22nd May

…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…

24th July

…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…

7th July

…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…

16th July

…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…

14th July

…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…

15th July

…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…

27th June

…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…

22nd June

…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…

21st June

…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…

14th June

…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…

11th June

…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…

31st May

…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…

5th December

…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’…

22nd December

…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…

9th December

…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…

11th December

…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…

13th December

…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…

16th December

…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…

21st December

…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…

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’…