Friday 6th.

Massive clearance of the Marseille fig which had grown enormous  by the South wall and was overwhelming the neighbours, Hoheria and Citheraxylum. The Magnolia grandiflora (possibly D.D.Blanchard) near the cut leaf beech which must be over 20 years old and has never flowered (!) I have cut to 3ft and will decide whether to get rid of it completely.

Thursday 12th.

Strange weather. After really rather dry weeks when the rain we did have never penetrated beneath the trees, suddenly over past few days, it has become really autumnal with wind and rain, and cooler temperatures. At last enough water to perk everything up especially the hydrangeas. Yesterday driving rain and a hail storm so not particularly good for the flowers. Still, it should be looking good for the last NGS open day of the year.

The Woody Plant Committee is coming round on Tuesday and the weather is warming up again. Fingers crossed for a good morning.

The Hoheria populnea is flowering with its lavender backed leaves but the insects are not all over it as usual - too cold and windy.

The variegated form is still in bud and the leaves don’t have the colourful backing but do have a purple midrib.

Sunday 15th.

Our last NGS Open Day this afternoon, and we had about 60 people and 10 children (Chris Brennan had brought her Summer Club which swell the numbers). The Goodleigh WI had brought 8 cakes, 7 and a half were gone by the end. The weather was reasonable and the rain held off until after 5pm which was OK.

Tuesday 19th.

A great morning hosting the RHS Woody Plant Committee. What a treat for me! Twenty knowledgeable and eminent plantspeople and they spent over 3 hours looking around. Apparently Jim Gardiner and Michael Hickson had both suggested my garden for a visit - an accolade, and good to see Jim again. He reminded me that on a previous visit it got so late, we were forced to finish the tour by torchlight!

So pleased and honoured that Roy Lancaster and Sue came with them; he is always so complimentary about the garden. He asked if I had written a book about the garden, but I haven’t. Clive Boursnell has taken 100s of photos of the garden over 25 years at all seasons. I am tempted - perhaps Roy would write the foreword...

Roy Lancaster with Marie-Louise Agius near Aucuba omeiensis - a plant I always associate with Roy.

I had produced a list of interesting trees for them, but foolishly, I had forgotten quite a few - there are too many! These were all trees I have planted since 1977 and that are still alive.  The list originally ran to 170+ trees, and I have now produced a new list with all the trees I had forgotten about, which has just over 220!  I am very annoyed that it wasn’t complete, as many were referring to the list.

The Wollemi proved quite a hit, it could have been Seamus O’Brien’s plant of the day - it certainly is shooting up like a rocket. Tony Kirkham said the seeds germinate very readily - he had produced 50 seedlings in one go. I have put some in a pot - we will see what happens.

We had a buffet lunch afterwards provided by Fiona Waterer whose husband was a cousin of the organiser, the Committe vice-chairman. Waterer is a name synonymous with gardening.

I was presented with small plants of Quercus infectoria from Cyprus, and Sorbus oliviacea from China by Tony Kirkham, and a plant from John Anderson of Meliosma veitchiorum he collected in Sichuan.

Caroline Boisset enjoyed the swing on the Tulip Tree!

Thursday 19th.

Still getting over the excitement of the visit. We were so lucky with the weather since it has been really warm (22C) and will continue warm until the weekend apparently. The Kniphofia rooperi is fantastic as usual - better every year. Thank you Gill Heavens for the original gift.

I rather prefer the conical shape of the expanding flowers to the round ball of the final result.

I eagerly await Hibiscus moscheutos opening - it is nearly there and I had hoped there would be some flowers to show the RHS visitors. Ah well.

Monday 30th.

Heavy rain and Gales yesterday and brought down the 40yr old Ehretia dicksonii on top of the shrubs below, taking a large bough of Cladrastis kentukia with it.

I went round to Pete and got a new chain for the chainsaw, and this made good work on the branches. Massive amount of tops which I hauled in piles to the sides of the bed of shrubs, and not a lot of damage has been done thank goodness. Gradually now taking the branches to the bonfire at the top. More positively, there is now much more light on the bed.

The new bed by the Tennis Court is filling out well, and nearby, the ‘Lammas’ growth on Quercus ‘Maya’ is lovely as usual.

The Hibiscus moscheutos has started flowering at last and of course with the rain and gales, the large flowers have suffered a bit. Many more buds to come and we are in for a quieter few days.