14th March 1897 – 2020

…with some early Rhododendron sutchuenense hybrids framing it off. Looking down on them is the best way to see magnolias. Magnolia campbellii Alba I might now recap on the best

19th April

…their best. Single Camellias and Reticulata species past best. Garden Reticulata not yet at best – Arboreums going over.Davidsonianum and Augustinii just coming well out also Auklandii hybrids and some…

18th May

…dying rhododendrons from previous droughts. Rhododendron ‘Bobolink’. Rhododendron ‘Bobolink’ Rhododendron ‘Yellow Petticoats’. Rhododendron ‘Yellow Petticoats’ Rhododendron ‘Yellow Petticoats’ Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’. Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’ Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’ Rhododendron ‘Lemon Meringue’…

15th April

…dry the flowers stand proud from the emerging leaves this year rather than being swamped by them. Magnolia ‘Yellow Fever’ Magnolia ‘Yellow Fever’ Magnolia ‘Yellow Fever’ Rhododendron desquamatum is its…

25th May

…aprica Crataegus aprica Crataegus aprica Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x ‘Gold Cup’ – planted 2014 Magnolia ‘Daybreak’ x ‘Gold Cup’ Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlett’ now properly out. Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlett’ Crataegus…

20th June

…up the Latin name first! yellow Icelandic poppies yellow Icelandic poppies We were worried as to whether the Magnolia delavayi cut down last August would recover from The Beast. The…

2nd November

…in the spring. Rhododendron flavidum is one of its parents and often has an autumn show too as we saw earlier but nothing like this. Rhododendron ‘Yellow Hammer’ Rhododendron ‘Yellow

24th March 1897 – 2020

…at best. Also old Mollicomata ¼ out, rest not including ten young with buds. Salicifolia one good. Diva a few flowers. Reticulatas and St Ewe at best. Saluenensis past best….

27th April

…Loder challenge cup for best hybrid rhododendron truss. Jaimie receives the RHS Loder challenge cup CHW receives the RCMG Quicke cup for best magnolias in the show. CHW receives cup…

1st May

…growth. Quercus x bushii ‘Seattle Trident’ Quercus x bushii ‘Seattle Trident’ Magnolia ‘Ossie’s Yellow’ shaping up quite well. Magnolia ‘Ossie’s Yellow’ Crataegus schraderiana is another new species which will be…

2nd June

…light pink with a yellow flare and a whitish stripe. whitish stripe whitish stripe whitish stripe Then a rather more conventional late flowering pale yellow. pale yellow pale yellow Similar…

9th May

…‘Loderi Pink Diamond’ if only on its leaf form but still not correct. Rhododendron ‘Loderi Pink Diamond’ Rhododendron ‘Loderi Pink Diamond’ Another pleasant yellow royalii hybrid. yellowish royalii hybrid yellowish…

21st July

…gave it a name. best blue hydrangea best blue hydrangea Still plenty of flower on the Azalea indica clump also in full shade in the Auklandii Garden. Weeks since the…

30th April

…to see yellow flowers on Yellow Lantern from the front door today. A new first for Caerhays as the plant is tall enough to show up (against the new beech…

17th March 1897 – 2020

…front gate and the third behind the JCW camellia clump on Bond Street. Was it not fortunate that the best plant ended up in the best place or was it…

5th April

…past best. Camellia reticulata at its best but others over except doubles. There has been a lot of hot sun and cold nights. Some hail the last week. Magnolia Diva…

1st April

…always known it. Yellow in bud but less yellow this year than last. Is it floribunda? Tom Hudson says just another form of M. doltsopa. Michelia floribunda Michelia floribunda Michelia…

28th March

…The wild origin Magnolia cylindrica is now full out a week after we first looked. Magnolia cylindrica The first yellow magnolia is showing. Magnolia ‘Sunburst’ is quite a good yellowish…

11th November

…flowers on Camellia x williamsii ‘J.C Williams’ almost out earlier than ever this year. Camellia x williamsii ‘J.C Williams’ Acer palmatum ‘Inazuma’ not quite yet at its best. Acer palmatum…

7th April

…Magnolia ‘Yellow Lantern’ Magnolia ‘Yellow Lantern’ Wonderful new growth buds on Salix fargesii. Planted in 2010 and now a stout multi-stemmed shrub. Salix fargesii Salix fargesii New leaves on Prunus…