…justice. Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Fire’ Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Fire’ Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Fire’ Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Fire’ Magnolia campbellii ‘Strybing White’ full out against a blue…

…than the common wild ones (Galanthus nivalis). These eventually have 8-10in long, broad, flat, light blue-green leaves after flowering. Galanthus elwesii I assume planted 100 years or so ago under…

…from under the Ilex x meserveae ‘Blue Prince’ which now looks rather scruffy. removed the ivy Camellia ‘Dewatairin’ (‘Hatsu Zakura’ as we have always called it) is very early for…

…1927 – JCW The Back Gate pink Kurume is very good, the blue stuff is all over excepting the late Augustinii in the Auklandii Garden. The Zealanicums are opening, Cornish…

…species of Carpinus well into leaf on Sinogrande Walk. Carpinus henryana ‘Simplicidentata’ (a gift from Bluebell Nursery) – now that the huge suckers from the graft have been removed we…

…a less exposed and windy position where it would get less dieback. Nevertheless the blue lacecap flowers set against the yellow edged leaves is an excellent contrast. Hydrangea ‘Tricolor’ Hydrangea…

…fargesii has died not from drought but, I suspect, honey fungus. The best blue mophead hydrangeas in the garden above the Aucklandii. The ancient Hydrangea sargentiana with the characteristic fleshy…

…crop of Schefflera pauciflora seedlings. Schefflera pauciflora Rhododendron liners equally good. Rhododendron liners Loropetalum chinense rubrum ‘Blush’ well out already. Loropetalum chinense rubrum ‘Blush’ Rhaphithamnus spinosus with blue berries. Rhaphithamnus…

…of light blue-grey leaves. Elymus arenarius Elymus arenarius Miscanthus sinensis ‘Ghosa’ was not bad either. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Ghosa’ Miscanthus sinensis ‘Ghosa’ Agapanthus ‘Graskop’ out long after all the others. Agapanthus…

…with blue cones and stripy undersides of the leaves. Abies nukiangense Abies nukiangense Abies nukiangense This is Tom’s own collection from Yunnan of Meliosma cuneifolia. It too is a multi-stemmed…

…Very good! Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood” Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood” Sedum spurium “Dragon’s Blood” Bought an Acacia boormanii to try at Caerhays. Upright pointed light blue foliage. Not listed in…

…full sun in a dry location. Chimonanthus praecox The ‘best’ old blue clump of mophead hydrangeas below the Magnolia x veitchii are nearly full out. They will get even bluer….

…were at Lanhydrock 10 or so days ago. Very blue indumentum on the undersides of the huge leaves. Quite the magnolia find of the year! Magnolia macrophylla subsp ashei Magnolia…

…smell is disgusting. Jaimie says ‘cat’s piss’ but we have never had a cat! Ehretia dicksonii Ehretia dicksonii Seed forming in Symplocos dryophylla which will eventually turn blue-black and Asia…

…champion tree originating in the Levant as I have seen before with flower and fruit. Pyrus x michauxii Pyrus x michauxii Pyrus x michauxii Brahea armata – Mexican blue palm…

…any variegated leaves but very blue buds. Magnolia acuminata ‘Variegata’ Rhododendron griffithianum full out. Sadly last year’s layers have been nibbled off by something – deer I assume. Rhododendron griffithianum…

…Key’s garden at the Pound grows a tall biennial echium with reddish flowers. Is this a species or a hybrid? Very different in colour to our blue and pink Echium…

…in 1984. Our good luck! On the tour the following were looking good:- Papaver nudicaule ‘Moondance’. Papaver nudicaule ‘Moondance’ Dichroa guizhou – should the flowers be blue? Dichroa guizhou Dichroa…

…Magnolia virginiana ‘Pink Halo’ Photinia davidsoniae in flower by George’s Hut. Photinia davidsoniae Hydrangea serrata ‘Shichidanka’ starts pink and then goes blue. Hydrangea serrata ‘Shichidanka’ Hydrangea serrata ‘Shichidanka’ Hydrangea ‘Hobella’…

…pungens ‘Spek’ with its fantastic light blue new growth. Picea pungens ‘Spek’ Picea pungens ‘Spek’ Picea pungens ‘Spek’ Cotoneaster confusus just going over. Cotoneaster confusus The clump of three Hypericum…