30th November

…plan too but I suspect Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Venus’ or ‘Victoria’ from its growth habit). It has clearly got its seasons badly wrong and is starting to flower. The trusses seem…

22nd December

…Astonishingly a letter from the RHS president arrives in the afternoon post advising me that the RHS council have decided to award me the Victoria Medal of Honour. Good party…

26th March

…show colour except G Bell, have picked a C J Backhouse. 1900 – JCW Have put under glass to open Emperor, Empress, Horsfieldii, Victoria, G Bell as all showing colour….

23rd February

…its bark) was a Kingdom Ward collection from Mount Victoria in Burma. Tom’s father grows this in New Zealand. Rhododendron albotomentosum Rhododendron albotomentosum Rhododendron albotomentosum Rhododendron albotomentosum Camellia chekiangoleosa has…

14th November

…it as a Christmas tree. Several years to go before this one qualifies! Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’ Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’ 2015 – CHW The ancient clump of…

26th September

…Carlow’ Aster ‘Little Carlow’ Aster ‘Little Carlow’ Unable to identify this which grew to 6ft or more. [It is Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’] Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ A 35…

25th September

…Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ 2020 – CHW The Chinese state TV have sent us a copy of the film (in English) which they made, partly here, about Camellias…

5th August

…first hints of pink in the flowerheads. Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’ The variegated leaved Luma apiculata ‘Glanleam Gold’ with bits of reversion to green here and…

17th September

…trapping is working. Cornus kousa var chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ Cornus kousa var chinensis ‘Wisley Queen’ Secondary flowers on young Rhododendron ‘Bow Bells’ are a pleasant surprise in the sunlight. Rhododendron…

17th February

…looking sick. Here a clump of 3 Rhododendron ‘Saffron Queen’ with one on the way out following the drought. Rhododendron ‘Saffron Queen’ Rhododendron ‘Saffron Queen’ Our new 2021 clump of…