15th March

…Rhododendron ‘Ostara’ Magnolia × loebneri ‘Wildcat’ and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’. Magnolia × loebneri ‘Wildcat’ and Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ A few late but very dark flowers on Magnolia ‘Delia Williams’. Magnolia…

30th March

…white like our original old plant. This 30 year old tree is now 20ft and so also taller than the original. A great colour combination. Magnolia cylindrica Magnolia cylindrica Magnolia…

24th March

…michei. Pittosporum michei Magnolia cylindrica ‘Bjuv’ just coming out in Kennel Close. Magnolia cylindrica ‘Bjuv’ Magnolia cylindrica ‘Bjuv’ Magnolia ‘Bishop Michael’ with a few low down and perfectly coloured flowers….

30th October

…now at its reddish-black best. Stewartia rostrata Stachyurus praecox just starting to turn. Stachyurus praecox Still plenty of fresh new flowers on Hydrangea ‘Madame Emile Mouillère’ as is normal now…

25th March 1897 – 2020

…bit like ‘Mathotiana Rubra’ but rather larger. ‘C M Hovey’ looks close but that is a much more recently bred hybrid. Well worth Asia propagating anyway. Paeony form double red

11th August

…which are much the same colour with the same stripes up the sides of the tepals as in March. Magnolia cylindrica ‘Lv Xing’ Magnolia cylindrica ‘Lv Xing’ Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliant’…

10th March

…which is irregular but pronounced. Magnolia cylindrica x M. campbellii‘Darjeeling’ Magnolia cylindrica x M. campbellii‘Darjeeling’ We have a Record Tree of Roy Lancaster’s collection of Aucuba omeiensis from Mount Omei….

16th March 1897 – 2020

…look better when the new growth emerges. Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’ Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’ Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’ Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’ Pseudotaxus chienii looks a bit insipid. Pseudotaxus chienii Pseudotaxus chienii Pseudotaxus…

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…

10th October

…the greenhouse. Magnolia cylindrica Enkianthus cernuus rubens is plastered in small seed which are still far from ripe. I wonder if they ever will be. Perhaps the old plant has…

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…

8th October

…3. Small clusters of large round red fruits lower down and larger clusters higher up. red fruits red fruits red fruits red fruits Could these all be forms of Malus…

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 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.

3rd September

…Seed heads on Magnolia cylindrica – not a common occurrence here. Magnolia cylindrica Autumn tints on Acer henryi. Acer henryi Most of the acorns have already dropped on Quercus lamellosa….

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 July

…Army’ Helenium ‘Red Army’ Red Admiral butterflies on buddleia flowers but the little buggers kept shutting their wings. Red Admiral butterflies Red Admiral butterflies One always forgets how wonderful hollyhocks…

23rd October

…pseudocamellia Quercus imbricaria even better than a week ago. Quercus imbricaria Quercus imbricaria Quercus coccinea stunning too. Quercus coccinea Lagerstroemia indica ‘Red Emperor’ Lagerstroemia indica ‘Red Emperor’ Fothergilla intermedia ‘Blue…

7th August

…but good as a clump. Pennistetum alop. ‘Red Head’ Pennistetum alop. ‘Red Head’ Pennistetum alop. ‘Red Head’ Pennistetum alop. ‘Red Head’ A new grass to me Elymus arenarius with canes…

29th October

…are currently in a prolonged wet patch. Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ Acer rubrum ‘Red Sunset’ Acer heldreichii only has half decent autumn colour on one more sheltered branch. The rest…