15th February 1897 – 2020

…time for our opening to the public on Monday. record Magnolia campbellii record Magnolia campbellii First colour showing on Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ – blown out unfortunately. Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ Flowers…

5th March 1897 – 2020

…even next week! Frankie Tregunna and Ross Collins Frankie Tregunna and Ross Collins Frankie Tregunna and Ross Collins Magnolia ‘Sweet Valentine’ just showing nicely as the small tree matures. Magnolia…

27th February 1897 – 2020

…my surprise Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ has snuck out only four days after I last checked it. Not full out yet by any means. Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ Another new clump of…

15th March 1897 – 2020

…However Jaimie says it is actually Philip Tregunna. Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ named after an old head gardener at Caerhays. 1988 – FJW Gales after 6 dry warm weeks – Magnolias…

16th March 1897 – 2020

…It was in fact a purchase from South Down Nurseries which I visited with Philip Tregunna for the first time in about 1980 well before the nursery moved to Burncoose…

3rd March

…The first true Magnolia ‘Sprengeri Diva’ to have flowers out. Magnolia ‘Sprengeri Diva’ Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ showing colour. Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ Magnolia ‘Bishop Peter’ an excellent colour this year. Magnolia…

19th February 1897 – 2020

…two. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ showing colour in the mist. Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ Magnolia campbellii from afar in the mizzle. Magnolia campbellii 2018 – CHW Between meetings a…

9th March

…Camellia japonica Corylopsis spicata and Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’. Corylopsis spicata and Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’ Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ now full out. Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ Magnolia campbelli from afar. Magnolia…

25th February

…Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata subsp. ‘Lanarth’ The view over the arch is improving day by day. The view over the arch Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ is just starting to show. Magnolia…

24th February

Tregunna’ at its absolute best. Magnolia ‘Philip Tregunna’ Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’ now full out. Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’ The huge Michelia doltsopa by George’s Hut is showing colour today but (thankfully)…

3rd May

…visited Caerhays in April 1919 (as attached). Philip Tregunna won the RHS Reginald Cory cup for Magnolia ‘Caerhays Surprise’ (the best new plant bred or introduced to cultivation that year)…

1st March 1897 – 2020

…long. Rhododendron moulmainense Rhododendron moulmainense Rhododendron moulmainense Magnolia ‘Philip’s Surprise’ just coming out at the very top of the garden. A huge tree now. Magnolia ‘Philip’s Surprise’ Magnolia ‘Philip’s Surprise’…

13th March 1897 – 2020

…Magnolia ‘Caerhays Philip’ again on the michelia hunt and it is out more fully but still the translucent colour is not quite as good as last year. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Philip’…

24th April

…still grow on at the current location of the Rhododendron Species Foundation in Federal Way, Washington. The next entry in Philip’s book shows that, on the same day, 4 cuttings…

31st March

…did not photograph yesterday. Magnolia campbellii Alba Magnolia ‘Caerhays Philip’ has taken a battering since a week ago but still has some gorgeous flowers left. Magnolia ‘Caerhays Philip’ Inflorescences on…

21st March

…wettish day leaving everything perfectly flat, neat and tidy. Nobody could better a Tregunna for doing a VIP job like this! Frankie digs out the layered stumps Frankie digs out…

4th January

…Snow’ very fine but the wind has spoilt the show a bit. Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ Camellia ‘New Venture’ just out. Bred by Philip Tregunna. Camellia ‘New Venture’…

23rd January

…going. They are all on a plan Philip Tregunna produced 40 years or so ago but no chance of sorting them all out properly without a huge haircut. They were…

Contributors to the Garden Diary

…was written there have been only four head gardeners at Caerhays. They are mentioned frequently in the diary: John Martin 1897-1922 Charles Michael 1922-1956 Philip Tregunna 1956-1996 Jaimie Parsons 1996-…

17th March 1897 – 2020

…‘Kew’s Surprise’ Second sibling seedling of M. ‘Kew’s Surprise’ Two of Philip Tregunna’s hybrids to assess again as they start to open:Planted 1985 Magnolia sargentiana robusta x ‘Lanarth’ – by…