14th September

…of the Isle Rose. Other plants in Kennel Close of this species have yet to produce catkins. Carpinus fargesiana is a dull species compared to Carpinus fangiana! Carpinus fargesiana Carpinus…

7th September

…nice. Six or eight species of rhodo’n show flower. Lapagerias fair, the only Solanum left and the crinums are open. Three rose beds good. 1915 – JCW Cyclamen are very…

5th November

…which we pollarded in the Isla Rose Plantation. It died and so did the two roses which we hoped to grow up it in the dry summer. yew A fine…

16th August

…the borders next year – many Lilium ‘Stargazer’. Lilies Lilies 2019 – CHW Meanwhile at home Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliant’ in the Isla Rose Plantation is covered in fruits for the…

28th January 1897 – 2020

…Intense flowering on a newly planted Cupressus duclouxiana in the Isla Rose Plantation. Cupressus duclouxiana Cupressus duclouxiana Cupressus duclouxiana Trochodendron araliodes from Taiwan has some seed heads which are mainly…

9th November

…and Camellia sasanqua (pink) full out together in the sun Camellia sasanqua (white) and Lapageria rosea ‘Pictoee’. Camellia sasanqua (white) and Lapageria rosea ‘Pictoee’ Camellia x williamsii ‘November Pink’ –…

7th January

…‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ We left this old yew tree in the Isla Rose Plantation to try to grow climbing roses up it. Two failures so…

14th March 1897 – 2020

…sprays of magnolia at the Rosemoor show today which won The Lamellen Cup. ‘Caerhays Surprise’, ‘Princess Margaret’ and ‘Margaret Helen’. This is our second entry which actually came third in…

19th March 1897 – 2020

…a rush after the gardening weekend.A radio interview about the VMH and Isla Rose Plantation at Radio Cornwall.On my return from Truro the snow had nearly all gone. snow had…

19th February 1897 – 2020

…needles or leaves is most intricate and attractive. Pilgerodendron uniferum New signage on the new shop. New garden guide this year and the Isla Rose Plantation has changed the different…

31st July

…Acer rufinerve in frame 2 of Mag globosa 1 of Acer wardii 4 of Michelia nitida Several Enkianthus roseflorus 1906 – JCW Very little but roses open and the Romneya….

Other nice things from the Rosemoor Show

…‘Spring Morning’ (now Rhododendron) Menziesia ‘Smokey Rose’ (now Rhododendron) Magnolia laevifolia ‘Gails Favourite’ Rhododendron argyrophyllum ‘Chinese Silver’ Rhododendron wallichii Rhododendron excellans Rhododendron tyermanii Rhododendron ‘Plover’ (edgeworthii x dendrocharis) Azalea ‘Irohayama’…

Irish trip April 2018

…back of Fota House up to the walled garden and herbaceous/rose borders. The walled garden not overseen by the trustees rather than OPW – the Irish state entity which manages…

3rd January

…‘Limpsfield’ beside it is just about there as well (while ‘Mary Rose’ is not yet properly out). Daphne bholua ‘Limpsfield’ Daphne bholua ‘Limpsfield’ Two fallen seedpods from Magnolia rostrata are…

11th November

…on Lapageria rosea ‘Picotee’. All the other flowers have now dropped. Lapageria rosea ‘Picotee’ 2019 – CHW A trip up the drive to see what is new. Decidedly colder today…

21st December

…– CHW The first primrose on the bank outside the front door. Not a record early appearance I suspect. first primrose on the bank Erica arborea now full out having…

19th December

rose nobleanum are very good. 1914 – JCW The day of the Belgian wedding breakfast. Some lapagerias open, some coums coming. Some Cam sasanqua open. All the remainder of the…

8th December

…Buddleia heliophila still has flower in the Isla Rose Plantation. Buddleia heliophila Euonymus wilsonii with a few very red leaves as we saw last year. Euonymus wilsonii Euonymus morrisonensis has…

1st December

…x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’ Camellia x williamsii ‘Rosemary Williams’ Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’ an excellent addition to early December and should be more widely grown. Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’ Camellia ‘Sugar Dream’…

24th November

…a wild dog rose. Rosehips A cock pheasant on the roof enjoying the sun before lockdown ends. pheasant 2019 – CHW A trip to the greenhouse to see some good…