…looming up. Almost unsafe and more than a little damp at the top of the garden as the trees rattle. The 15 new magnolia hybrids from Germany as safely hidden…

…on Saturday. We will still be tied up with trenches. Badly frosted Gunnera manicata below the Kennels. As ever the bottom of Old Park has caught what little frost we…

…did not like the winter but is recovering well. Sapium sebiferum Two diseased and elderly beech trees and an oak have been felled by tree surgeons. A little damage with…

…milk thistle and is uncommon so little chance of me finding this growing locally here. More is the pity!This is Cirsium palustre, the marsh thistle, which is quite common here…

…we now have 7 magnolias in flower! Magnolia zenii First flower out on Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’. A little later than usual I suspect. Camellia x williamsii ‘Delia Williams’…

…globosa Most of the later flowering scented rhododendrons have jettisoned their seed heads in the heat. These were green only a week ago. There will be little later flowering rhododendrons…

…A few unformed wild cherries in evidence here and there. Prunus avium Very little fruit or seed on any of the hedgerow trees this year as it was frosty and…

…most have no seeds at all in the four chambers and a few had just one. All that effort by the bush with little end result. Very unusual though and…

…‘Valentine’s Torch’ showing very little yellow this year in its blown open flowers. Magnolia campbellii ‘Valentine’s Torch’ Very first pendulous flowers out on Camellia x williamsii ‘Lady’s Maid’. Camellia x…

…very little else, and a fine lot of rain after a very dry bout. 1915 – JCW Two years old stuff all out of their pans. Plagianthus lyalii did half…