachalinensis heavily laden with fruit. The largest crop so far on this…

17th November

…another Loder one ‘Borde Hill Farm’ ‘Borde Hill Farm’ ‘Crimson King’ ‘Crimson King’ ‘Crimson King’ ‘Marie Steiner’ ‘Marie Steiner’ ‘Marie Steiner’ ‘Showa-no-sake’ ‘Showa-no-sake’ ‘Showa-no-sake’ ‘Showa-no-sake’ ‘Showa-no-sake’ ‘Yoimachi’ ‘Yoimachi’ ‘Yoimachi’ ‘Misty…

29th December

…dare say we may have a few duds in the collection already, which are not worth their place but the challenge of working towards a National Collection application one day…

10th February 1897 – 2020

…on Sophora microphylla ‘Sun King’ which we planted out last spring in a very sheltered spot at the top of the garden. Sophora microphylla ‘Sun King’ Sophora microphylla ‘Sun King’…

2nd April 1897 – 2020

…George’ just coming out and a bit early. No scent yet. Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ Rhododendron loderi ‘King George’ First flowers showing colour on Michelia ‘Mixed up Miss’. Lots more…

27th March 1897 – 2020

…½ of (Narcissi) King A open. 1907 – JCW Well ahead of 1900, 1901, 1902 and 1904. Citron is opening. Monarch open and nearly all King A. 1904 – JCW…

26th March 1897 – 2020

…‘Black Velvet’ Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Silver King’ was a gift from Windsor Great Park and John Anderson. No doubt it will get more silvery. Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Silver King’ Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Silver…

19th February

…planted too deeply but have now raised themselves up to the right level and are making a good (late) show. snowdrops Similarly the five year old Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ on…