…Solace’. At least 50 press photographers and camera crews assemble half an hour before the photo call at 10.45.The bar is opened by our sponsor, Guy Hands, a little before…

…bignonoides I was wrong about Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’ the rain has allowed it to produce a set of flowers. They are still small but already a little over. Hydrangea…

…of these genus than just ‘thistles’.SILYBUM marianum is the milk thistle and is uncommon so little chance of me finding this growing locally here. More is the pity!This is Cirsium…

…tree surgeons. A little damage with tractors removing the trunks but not too bad. beech trees First flower out this year on Magnolia sapaensis (four yet to come). Magnolia sapaensis…

…looked tender but survived the winter here. Hypericum canariense Hypericum canariense Poterium spinosum – Prickly burnet from Crete looks a peculiar and nasty little plant. Seeds forming but missed the…

…is very good indeed. There is very little else, and a fine lot of rain after a very dry bout. 1915 – JCW Two years old stuff all out of…

…Potentilla fruticosa ‘Bellissima’ Rubus odoratus nicely in flower. Rubus odoratus Lespedeza bicolour ‘Yakushima’ is also a new entry. Tiny little flowers in profusion. Lespedeza bicolour ‘Yakushima’ Lespedeza bicolour ‘Yakushima’ The…

…Rhododendron keysii Rhododendron keysii 2020 – CHW A little bit of history to add to the absurdities and real problems of lockdown. My daughter has been trying to get married…

…am startled at how shell shocked we were as a country by lockdown in late March and how little thought was given then to the economic consequences of preserving our…

…week. Stewartia pseudocamellia Stewartia pseudocamellia But its bark is only just starting to ‘fissure’ near the base. Further up the stem little has changed for a year. bark bark Rhododendron…

…on Burns Bank is nearly dead from the 2 droughts. Cercidiphyllum were very badly affected by this all over the country. A very dry spot with little shade. Cercidiphyllum japonicum…

…different. Those species which seeded profusely last year are having a year off and have little, if any, flowers – Styrax serrulatus, Styrax hemsleyanus, Styrax hookeri. The hot weather seems…

…these last year but perhaps a little earlier. Need to check. The frosts (minor) over the last few days may have had an impact. first daffodil shoots Hydrangea ‘Madame Mouilliere’…

…lancei (formally Michelia pachycarpa) is a proper evergreen and well away now even with a little storm damage. Magnolia lancei Magnolia lancei The end of our oldest Rehderodendron macrocarpum. Rehderodendron…

…cut back new growth with blue tit damage obvious on some. A little browning from frost. Other plants elsewhere in the garden still to show. Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ Camellia ‘Cornish…

…problems or rows (three this week) which take up most of the surplus (little) time. On we go! Sorry no pictures today. 1995 – FJW 3 flowers out on pale…

…hours of work per month and many anomalies remain. Plant names have changed, my great grandfather’s comments are not always still legible and since I know little about daffodils his…

…japonica ‘Takanini’ nicely fronts the orange-red branches of Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’ in Kennel Close. An excellent colour combination! Camellia japonica ‘Takanini’ Camellia japonica ‘Takanini’ Little leaf drop yet on…

…CHW First flowers on the paler of the two original Camellia saluenensis by the ladies loo. A little later than last year but this needs checking. Camellia saluenensis Camellia saluenensis…

…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’…