3rd May

…recession.So the ‘mistakes’ are not really about the lack of PPE, the lack of instant tests (which prove little on an ongoing basis) or not enforcing a lockdown more quickly….

11th May

…Abies spectabilis Rhododendron ‘Beauty of Littleworth’ full out by George’s Hut. This is a Rhododendron griffithianum hybrid. Rhododendron ‘Beauty of Littleworth’ Over the bank holiday weekend a large oak tree…

5th April

…to yesterday’s missive about the NHS staff and local hospitals at present. Much bullshit and little common sense here! Go back please too to the Spectator article about death recording…

17th May

…outside the back yard nearly over before Chelsea. Rhododendron ‘Sappho’ Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ Rhododendron zaleucum still flowering a little after its haircut last winter. Rhododendron zaleucum Then…

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…

4th August

…from Sichuan by E.H. Wilson in 1908 but little known in cultivation today. Can reach 6-10 feet eventually. Viburnum wilsonae Viburnum wilsonae Viburnum rhytidophyllum with, as usual, seed heads and…

22nd May

…on Friday or Saturday. Then the laying hens will be sold elsewhere as we never want to see this stock again in our future breeding programme. A fledgling blackbird makes…

28th July

…needs a little correction (Maackia chinensis ‘Hupense’). Maackia hupehensis Maackia hupehensis Maackia hupehensis An attractive compilation of Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa Group’ and Buddleja lindleyana. Hydrangea aspera ‘Villosa Group’ Buddleja lindleyana…

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…

16th July

…largest Viburnum rhytidophyllum I have ever seen. Viburnum rhytidophyllum A good clump of Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’? Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’ Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’ A large Nyssa sylvatica. Nyssa sylvatica Quercus suber…

15th July

…are Dierama pulcherrimum ‘Blackbird’ but I have no idea about the striped ones. A big surprise and must remember to collect seed. Dierama pulcherrimum Dierama pulcherrimum Dierama pulcherrimum Dierama pulcherrimum…

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…

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…

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…