…Putting it crudely ‘Genie’ is a reddish black when it first opens whereas ‘Black Tulip’ is purplish sort of blackish when it first opens. Which is the darkest – see…

…Zandee’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Purple Dream’ – first flowering here Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Purple Dream’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Purple Dream’ Magnolia ‘Atlas’ x ‘Vulcan’ – first flowering…

…coming out and not as dark in bud as Magnolia ‘Genie’ from a day ago. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’…

…Shoe). mystery rhododendron mystery rhododendron First black flowers showing on Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ – they really are black. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Enormous flower clusters on an…

…(Upper) Rockery today – stunning! The view from the entrance to the (Upper) Rockery The Caerhays bred Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ and Rhododendron reticulatum out together. Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ Menziesia ciliicalyx…

…Hemerocallis Hemerocallis Hemerocallis Salvia ‘Black and Blue’ nicely out by the drawing room window. It shows up well against the Pentewan granite. Salvia ‘Black and Blue’ Salvia ‘Black and Blue’…

…thing is the light creamy white insides to the near black tepals. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Our largest Magnolia rostrata has flower buds showing pink very high up. This…

…Star’ Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’ This is Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’ which continues to impress (Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Deep Purple Dream’). Sister seedling to ‘Antje Zandee’ presumably and not much different….

…Magnolia stellata itself. Magnolia sinostellata Magnolia sinostellata Magnolia sinostellata Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ – no name as yet but well worth one I believe. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’…

…Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ is excellent too but, as yet, unnamed. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s Ruby’…

…Rh. reticulatum subspecies would have some evergreen leaves? Rhododendron wadanum ‘Album’ Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’ now into leaf. It will get darker yet. Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’ Juglans major has…

…fruit tassels on Carpinus japonica. Carpinus japonica Fagus sylvatica ‘Black Swan’ is struggling into leaf and desperately needs real rain. Fagus sylvatica ‘Black Swan’ Crataegus calpodendron in flower. From the…

…in the drought.Sambucus niger ‘Black Lace’ under-planted with Dahlia ‘Moonfire’ was a most effective combination of foliage and flower colours. Sambucus niger ‘Black Lace’ Sambucus niger ‘Black Lace’ Sorbus vilmorinii…

…‘Black Tulip’. We saw this yesterday in the nursery. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ First secondary flowers on Rhododendron ‘Blue Tit’. 2019 – CHW A trip to see what has appeared in…

…capitata has ripe fruits already while other trees elsewhere in the garden are still green. Cornus capitata Cornus capitata The pheasants have been gorging on the black berries of Cornus…

…just as colourful at present. Another nice surprise on a day threatening to wet the shooting party. Wisteria sinensis ‘Black Dragon’ Wisteria sinensis ‘Black Dragon’ 1979 – FJW Philip brought…

…Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ in bud and flower. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ What I am now certain is the white form of Staphylea…

…a contrast. ‘Genie’ wins again in my opinion. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Camellia ‘Alpen Light’ – first flowering after planting last year. Aptly named. Camellia ‘Alpen Light’ Rhododendron…

…trunk Nothofagus dombeyi Camellia ‘Black Lace’ Camellia ‘Black Lace’ Camellia ‘Black Lace’ Dacrycarpus dacrydioides trunk. These are growing as a clump of five trees. Dacrycarpus dacrydioides Dacrycarpus dacrydioides Rhododendron frangipanensis…

…seedling First flowers (and very early) on Azalea ‘Black Hawk’. Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ The view from Rookery across to the Drimys winteri and the Magnolia campbellii ‘Alba’ seedling with a…