…spring. 1909 – JCW Auklandii would be splendid but for the want of rain. R roylei nice, a few Azaleas, a few Waters rhodo’s. Van Tubergens wane. Mrs Butler a…

…twittering away with delight. Two green woodpeckers on the lawn chasing ants.A bonfire to clear a space to plant our Rhododendron ‘Mrs Butler’ layers in the autumn where a beech…

…Magnolia ‘Tranquillity’ better than I remember. Magnolia ‘Tranquillity’ Magnolia ‘Banana Split’ a bit wind battered. Magnolia ‘Banana Split’ Seamus O’Brien and his Irish friends below Rhododendron ‘Mrs. Butler’. Seamus O’Brien…

…with Argenteum. Thomsonii x Arboreum are over, the Mrs Butler x Arboreums are at their best, some pink and white Auklandii x Arboreum are opening. 1906 – JCW Very much…

…good – also large Lacteum Rho very good and Sinogrande. Daffodils largely over. Two fuschias showing flower, one Mrs Pople out. Pink magnolias over Veitchii been very fine. Also Sargenteanum…

…(Uncle George). 1913 – JCW The first sort of Poet open and Mrs P Sydenham, some real white thorn in the ride. 1905 – JCW Halleana (stellata) just open, Reticulata…

…has nice flowers and its hybrids. Auklandii and Mrs Butler Rho hybrids at their best. Also Blue Tit and Yellow Hammer, reticulata past its best. Daffs nearly over. Some nice…

…over, Auklandii nice. Mrs Butler and Falconeri over, Viburnum plicatum and Sappho the two best things. Thomsoni pink coming, white going, Waterer’s good. 1910 – JCW A fair lot of…

…Country Life in bed with Mrs W for a ‘longish’ morning! ‘Fight to win’ perhaps but I just wish for a week with no staff problems or rows (three this…

…good lot of azaleas out. The unopened Mrs Butlers have some flowers open. R rubiginosum in full flower, the auklandii’s nearly out. R glaucum and some scented things out. Sent…