12th March 1897 – 2020

…‘Praecox’ (Heather) Erica carnea ‘Myretoun Ruby’ – easily the best thing today in the heather beds. Erica carnea ‘Myretoun Ruby’ Erica carnea ‘Myretoun Ruby’ Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticlear’ in full flower….

12th February 1897 – 2020

…carnea ‘Myretoun Ruby’ Erica carnea ‘Myretoun Ruby’ Erica x darleyensis ‘Eva Gold’ – a new one in our catalogue this year. The golden foliage of autumn has faded. Erica x…

8th March

…Williams’ x M. ‘Apollo’ Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘J. C. Williams’. Possibly worth a name if it continues to perform but not our breeding. Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M….

1st August

‘Ruby 40th Anniversary’ Rosa ‘Ruby 40th Anniversary’ Rosa ‘Ruby 40th Anniversary’ Rosa ‘Ruby 40th Anniversary’ Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rainbow’ with seeds. Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rainbow’ Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rainbow’ Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rainbow’ Then…

10th March 1897 – 2020

…edging to the petals as you would expect from a Ruby. Planted 2015. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickards Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickards Ruby’ Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’…

19th March

…‘Pickard’s Ruby’. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’. Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’ New…

16th March

…M. ‘Vulcan’ Magnolia ‘Star Wars’ x M. ‘Vulcan’ Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’. Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’ Magnolia sprengeri ‘Daisy Diva’ Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘Werrington’. Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x…

22nd October

…fortnight since I last photographed these plants. Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Saxifraga fortunei ‘Shiranami’ literally plastered in flower with no leaves showing….

25th December

…a few rogue flowers out early but most buds still intact. Rhododendron ‘Christmas Cheer’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ looking spectacular. Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis…

5th March 1897 – 2020

…‘Blood Moon’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Pickards Ruby’ – first interesting flowers on this as yet unnamed hybrid which I strongly suspect is of Belgian origin. Darker than ‘Pickards Ruby’…

28th March

…the first time. This is Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. ‘Caerhays Surprise’ bred in Wales by John Carlson and selected by Tim Thornton. Until I looked up the parentage I…

9th June

…Foerster’. Arisaema consanguineum Fatsia polycarpa ‘Greenfingers’ Fatsia polycarpa ‘Greenfingers’ Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’ and Fatsia polycarpa ‘Greenfingers’. Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’ Astrantia major ‘Ruby Wedding’ and Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum….

21st April

…it. Actually I think it is ‘Pickards Ruby’ – Garnet is nearby. ‘Pickards Ruby’ ‘Pickards Ruby’ ‘Pickards Ruby’ ‘Pickards Ruby’ Magnolia pseudokobus ‘Kubimishimodori’ at its very best. Magnolia pseudokobus ‘Kubimishimodori’…

7th March

Ruby’ x M. campbelli subsp mollicomata ‘Werrington’ – this appears to now be called ‘Avalon’. Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. campbelli subsp mollicomata ‘Werrington’ Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ x M. campbelli…

5th September

…albosinensis ‘China Ruby’. Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ A similarly confusing range of bark colours on Betula…

24th January

…equally impressive. Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ 2024 – CHW Camellia japonica ‘Takanini’ in Kennel Close has…

7th January

…‘China Ruby’ Betula utilis subsp. albosinensis ‘China Ruby’ We left this old yew tree in the Isla Rose Plantation to try to grow climbing roses up it. Two failures so…

19th November

…its name with pink seed capsules. The best new autumn colour that I have seen for ages. Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Euonymus grandiflorus ‘Ruby Wine’ Cotoneaster…

17th April

…campanulatus ‘Ruby Glow’ Enkianthus campanulatus ‘Ruby Glow’ Liverwort spreading up a beech tree by Tin Garden. Liverwort Rhododendrons ‘Saffron Queen’ and ‘Michael’s Pride’ just starting to open. Also a month…

22nd May

…to white. A very good plant although grafted onto a Crataegus. Malus transitoria ‘Roundabarrow Ruby’ Malus transitoria ‘Roundabarrow Ruby’ Malus transitoria ‘Roundabarrow Ruby’ Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue Opal’. Magnolia acuminata ‘Blue…