Wisley is a garden that must have inspired so many horticulturists to work in the industry. I was in London on Friday and stayed over at the weekend to see Wisley and Kew. It was time well spent, the only disappointment was that I was just too late to see the Davidia in flower at Wisley, the floor was showered in bracts but few left on the tree. I have some idea of the frustration that E.H. Wilson suffered when he went in search of the elusive tree in China only to find that the specimen he sought had been cut down just before he found it.

The Embothrium was a worthy consolation. It was nice to see Wisley as a visitor rather than coming to meetings so I could devote my entire attention to the plants.