…– CHW Two cherry trees by the sales point are superb today. Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (‘Chocolate Ice’). Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (‘Chocolate Ice’) Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (‘Chocolate Ice’) Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (‘Chocolate Ice’) Prunus ‘Ichiyo’…

…‘Moonlight Star’ Agapanthus ‘Moonlight Star’ Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’ Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’ Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’ Agapanthus ‘Little Dutch White’ An interesting new low growing Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood”….

…utilis ‘Wakehurst Place Chocolate’ (Wakehurst Chocolate is easier) is another good new birch variety. The bark will become better but it isn’t bad now. Betula utilis ‘Wakehurst Place Chocolate’ Betula…

…Betula utilis var prattii ‘Wakehurst Chocolate’ – extremely fine peeling bark Betula utilis var prattii ‘Wakehurst Chocolate’ Betula utilis var prattii ‘Wakehurst Chocolate’ Betula utilis var prattii ‘Wakehurst Chocolate’ Prunus…

…of the bunch. Certainly a great contrast between leaf and flower as the name implies. Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (syn ‘Chocolate Ice’) Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (syn ‘Chocolate Ice’) Prunus ‘Matsumae-fuki’ (syn ‘Chocolate Ice’)…

…few new plants in the 2017 catalogue.Corydalis ‘Chocolate Stars’ is only just starting to reshoot but the leaves really are a delicate brown. Corydalis ‘Chocolate Stars’ Corydalis ‘Chocolate Stars’ Corylopsis…

…the majority of the other evergreen azaleas. Azalea ‘Greenway’ Prunus ‘Chocolate Ice’ (let us forget the Japanese name here) living up to its name perfectly. Prunus ‘Chocolate Ice’ Prunus ‘Chocolate…

…is new to us this year and our first sight of the pale pinkish flower spikes above the dark blackish leaves. Astilbe ‘Chocolate Fascination’ Astilbe ‘Chocolate Fascination’ Paeonia tenuifolia is…

…aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’ (one dead, one will be dead shortly and the third struggling) is in too hot a position. We need more shade to grow this beautiful variety properly….

…the Portholland valley plantation of camellias in the Portholland valley We did eventually manage to interest Dutch buyers in the camellia product some five years ago but it proved impossible…

…sprays for a Dutch contract but I guess it is 10 years now. Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’ Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’ Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’ Camellia x williamsii ‘Brigadoon’ Berberis…

…somewhere before but did not know the name. This is Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Jean O’Neil’ This is Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Jean O’Neil’ Prunus ‘Chocolate Ice’ with its contrasting bronzy new growth by…

…‘Beelicious Pink’ Salvia x jamensis ‘Belle de Loire’. Salvia x jamensis ‘Belle de Loire’ Philadelphus ‘Petite Perfume White’. Philadelphus ‘Petite Perfume White’ Philadelphus ‘Petite Perfume White’ Cosmos atrosanguineus ‘Cherry Chocolate’…

…fraseri ‘Atropurpurea Nana’ particularly striking today. Photinia x fraseri ‘Atropurpurea Nana’ A novelty Aquilegia now in the Burncoose catalogue this year! A. viridiflora ‘Chocolate Soldier’. Yellowish ‘granny’s bonnets’ then turn…

…in error in previous years. Hedychium yunnanense Hydrangea aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’ – only 1 of 3 has survived the two droughts and is now making headway. Hydrangea aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’…

…in flower – no prickles on the leaves! Mahonia eurybracteata ‘Soft Caress’ Toona sinensis ‘Flamingo’ with nice yellow colouring starting to show. Toona sinensis ‘Flamingo’ Albizia ‘Summer Chocolate’ Albizia ‘Summer…

…Camellia saluenensis that is low down enough to photograph. Camellia saluenensis Prunus ‘Jo-nioi’ looking superb today by the garden entrance. Prunus ‘Jo-nioi’ Prunus ‘Jo-nioi’ Prunus ‘Chocolate Ice’ above the Green…

…rather well but appear to have lost it. Greenhouse plants! Chorizema cordatum Chorizema cordatum Grevillea thelemanniana ‘Baby’. Ditto. Grevillea thelemanniana ‘Baby’ Grevillea thelemanniana ‘Baby’ Corydalis tenuifolia ‘Chocolate Star’ in full…

…Rehderodendron species and not an American Halesia? Halesia macgregorii Good bronze leaves emerging on Hydrangea aspera ‘Hot Chocolate’. This is our second attempt at the start of the Sinogrande Walk….

…was enjoying the members lunch. Not sure what you call this? Not sure Dorset Horn sheep. Dorset Horn sheep Dutch spotted sheep. Dutch spotted sheep Suffolk sheep. Suffolk sheep Miniature…