As observed during February 2012
Verification
Plants grown from seed collected on expeditions often take several years to germinate, grow and mature into flowering sized specimens. Initially they are grown in the nursery and then given a place in the living collection. When
flowering occurs specimens are taken to the Herbarium for comparison against type specimen material and published type descriptions.
After ten years this Rhododendron sp., collected in 2002 in the Gongshan of SW China, has produced flowers. The plants will be verified and a species allocated, it may even be a new species.
19/2/2013
Variegated barrier
Forming a dense barrier of glossy evergreen leaves; Trachelospermum jasminoides ‘Variegatum’ is worth growing in a sheltered situation. The foliage of this cultivar has white banding and shows tinges of pink. Strengthening
strands of fibre providing structural integrity are evident when the leaf is pulled apart.
Appreciates a well-drained root run and will reach 5metres by twining around supports. Often used as a glasshouse specimen, indeed when first introduced the species was commonly grown under glass. The heady scent from the summer flowers filling the growing area. Gradually as growers experimented with propagated material it was planted in sheltered microclimates outdoors. Here plants have survived temperatures down to –13°c.
11/2/2013
Insulated buds
Betula calcicola is one of a number of dwarf Chinese Birches, it has a covering of dense white hairs over the buds and young shoots which act as insulation, protecting from drying winds. Look and the lenticels can be seen well 
insulated on the twiggy growth.
This villous characteristic gives the young growth and buds a distinct sheen and allows the plant to survive harsh weather at high altitude. The plant is a slow growing shrub found colonising cliffs in SW Sichuan and into NW Yunnan Provinces.
In the Garden specimens can be found in the rock garden where the stunted characteristics are perfectly to scale.
4/2/2013
Overgrazing
The Grey Squirrel population cause occasional damage through the Garden. Bark is stripped from young shoots and bulbs are dug up and eaten. Shoots are cleanly cut with their chisel edge incisor teeth to use in dray formation. 
All this pales to insignificance when the devastation in a well budded swath of Pulmonaria angustifolia ‘Munstead Blue’ is seen. The most apt description from one of my colleagues is of an overgrazed pony paddock.
The squirrel sat and gorged on the young shoots and left the plants stripped down to ground level.
It will be interesting to see the regrowth situation as February progresses.
29/2/2012
A spring favourite leaping continents
Used as we are to the yellow flowers of the Primrose, there are colour variations of this species which we are less
familiar with. A native to three continents; Europe, N. Africa and SW Asia; in Britain this low growing perennial herb colonises hedge bases and open woodland.
Seeds of this Primula vulgaris were collected in Eastern Georgia. Growing amongst Beech forest with spring
bulbs; Scilla and Galanthus. The flower colour ranges through shades of white to violet. Some botanists would defer to a sub species status thus acknowledging the status and stability of the petal colour.
The plant exhibits the thrum eyed and pin eyed morphology of the species by which making anthers or stigmas prominent in individual flowers on the same plant prevents self pollination.
21/2/2012
A frosty reception
Observe the frost on 
Pachystegia insignis (sometimes called Olearia insignis) and see value added to a plant that you may pass by without a second glance at this time of year.
A tough, squat evergreen shrub from Australia and New Zealand. The felty grey young stems hold the green leaves which have caught the frozen moisture in the atmosphere giving them an edge of white ice to our
benefit. Daisy like flowers appear during the summer. The remains of one at seed stage can be seen in the attached image.
The plant enjoys full sun with a root zone that drains rapidly.
14/2/2012
Reminders of romance
Seed pods; bright yellow, tucked into the evergreen canopy of Euonymus wilsonii. Splitting apart into even
segments revealing the red coated aril. A spectacular find at this time of year; just prior to bud burst and a new season commencing.
This woody shrub is found within forest scrub from 1000 – 2600 metres altitude on hillsides in western China. 
Well worth growing here as a vigorous shrub with an open canopy reaching 3+ metres. Covered in shiny green leaves, simple in shape leading down to an elongated drip tip, edged with an uneven indent.
7/2/2012
Shoots leaves and flowers
With the days lengthening and the soil warming; growth, especially in herbaceous plants, is shooting away. 
Helleborus vesicarius is looking promising with flowers colouring optimistically. Opening green these squat cylindrical flowers slowly develop a wide mauve red band on the petals, drooping down to face the ground.
Found in localised clusters amongst Juniperus sp. in SE Turkey where it grows in limestone rock on dry steep
exposed hillsides. Summers in these areas are dry and the plant dies back to below ground; shooting out again in November as the rains come.
Keep an eye on the development of any seed pods; these are unusual as they inflate during development. As the foliage dries up during the summer dormancy these brown pods are broken away from the remains of the foliage and disperse further from the parent plant.
1/2/2012
Grey skies, moisture laden leaves
Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii ‘John Tomlinson’ is brought to life after rain. The droplets collect on the grey blue waxy cuticle of the leaf and reflect light. Arranged spirally on the stem the leaves are long and linear with a red tint
to the new growth.
A prominent plant in the border it spreads from the woody base once established. Reaching to approx one metre height; the growth is topped off by a mass of yellowish green bracts.
When cultivating around Euphorbia’s be aware that the sap can cause skin damage. This plant prefers a well drained soil and a sunny situation reflecting its Southern European origins.