3rd February

…flowers blown open on the 1912 planted Magnolia campbellii. Magnolia campbellii Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum already full out. Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum First flowering of a young Polyspora on Rookery…

10th June

…leaf form some way between Ilex perado subsp. platyphylla and Ilex perado itself. Ilex perado subsp. azorica Ilex perado subsp. azorica Daphniphyllum paxianum (BSWJ 9755) Daphniphyllum paxianum Syringa tomentella flowering…

4th June

…a young Magnolia macrophylla subsp. ashei near Tin Garden. Some slug damage. Magnolia macrophylla subsp. ashei Viburnum wrightii just coming. Viburnum wrightii A young Illicium merrillianum (KWJ 12113) with a…

1st June

…winters. Keviock clearly manage them rather better in Scotland and their stand was a treasure trove of Chinese alpines.This is Primula obconica subsp. werringtonensi and the rather tiny Primula reidii…

9th May

…Magnolia ‘Betty’ Magnolia ‘Ann’ Magnolia ‘Ann’ Magnolia ‘Ann’ Magnolia ‘Judy’ Magnolia ‘Judy’ The best rhododendrons flowering in the species collection were: Rhododendron cinnabarinum subsp xanthocodon Purpurellum Group Rhododendron cinnabarinum subsp

27th April

…Malus ‘Prairie Fire’ Two enormous Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Morioka Weeping’ dating from 1824. Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Morioka Weeping’ Cercidiphyllum japonicum ‘Morioka Weeping’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘Kenneth Ashburner’. Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis…

20th April

…Blechnum nudum Blechnum nudum Onoclea sensibilis Onoclea sensibilis Grevillea miqueliana subsp. moroka in flower. The first time I had ever seen this and rather good. Grevillea miqueliana subsp. moroka Banksia…

5th April

…Larder Betula kweichowensis subsp. fansipanensis (formerly Betula insignis var. fansipanensis) is developing good greyish-brown bark and the emerging leaves are dark in colour. Betula kweichowensis subsp. fansipanensis Betula kweichowensis subsp….

21st February

…crossed with Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata subsp. ‘Lanarth’ Magnolia sprengeri var. Diva ‘Burncoose’ crossed with Magnolia campbellii var. mollicomata subsp. ‘Lanarth’ The view back to the nearly cleared Kitchen Garden…

22nd June

…Tilia carolina subsp. heterophylla Tilia carolina subsp. heterophylla Styrax faberi just coming out. Styrax faberi Ilex kingiana with berries already setting. Ilex kingiana Ilex kingiana Jaimie and Michael just back…

25th July

…Forty Niner’ Sequoiadendron giganteum ‘Glaucum’ finally getting away after a slow start from 14 years ago. Sequoiadendron giganteum Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ – the red bark has just…

1st August

…away. Grows alongside Rhododendron stamineum. I found a flower of this on a young plant on the main ride today. Rhododendron fortunei subsp discolor Rhododendron fortunei subsp discolor How well…

23rd August

subsp. albosinensis (as we now have to call it) with most of its old bark covering peeled away. What a set of colours. Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis Betula utilis subsp….

9th September

…more clumps. The best things in the garden in September. Hydrangea aspera subsp. strigillosa also from Formosa (BSWJ 15151) Hydrangea aspera subsp. strigillosa also from Formosa (BSWJ 15151) Huge leaves…

26th September

…‘Red Hot Lava’ Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala just starting its vivid red autumn colours at the tips of some twigs. Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala 2017 –…

2nd March

…week with Raf Lenaerts party. Magnolia ‘Queen Elizabeth’ is suddenly full out. Magnolia ‘Queen Elizabeth’ As is Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum. Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum Rhododendron arboreum subsp. cinnamomeum Rhododendron…

23rd October

…the year as it came out pure white. Hydrangea aspera subsp. robusta Hydrangea aspera subsp. robusta 1978 – FJW Very dry since August 15th. 1960 – FJW Planted 7 bulbs…

30th November

…Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Schefflera pauciflora (WWJ 11999) with nearly ripe seeds. Schefflera pauciflora Schefflera pauciflora Not quite ripe seeds on Illicium…

27th December

…Lancaster’s wild collected Aucuba himalaica var. dolichophylla. Ilex perado subsp. platyphylla hedge Ilex perado subsp. platyphylla hedge Hemerocallis breaking cover already. Hemerocallis Berberis kawakamii with pale yellow flowers, large prickles…

10th January

…brown bark. Betula utilis subsp. utilis ‘Mount Luoji’ Betula utilis subsp. utilis ‘Mount Luoji’ The Keteleeria restaked. Keteleeria 2024 – CHW A touch of frost overnight.However the Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing…