…28°C as we hit the second heatwave and real deaths now. Out best blue mophead hydrangeas shrivel before our eyes. blue mophead hydrangeas Clethra tomentosa ‘Cottondale’ now full out and…

…Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Burncoose’ Clethra tomentosa ‘Cottondale’ just out. Clethra tomentosa ‘Cottondale’ Clethra alnifolia ‘Ruby Spice’ just out beside it. A strong colour this year although this 2003 planted…

…again Crataegus ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ has blown over and had to be restaked. Crataegus ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’ does not seem to colour at all with us. Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’…

…cinarea Juglans cinarea Seeds on Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’ for the first time I think. Planted in 2009. Tilia tomentosa ‘Petiolaris’ Then a surprise. Flower buds all over Eucalyptus simmonosii and…

…Buds and seed pods side by side on Paulownia tomentosa. Paulownia tomentosa The snakebark trunk of a 20 year old Acer x conspicuum ‘Silver Cardinal’ remains as good as ever….

…years to produce their first flowers. Davidia involucrata ‘Sonoma’ Davidia involucrata ‘Sonoma’ Davidia involucrata ‘Sonoma’ Paulownia tomentosa also flowering in a pot in the show tunnel. Far too early for…

…a pure white ‘red hot poker’ before. Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ Kniphofia ‘Ice Queen’ Olearia virgata, I think, in flower in the rain. Olearia virgata, Sorbaria tomentosa (possibly) var angustifolia with…

…more upright. Clethra monostachya First flowers out on Clethra tomentosa ‘Cottondale’ from the USA. A suckering and expanding clump. Clethra tomentosa ‘Cottondale’ Trees to fell next spring and camellias to…

…species of paulownia flowering at Caerhays for the first time this year (see also Paulownia fortunei)! We now have at least four species here including also Paulownia tomentosa and Paulownia…

…form’ The Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’ clump above the greenhouse lived only about 30 years. Exponential growth, a brief spectacle from the bottom lodge when in flower for 10 years or…

…‘tree rat’ control? Magnolia sieboldii Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’ in the distance with Rhododendron crassum in the foreground. Strangely the other paulownia species have yet to flower. Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’ Another…

…not out. Magnolia fraseri ‘Pyramidalis’ Philadelphus satsumi is now performing. Philadelphus satsumi Philadelphus satsumi Rhododendron tethropeplum full out at the Hothead. Rhododendron tethropeplum Rhododendron tethropeplum Rhododendron tethropeplum The Paulownia tomentosa…

…‘Sundance’ Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ just coming out. Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’ just opening. Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’ Magnolia ‘Tropicana’ now full out. Magnolia ‘Tropicana’ Magnolia ‘Gold Star’ Magnolia ‘Gold Star’ Magnolia…

…over in the gale. x Rhaphiobotyra blown over A tall evergreen oak species smashed to bits. tall evergreen oak tall evergreen oak Still plenty of leaf on Clethra tomentosa ‘Cottondale’….

…exhibits. It was nothing like this! Tony Kirkham and I both agree that, in fact, Tregothnan showed Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’. This does flower in early April whereas P. kawakamii only…

…It will be the best thing in the garden in a week or so. Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’ is also out but nowhere near as good as this. Paulownia kawakamii The…

…Nursery. So is the clump of Paulownia tomentosa ‘Lilacina’ above the greenhouse. Very short lived trees which grow so quickly. One of the seven survives. Finally I settled on the…