15th October

…Magnolia globosa Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ at its very best. Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ An extraordinary sight. Secondary flowers on a red flowered tree peony in October! red flowered

5th October

…did not agree with the identification of our Rhus species. A primrose in flower in October! primrose in flower Ripe seed for Asia to collect on Styrax shiraianus. Styrax shiraianus…

9th March

…Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta Magnolia sargentiana var. robusta Magnolia ‘Chyverton Red’ and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’. Magnolia ‘Chyverton Red’ and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ and Magnolia campbelli ‘Charles Raffill’. Magnolia…

7th October

…has few berries and not yet fully coloured. Cotoneaster rokujodaisanensis Cotoneaster schubertii is well covered in berry and a good orange which will probably get redder yet. Cotoneaster schubertii Cotoneaster…

2nd June

…east winds. Pinkish red Pinkish red Pinkish red Pinkish red Then a red one with an orange flare. red red Still tight buds on Styrax japonicus ‘Pink Chimes’. Styrax japonicus…

14th February 1897 – 2020

…no idea. Helleborus orientalis ‘Annas Red’ Helleborus orientalis ‘Annas Red’ Helleborus orientalis ‘Annas Red’ Helleborus orientalis ‘Annas Red’ A nice showing of dwarf blue iris in pots too. dwarf blue…

19th October

…Rhus typhina ‘Tiger Eyes’ Our stock plant of Pseudowintera ‘Red Leopard’ is the best thing in the nursery today as regards autumn colour. Outstanding! Pseudowintera ‘Red Leopard’ Pseudowintera ‘Red Leopard’…

28th October

…Michael has arranged for the old Rain Gauge to be repaired and restored. During lockdown we spent hours trying to find one similar to the two I remember from childhood…

10th October

…an excellent reddish show and, I think, earlier than usual. Stewartia monadelpha Quercus frainetto does not have autumn colour with us. Quercus frainetto Neither does Tilia caroliniana subsp. heterophylla. Its…

3rd October

…and distinctive new growth and leaf formation. Once seen easily recognisable again. I fear you are bored with red berried Cotoneasters so I will spare you the rest! Cotoneaster silvestrii…

14th November

…at every corner. Scattered small branches Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ blown away before we see the proper red in its leaves. Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ Acer…

27th May

…subsp. yunnanensis (SBEC 1022) I cannot remember the name of this excellent dark red evergreen azalea. dark red evergreen azalea dark red evergreen azalea Camellia japonica ‘Mathotiana Alba’ still in…

18th October

…past as this species. First time flowering on the top wall. Lemon yellow flowers and red stamens. Hedychium gardnerianum Hedychium gardnerianum A new evergreen fern in the frames – Woodwardia…

14th October

…Stewartia pseudocamellia ‘Koreana Group’ with remarkable colouring. Much better than S. pseudocamellia. Stewartia pseudocamellia ‘Koreana Group’ Seed catkin clusters on Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’. Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’ Sorbus hupehensis covered in…

18th April

…– pure white even in bud. Malus ‘Braendkjaer’ The daffodils which we planted last year have disappeared this year with very few flowers. Only half the bulbs planted have reappeared.

16th October

…now over and shedding petals furiously as the wind gets up. A short and sweet flowering season. Camellia sasanqua which suddenly flowered 10 days ago Camellia sasanqua which suddenly flowered

2nd October

…(New Zealand bred) FCC Rhododendron ‘Michaels Pride’ (Charlie Michael retired as head gardener in 1955 and I suspect that this had never been exhibited for an award before)The recommendations from…

11th October

…Nyssa sylvatica Diospyros lotus with an interesting red and yellow combination of colours. Diospyros lotus Verbena rigida still looking fresh even in October. Verbena rigida Verbena rigida Ampelopsis brevipedunculata ‘Elegans’…

26th May

…This group were planted in 1999. Azalea ‘Royal Command’ was over a fortnight ago. Azalea ‘Hotspur Red’ Azalea ‘Hotspur Red’ Azalea ‘Hotspur Red’ This very late flowering evergreen azalea in…

27th June

…dark red rather than the orange-red flowered plant I photographed last week. Quite a sight today but not as good as the Rhododendron auriculatum or the Rhododendron fortunei var discolor…