26th August

…‘Martha Joan Leslie’ (Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x Magnolia ‘Blushing Bride’). Magnolia ‘Martha Joan Leslie’ Magnolia ‘Martha Joan Leslie’ The peeling bark on Rhododendron stenaulum (moulmainense) is one of its best…

23rd July

…x crispatus ‘Warley Rose’. Cistus x crispatus ‘Warley Rose’ The “weeds” have gone from the Olive avenue but then you see the Echium clumps that have flowered and will now…

19th July

…an interesting dwarf holly. Ilex x meserveae ‘Little Rascal’ Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana with berries already. Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana Lobelia ‘Starship Rose’ and ‘Strawberry Blue’ – nice enough but…

6th November

…survives next door. Cornus capitata Vivid colours on Azalea ‘Rose de Flandre’. Azalea ‘Rose de Flandre’ Acer truncatum var. barbinerve (BSWJ 8806) does not have any significant autumn colour. Acer…

27th October

…Pink’ 2018 – CHW Malus hupehensis is full of small reddish crab apples in only its first year after planting in the Isla Rose Plantation. A quick result! Malus hupehensis…

17th January

…does catch what little frost we have had this year. Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ is always the last of the bholua to come into flower. Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ Frost…

10th November

…flowers. Unlike its neighbour this one is only just beginning to come out. There is another identical plant just through the arch. Camellia sasanqua ‘Rosea’ Camellia sasanqua ‘Rosea’ Camellia sasanqua…

13th November

rosea ‘Picotee’ A very good flesh red form of Lapageria rosea. Lapageria rosea A very early unnamed Camellia japonica opposite the two Magnolia x veitchii. Camellia japonica Celtis sinensis still…

3rd December

…The council refused to do this a few years ago. car has rolled off 2017 – CHW Here is Isla Rose standing on her hind legs for the first time…

28th December

…Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ Euryops chrysanthemoides still covered in flower heads. Euryops chrysanthemoides Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ with two flowers out in a damp shady corner by the front gate. This…

30th December

Rose’ still in tight bud in the Rookery and by the front gates. We have seen this in previous years. Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ The first Storm Gerrit damage. The…

8th January

…year’s propagation. young rhododendron plants Helleborus ‘Anna’s Red’ now coming into flower. A little later than usual I suspect. Helleborus ‘Anna’s Red’ 2023 – CHW A long suffering ‘Christmas Rose’…

9th January

…the garden after yesterday’s deluge.The start of the laurel cutting on the way to Rookery Gate. laurel cutting Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ is still not fully out unlike all the…

25th January

…bholua ‘Mary Rose’ still in tight bud – odd how much later this one is than all the other bholua varieties. Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ No flower tassels at all…

28th January

…flower on a white rose outside the dining room. white rose Some frost scorching but also some new growth on the Echium pininana seedlings outside the drawing room. These need…

22nd March

…Hudson to look at forms of Magnolia sprengeri. We viewed about a dozen including a few hybrids.Daphne bholua ‘Mary Rose’ still full out while all the other varieties are well…

April 2024 Ireland Trip (Day 1)

…George’ The castle facing south. The castle facing south The coronation rose garden which is largely unchanged. The Coronation Rose Garden This is where the King wanted his long herabcous…

9th February 1897 – 2020

…campbellii seedling Amid the gloom a ‘Caerhays Belle’ seedling shows up along the drive from the Isla Rose Plantation. ‘Caerhays Belle’ seedling What a ghastly day but no obvious trees…

11th March 1897 – 2020

…while starting to cut the flowers for our entries at the Rosemoor show next weekend. Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’ Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’ Magnolia ‘Mr Julian’ Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’…

6th July

…coulteri has hardly started. Brunonis is fair but not good. This years roses bad. 1918 – JCW Romney Coulteri is nice. R Brunonis has been and is splendid. Rose beds…