…and they have been awarded a silver medal (note, not the same as a silver gilt). But then the skulduggery starts with the RHS clearly feeling embarrassed that the key…

…Magnolia ‘‘Star Wars’ Magnolia ‘‘Star Wars’ There are three seedlings from Michelia doltsopa ‘Silver Cloud’ which have clearly crossed up with the M. doltsopa near the original ‘Silver Cloud’ growing…

…Arboreums above Orchid House trying to come out. Enkianthus colour excellent. Fear few magnolias to flower in spring. 1926 – JCW The Cardinal willow in the sun is very good…

…King A. 1904 – JCW Picked a Cam reticulata well out, only half King A open. 1901 – JCW Jacko shows colour and Cardinal is picked, two flowers hardly open….

…trip to Tregrehan where I made the cardinal sin of confusing Camellia oleifera with Camellia taliensis as I have in this diary for many years. My father before me too….

…large pure white (rather than creamy) flowers and a different scent to the parent. This is more like cinnamon. Michelia doltsopa ‘Silver Cloud’ Michelia doltsopa ‘Silver Cloud’ Michelia doltsopa ‘Silver…

…var jacquemontii ‘Silver Shadow’ Betula utilis var jacquemontii ‘Silver Shadow’ An interesting birch display above the drive where their mainly white mature trunks will one day show up well as…

…4ft tall after a cold winter. Hydrangea lobbii Hydrangea lobbii Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Silver King’ leafing up nicely. The silver variegation is irregular. Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Silver King’ Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Silver King’…

…‘Silver Anniversary’ Camellia ‘Silver Anniversary’ I had been expecting Rhododendron ‘Crossbill’ to show any day but nothing yet on the old plants on the Main Ride. Here a youngster is…

…Hampton Court) and drop some of the New Zealand varieties. Agapanthus ‘Silver Moon’ – silver leaf edge variegation and much better than Agapanthus ‘Tinkerbell’. Agapanthus ‘Silver Moon’ Agapanthus ‘Windsor Grey’…