…but I think the flowers are (so far) smaller than usual this year. Magnolia ‘Lois’ Rhododendron desquamatum and Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ cut for the weekend RHS Rhododendron show…

…‘black’ which it isn’t! (There are other black magnolias – e.g. ‘Black Beauty’). Magnolia ‘Black Swan’ Back at Caerhays Bramble Field track has now been splendidly cleared by the cut…

…Surprise’ Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’. Magnolia sprengeri ‘Westonbirt’ Magnolia liliiflora ‘Holland Red’. Magnolia liliiflora ‘Holland Red’ Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’. Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’…

…denudata ‘Double Diamond’ 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 ‘Gold Finch’. Magnolia ‘Gold Finch’…

…albeit multi-stemmed. Melicytis obovatus Tail end flowers on Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Flowers on Ilex yunnanensis which is developing well as an upright shrub….

…‘Johnny Johnstone’ Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x ‘M. ‘Black Tulip’ is developing well into a decent tree. Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x ‘M. ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x ‘M. ‘Black Tulip’…

…first flowers out above Crinodendron Hedge amid the Styrax species planting. Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ beside it. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Magnolia x brooklynensis…

…‘Gurka’ Daphne bholua ‘Spring Beauty’ Daphne bholua ‘Spring Beauty’ Daphne bholua ‘Spring Beauty’ Daphne bholua ‘Spring Beauty’ Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Sentinel’ Daphne bholua ‘Garden House Sentinel’ Daphne bholua ‘Garden…

…‘Crystal Chalice’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Serene’ – an interesting first flower. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Serene’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Deep Purple Dream’ – now named…

…Spry’ Camellia reticulata ‘Lasca Beauty’ with one flower out and huge buds. Camellia reticulata ‘Lasca Beauty’ Camellia reticulata ‘Lasca Beauty’ The clump of Rhododendron ririei (Tom Hudson’s collection) is now…