…‘Rhubarb Crumble’. Hebe ‘Rhubarb Crumble’. Hebe ‘Rhubarb Crumble’. Pinus nigra ‘Brepo’. Pinus nigra ‘Brepo’. Nepeta x faassenii ‘Purrsian Blue’. Nepeta x faassenii ‘Purrsian Blue’. Yucca rostrata. Yucca rostrata. Diosma ‘Pink…

…and developing clumps of Phyllostachys nigra protect the topside. Phyllostachys nigra A large oak made a mess when it fell in the winter but is now cleared. oak Of the…

…had a generous clipping. RJW appears to have done ‘gardening’ during an earlier visit this year. Hypericum ‘Hidcote’ A gorgeous dark maroon, red-black hollyhock. Alcea rosea ‘Nigra’ (or a very…

…look at it. Certainly virginiana dominant in the cross for obvious reasons. Magnolia sieboldii ssp. sinensis x Magnolia virginiana 2021 – CHW The first clump of Centaurea nigra (common knapweed)…

…to come Correa bachhousiana Correa bachhousiana Correa bachhousiana Morus nigra just ripening. Morus nigra 2016 – CHW This is the fuchsia purchased on the Isle of Wight for propagation. Fuchsia…

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

…overA second flush of flower on Rosa ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’. Rosa ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ Rosa ‘Princess Alexandra of Kent’ Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ and Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’ Sambucus…

…December we have:Magnolia lilliflora ‘Nigra’ full out with a few leaves still on what may have once been a secondary flowering flush in September. Magnolia lilliflora ‘Nigra’ Rhododendron ‘Countess of…

…buds not yet open. A quick growing species. Euonymus wilsonii Phyllostachys nigra and Magnolia kobus var. borealis go well together. Phyllostachys nigra and Magnolia kobus var. borealis The original Magnolia…

…semi shade. A carpet of flower and a great weed suppressor. Ligularia dentata ‘Desdemona’ Juglans nigra with fruit forming very much earlier in the year than I would have expected….

…These were crosses between Magnolia stellata and lilliflora nigra and have achieved 15ft spans, 10ft or so high in 40 years. There are nine named girls and we saw the…

…is nearly over. Neither are as good as the new (to us) ‘Fairy Lime’. Magnolia ‘Fairy Blush’ Magnolia ‘Fairy Blush’ Magnolia ‘Randy’ is one of the liliiflora ‘Nigra’ x stellata…

…and battered about (Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ x Magnolia sprengeri ‘Diva’). I have seen a few ‘Spectrum’ over the years and cannot be certain that this one is true to name….

…bred by Vance Hooper in New Zealand and is M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’ x M. soulangeana ‘San Jose’. Our plant from Lunaplant Jan 2024. Magnolia ‘Touch of Class’ Also a first…

…floriferous. Lunaplant registration – M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’ x M. campbellii. An odd result from this cross? Magnolia ‘Cassiopeia’ Magnolia ‘Cassiopeia’ Magnolia ‘Summer Rose’ – very good and slower growing –…

…‘Amethyst Flame’ Magnolia ‘Lili Diva’ (Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ x Magnolia sprengeri diva) has been frosted a bit but one decent dark flower. This is going to be an excellent plant…

…I was photographing knapweed (Centaurea nigra). Here, in the nursery, is a cultivated form but still easily recognisable by flower and leaf shape – Centaurea ‘Silver Feather’. Centaurea ‘Silver Feather’…

…and garden wants rain. Cyclamen good. 1947 – CW Eat the last peaches. Still much too dry. 1941 – CW Six Magnolias out. Both forms of Grandiflora, Nigra, Conspicua, Salicifolia…

…of Yellow Hammer – Sasanqua in full flower on wall. Mag delavayi and grandiflora both have flowers, also Nigra and Conpsicua. 1934 – JCW Some Mag delavayi is in flower…

…the wildflower bank (Campanula rotundifolia). Campanula rotundifolia Knautia arvensis – field scabious nearby. Knautia arvensis Moth on greater knapweed. A different seed head to our Centaurea nigra. This is Centaurea…