5th July

…Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ Ajuga reptans ‘Black Scallop’ 2016 – CHW A day clearing out my mother’s desk for the archive room…

30th April

…be on this year’s Chelsea stand! Rhododendron ‘Saffron Queen’ Neither will Rhododendron ‘Michael’s Pride’. Rhododendron ‘Michael’s Pride’ The Caerhays bred Azalea ‘Black Hawk’. Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ The…

11th March

…Magnolia ‘Brombeer’ now further out. Magnolia ‘Brombeer’ Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’ now full out. Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Laura…

26th May

…Lazzari’ – nearly over – raised in 1869 Azalea ‘Bartholo Lazzari’ Azalea ‘Tower Darling’ Azalea ‘Tower Darling’ Azalea ‘Tower Darling’ Azalea ‘Rose de Flandre’ Azalea ‘Rose de Flandre’ Azalea ‘Rose…

15th June

…attached for anyone wanting to read more. Matt Semmens had remade the ironwork on the bell tower door for the occasion. bell tower door bell tower door ‘Mining’ with the…

April 2018 Irish trip ( Day 2)

…however close they were. views to the towering mountains views to the towering mountains views to the towering mountains views to the towering mountains A mature Carpodetus serratus with its…

9th June

‘Black Lace’ Sambucus niger ‘Black Lace’ Picea pungens ‘Glauca Globosa’ and Sambucus niger ‘Black Lace’. Picea pungens ‘Glauca Globosa’ Arisaema consanguineum Arisaema consanguineum Arisaema consanguineum and Calamagrotis x acutiflora ‘Karl…

17th July

…the house.Agave and Yucca set the scene. Agave and Yucca Agave and Yucca The clock tower has recently been restored. The clock tower The lower fountain has been subject to…

13th April

…it in New Zealand. Is this darker or better than the equally popular Magnolia ‘Black Tulip? Clearly ‘Genie’ is going to be a much smaller growing magnolia than ‘Black Tulip’…

4th April

…Marie’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’ below Donkey Shoe. No hybrid name as far as I can see. Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x M. ‘Black

25th April

…very dark red? Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ This is Rhododendron reticulatum which is nearly (but not quite) deciduous. It is in a very sheltered spot in the Rockery….

31st March

…‘A.E. Bold’ Magnolia ‘Black Swan’ now properly out in flower. Magnolia ‘Black Swan’ Magnolia ‘Black Swan’ Magnolia ‘Black Swan’ Salix hookeriana looking good and now in a vase for visitors…

23rd September

…greater disrepair. This proposal is the latest in a long series of restoration projects stretching from the Vean (derelict), the Nash arch in Battery Walk and repairs to the tower

10th August

…Secondary new growth trying to come through. Crataegus schraderiana Populus deltoides ‘Purple Tower’ with green leaved reversion irregularly along the branches. I cut the reversions out only last year but…

8th February

…outside the Back Yard 2023 – CHW One flower now fully out (on a gloomy day) on Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Darjeeling’. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Darjeeling’ Juglans ailantifolia with…

9th April

…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 ‘Black

21st March 1897 – 2020

‘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 ‘Aphrodite’ or ‘Antje…

9th July

…the Lions drawing the third and final test match yesterday against the All Blacks 15-15. The series was therefore tied. The first time the All Blacks have not won since…

21st December

…today. Spring opening signs A newly restored bench on the lawn and a new gate on the tower on the tower on the lawn. The last one destroyed in Storm…

12th October

…here. Euonymus huangi Euonymus huangi Euonymus huangi Sorbus matsumurana may have little autumn colour but the black buds are interesting. Sorbus matsumurana Sorbus matsumurana Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’ looks great…