A good show of stromboli on Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ after, or, as a result of the drought.

Male fruiting cones on the Monkey Puzzle.

This Rhododendron grande is now dead.

Hydrangea aspera from Howick as good as ever despite the drought.

The usual secondary flowers on Rhododendron ‘Norfolk Candy’.

The new bee and bug shelters installed in Tin Garden.

Severe deer damage to a cherry since last Sunday.

Eleutherococcus aff. sessiliflorus laden with fruits.

A newly planted Eleutherococcus trifoliatus (RWJ 10108) reshooting after the drought.

Spiders webs cover a deciduous azalea.

Welcome new growth on a drought struck Rhododendron crassum.

Squirrel trap squashed in Gorettti.

One and two year old cones developing together on Araucaria angustifolia.

2025 – CHW

Rhododendron glanduliferum finally putting on new growth after the drought.

Typical rhododendron die back in the drought.

Turpinia formosana has however enjoyed it.

I photographed this clump of scented rhododendrons 6 weeks ago and you could see them dying then.

A good seed head on Magnolia rostrata.

2024 – CHW
Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’ has only a very few fruits this year.

Everywhere I look things have grown so exponentially this summer that quite a bit of pruning is needed in younger plantations. Here a Styrax is competing with the Taiwanese form of Trochodendron aralioides.

Taiwanese Trochodendron with multiple, as yet unripe, seed heads.

The fruits on Cornus capitata are still nowhere near ripe.

Flowers and buds on Desfontainia spinosa but one of the 3 plants has died over the summer.

Hydrangea aspera ‘Tatiana’ from Tregrehan nearly over.

This Camellia gigantocarpa has still never flowered or shown any sign of a bud.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’ only has the odd pinkish flower left. The rest are now nearly brown.

The first Camellia sasanqua flowers will not be long as you can see here.

2023 – CHW
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Mainstreet’; A huge plant today nearly 20 years after planting.

The huge clump of Pieris japonica above the wall has all died in the drought.

Sorbus aff. karchungii with its first seed clusters. 2017 planted.

Carpinus fargesiana with its first small seed catkins. This is in the heat 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 omeiensis has not enjoyed the drought but is just about OK. Odd leaf habit which makes this one easily recognisable.

Cupressus austrotibetica was planted only in 2017. Making a good tree.

Carpinus shensiensis also struggling but still alive.

2022 – CHW
A seed head on Schefflera pauciflora (WWJ 1199) but far from ripe yet. Large leaves unlike the S. pauciflora in the Aucklandii Garden.

Magnolia sapaensis has dropped seed heads in the drought. Earlier this year these germinated well from last year’s crop.

Horrible leaf drop under rhododendron suoilenhense! Fear for this clumps survival.

Schefflera delavayi with several huge flower heads not yet out

Catalpa duclouxii which blew over and was pollarded and uprighted is recovering well as we had expected that it would.

2021 – CHW
Many seed heads on Magnolia sprengeri ‘Burncoose’ but by means all of them are swelling up with seeds.

This Acacia baileyana has doubled in size since planting this spring.

Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’ with nearly ripe berries.

Bupleurum fruiticosum covered in yellow seed heads by the Playhouse.