5th March 1897 – 2020

…‘Blood Moon’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Pickards Ruby’ – first interesting flowers on this as yet unnamed hybrid which I strongly suspect is of Belgian origin. Darker than ‘Pickards Ruby’…

25th December

…a few rogue flowers out early but most buds still intact. Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ looking spectacular. Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis…

7th April

…looking sea. The tent for today’s Wedding Fair is below the castle rather than on Beach Meadow for obvious reasons. tent for today’s Wedding Fair An evil looking sea Purchases…

28th May

…Rhododendron sinofalconeri 2023 – CHW A cuckoo squawking all morning. We could do with a days rain! Big wedding yesterday in Beach Meadow.In my absence at Chelsea Jaimie, Michael, and…

14th June

…wonder who this was planted for? The Bloomfield family lived here for generations but Joss only died about eight years ago. Rosa ‘Wedding Day’ Rosa ‘Wedding Day’ Tropaeolum ciliatum full…

9th July

…of the day. No hassle with the wedding and no noise unlike the previous weekend when the wedding goers repeatedly rang the front door bell. Thankfully we were away.The Roy…

7th July

…on the drive. This one a Mark Bulk purchase. Cotoneaster glabratus Another Saturday and another wedding with a 3 part tent in Beach Meadow. another wedding with a 3 part…

19th December

…Gem’ Malus ‘Red Sentinel’ Malus ‘Red Sentinel’ Malus x robusta ‘Fruitilicious’ Malus x robusta ‘Fruitilicious’ Malus brevipes ‘Wedding Bouquet’ Malus brevipes ‘Wedding Bouquet’ Malus baccata Malus baccata Malus evereste Malus…

17th May

…Rhododendron ‘Ruby Hart’ was good on the stand last year. Now useless. Rhododendron ‘Ruby Hart’ Rhododendron ‘Ruby Hart’ Camellia ‘Mathotiana Alba’ is always late and has made it some years….

17th March

Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ Prunus ‘Collingwood Ingram’ as good as ever. Such a dark reddish-pink colour and not dissimilar…

13th April

…yet anything like as good as Tom Hudson’s plant and I wonder if they are indeed true to name? Enkianthus serrulatus Likewise three Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Ruby Glow’. Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Ruby

17th April

…campanulatus ‘Ruby Glow’ Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Ruby Glow’ Liverwort spreading up a beech tree by Tin Garden. Liverwort Rhododendrons ‘Saffron Queen’ and ‘Michael’s Pride’ just starting to open. Also a month…

19th November

…its name with pink seed capsules. The best new autumn colour that I have seen for ages. Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Cotoneaster…

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…

24th January

…equally impressive. Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ 2024 – CHW Camellia japonica ‘Takanini’ in Kennel Close has…

24th April

…‘Jelly King’ Malus ‘Brandy Wine’. Malus ‘Brandy Wine’ Malus brevipes ‘Wedding Bouquet’. Malus brevipes ‘Wedding Bouquet’ Malus ‘Royalty’. Malus ‘Royalty’ Malus ‘Butterball’. Malus ‘Butterball’ Malus ‘Butterball’ Malus ‘Indian Magic’. Malus…

16th June

…are still some outside The Rabbit Warren in a damp shady place. Iris siberica ‘Butter and Sugar’ Iris siberica ‘Butter and Sugar’ Paparer orientale ‘Royal Wedding’, like all of these…

13th August

…elms What a glorious day for a Beach Meadow wedding. Tepees rather than tents seem to be the trend. This is the second lot of tepees in a fortnight. Beach…

14th July

wedding today. Flower arrangements outside the front door. Crinum powellii and hydrangea. Shasta daisies and Meadowsweet. Flower arrangements Flower arrangements The flag flies for the Colonel, who has brought a…

23rd March 1897 – 2020

…then) was a rather poorly coloured Magnolia campbellii. The four 1920’s planted magnolias in this clearing have now all been identified. The wedding magnolias nearly all survive to grace the…