James Harris's blog

In 2018, the oaks (newly planted in March 2017) had a rude awakening by the harsh conditions in 2018. 

This year I have received an unprecedented demand for oaks. This is exhilarating and exciting. One client bought 15 Quercus lobata. Another took about 50 oaks to Ireland. Another from Italy enquired for 120 different oaks in twos and threes. An enquiry for 60 oaks has just come in. It is very encouraging that oaks are becoming so important and that they are wanted in small quantities and large.

It is our vision that when the years roll on and you reach your eighties that you do not down size nor retire but that you have projects. To realise this we took back from our tenant farmer an area of land to add to our garden. We decided to plant out a collection of oaks.

For some time I have been interested in and puzzled by Quercus castaneifolia, because in Mallet Court Nursery I have observed two distinct forms.