15th January

…x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ just coming out. The buds are long and tubular. Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ The fruits…

28th March

…the first time. This is Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘Caerhays Surprise’ bred in Wales by John Carlson and selected by Tim Thornton. Until I looked up the parentage I…

8th December

…up on the Tin Garden shed A young Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ with 3 early flowers in Tin Garden. Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ Camellia saluenensis and Camellia x…

7th April

…veitchii called ‘Isca’ (or possibly ‘Columbus’). M. x veitchii ‘Columbus’ was named by John Bond in 1992 and that dates its planting more or less spot on as he gave…

9th May

…this, clearly and self-evidently, best garden in England, with his new boss (ex Exbury) John Anderson. They will be in the Eric Savill, John Bond, Mark Flannigan mould and maintain…

12th March

…A visit to Tregrehan: Back at Caerhays. Roy Lancaster and Mike Nelhams underneath Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’. Magnolia ‘Sir Harold Hillier’ John and Isla. John and Isla Lizzie and Sue…

21st February 1897 – 2020

…sported similar shaped red flowers. Camellia ‘Can Can’ Camellia ‘Can Can’ Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ in shade. A somewhat sparse flowerer here. Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ Camellia x…

18th July

…‘Moonlight Star’ Agapanthus ‘Moonlight Star’ Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’ Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’ Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’ Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’ An interesting new low growing Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood”….

27th February 1897 – 2020

…look it up. Camellia ‘Takanini’ Camellia ‘Takanini’ Camellia ‘Little Bit’ is full out below the Tennis Court beside the path. Camellia ‘Little Bit’ Camellia ‘Little Bit’ Rhododendron spinuliferum like we…

13th March 1897 – 2020

Johnson from the Tree Register recorded it as a record sized tree for the UK and Cornwall in 2016 but called it Michelia maudiae. Michelia macclurei Michelia macclurei Michelia macclurei…

20th April

…(now 17) too. Magnolia ‘Hot Flash’ Magnolia ‘Hot Flash’ A wild self sown clump of Primula pulverulenta in a damp spot where little else will grow despite several attempts. Primula…

17th January

…saluenensis Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ shows the flower shape clearly. Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ Deer have nibbled the leaves on our best Quercus insignis. Quercus insignis First flowering…

2nd April

…vigorously but now it is clearly dead with bark shedding at the base. The uprighted bit still has one small live branch and some still live reshooting. Little cause for…

2nd February

…Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Pickthorn’ Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Pickthorn’ Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ Camellia x williamsii ‘John Pickthorn’ The Pickthorn’s were lifelong friends of my father’s/ the family…

April 2018 Irish trip (Day 4)

…of the flowers. Rhododendron thompsonii Rhododendron thompsonii Camellia reticulata ‘John Hunt’ with the largest flower of any camellia I have ever seen. Here with Michael. Camellia reticulata ‘John Hunt’ Camellia…

28th April

…sempervirens ‘John Clayton’ Lonicera sempervirens ‘John Clayton’ Mahonia hartwegii. Mahonia hartwegii Mahonia hartwegii Mahonia hartwegii Pittosporum illicioides var. angustifolium. Pittosporum illicioides var. angustifolium Male and female catkins on Carpinus fangiana….

8th May

…gnarled and ancient Wisteria sinensis over a pool. Wisteria sinensis Another free standing Wisteria not yet out. Acer palmatum ‘Little Princess’. Acer palmatum ‘Little Princess’ Acer palmatum ‘Little Princess’ A…

8th September

…Glow’ Echinacea purpurea Echinacea purpurea Echinacea purpurea Kniphofia ‘Little Maid’ rather late in the season. Kniphofia ‘Little Maid’ Kniphofia ‘Little Maid’ Malus ‘Golden Hornet’ laden down with fruit as usual….

26th September

…‘Patricia Ballard’ Aster ‘Little Carlow’ was making a stunning show. About 3-4ft tall as a huge clump. Aster ‘Little Carlow’ Aster ‘Little Carlow’ Aster ‘Little Carlow’ Unable to identify this…

21st April

…They have completed their three week ‘furlough’ and will begin to generate a little productivity – even perhaps a little income particularly on the building side of things.We have one…