24th April

…Rhododendron veitchianum Cubittii Group just coming out. Rhododendron veitchianum Cubittii Group Rhododendron veitchianum Cubittii Group Rhododendron edgeworthii x leucaspis and Rhododendron augustinii together – scent beyond belief. Rhododendron edgeworthii x…

22nd April

…the replacements looking good but now elderly too. One of this group of four died last year. Rhododendron ‘Damaris’ Azalea ‘Melina’ wonderful in a group. Well worth propagating. Azalea ‘Melina’…

20th April

…27 clients of Brightwater Holidays with Colin Crosbie (ex Wisley) and my new squawk box which means I can speak to the whole group and don’t need a second guide…

1st April

…the bottom of the Auklandii Garden. Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba Group’ seedling Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba Group’ seedling The huge Drimys winteri var. latifolia nearby is full out. Drimys winteri var. latifolia…

11th May

…‘Lemon Meringue’ Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’ Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Cameo’ Rhododendron ‘Lem’s Cameo’ Rhododendron cinnarbarinum Concatenans Group Rhododendron cinnarbarinum Concatenans Group Rhododendron vaseyi was exceptionally good in shade. Rhododendron vaseyi Rhododendron vaseyi…

3rd March

…seedling of Magnolia campbellii Alba Group just starting. Magnolia campbellii Alba Group The row of Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’ on the Main Ride. Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’ Camellia ‘Royalty’ now…

26th August

Group’. Hydrangea paniculata ‘Polar Bear’ and Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa Group’ Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’, some flowers still pure white, some older ones pink tinged. Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’ Hydrangea paniculata ‘Skyfall’ Hydrangea…

3rd September

…is making serious new growth after the drought has now ended. Cedrus brevifolia 2017 – CHW Astonishingly good blue new growth on Rhododendron cinnabarinum concatenans Group. Rhododendron cinnabarinum concatenans Group

12th September

…a bad influenza season – almost certainly correct. Eleven days later, the same group of experts predicted that the mortality rate was going to be ten times as high. This…

7th October

…Cotoneaster ‘Rothschildianus’ More fungi to try to identify but I now have experts to consult after the Cornwall Fungus Group visit here in the last few days. fungi fungi fungi…

14th October

…Stewartia pseudocamellia ‘Koreana Group’ with remarkable colouring. Much better than S. pseudocamellia. Stewartia pseudocamellia ‘Koreana Group’ Seed catkin clusters on Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’. Carpinus betulus ‘Purpurea’ Sorbus hupehensis covered in…

3rd November

…cinnabarinum subsp. xanthocodon Concatenans Group. What a mouthfall of a name. It was once just Rh. concatenans! Rhododendron cinnabarinum subsp. xanthocodon Concatenans Group Nyssa sylvatica ‘Wisley Bonfire’ getting going properly…

17th March 1897 – 2020

…how to carry on. £400-500k in tourist income probably down the drain with the group tours, weddings, holiday lets and The Vean. Do we keep the gardens open but stop…

6th February 1897 – 2020

…good. Three plants planted in 2007. Two survive and are fine plants. Rhododendron ‘Cornubia Group’ Rhododendron ‘Cornubia Group’ 2016 – CHW A truly filthy day with 15 hours of hail…

7th February 1897 – 2020

…day before we open. Storm damage It has narrowly missed Rhododendron veitchianum Group which has absurdly early flowers. Previously Rhododendron cubittii I suspect. Rhododendron veitchianum Group Rhododendron veitchianum Group Magnolia…

23rd March 1897 – 2020

…a young tree. Stewartia pseudocamellia Koreana Group Stewartia pseudocamellia Koreana Group Sorbus scalaris with an enormous trunk. Sorbus scalaris Sorbus scalaris Occasionally you see balls of dense growth on scots…

11th March 1897 – 2020

…‘Blue Giant’ Rhododendron Nimrod Group was very fine. A Rhododendron barbatum cross? Rhododendron Nimrod Group Forsystia x intermedia ‘Goldrush’ – huge flowers on this excellent form which was also for…

4th March 1897 – 2020

…Rhododendron ‘Maisie’ Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’ measured beside Lizzie’s hand. Camellia reticulata ‘Dream Castle’ Caerhays bred Rhododendron Golden Oriole Group – ‘Talavera’. Rhododendron Golden Oriole Group – ‘Talavera’ Rhododendron Golden…

3rd March 1897 – 2020

…out – inside of tepals Red Purple Group 73B – Strong Purplish Pink Full out – outside of tepals Purple Group 75C – Very Light Purple We will now send…

3rd August

…say 10 years. A popular hydrangea but I prefer larger leaved Hydrangea sargentiana. Hydrangea aspera Villosa Group Hydrangea aspera Villosa Group Hydrangea aspera Villosa Group A raven feeding a single…