28th March

…‘Atlas’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’ – not as large a flower as expected but showing promise with its first 3 flowers. Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’ First flowers out…

1st May

…and black as it opens. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Another new one to us flowering for the first time; Magnolia ‘Ossie’s Yellow’, as yet…

25th April

…inadequate feeding. climbing rose Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ in the Rockery is one of the later evergreen azaleas to flower. The best very dark red? Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ Azalea ‘Black Hawk’…

14th April

black buds and ahead of the leaves. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ An elderly clump of Rhododendron loderi types which…

31st July

…flower colours. Sambucus niger ‘Black Lace’ Sambucus niger ‘Black Lace’ Sorbus vilmorinii fruiting away on the drought to capacity. Sorbus vilmorinii Sorbus vilmorinii A very near black agapanthus which might…

13th March

…first flower opening. Camellia reticulate ‘Dr Clifford Parks’ Camellia ‘Kick Off’ just starting too. Camellia ‘Kick Off’ Camellia ‘Kick Off’ Camellia ‘Black Lace’ with its first offering. Camellia ‘Black Lace’…

9th April

…‘Yuchelia’ Magnolia ‘Yuchelia’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ beside it. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Camellia ‘Althaeiflora Gigantea’, as we have always called it, still…

20th August

…Tilia henryana ‘Arnold Select’ had been looking sickly but now doing well. Tilia henryana ‘Arnold Select’ Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ and Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’. Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ and Hydrangea…

3rd March

…as Magnolia ‘Genie’ from a day ago. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’ is now full out too. What an impressive…

11th July

…‘Emerald Lace’ Hydrangea arborescens ‘Emerald Lace’ Hydrangea arborescens ‘Emerald Lace’ Hydrangea arborescens ‘Eco Pink Puff’ was unusual too. When fully out the flowers do not really resemble a hydrangea and…