1st July

…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’ The Magnolia delavayi…

1st May

…brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ is very fine and black as it opens. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Another new one to us flowering for the first…

28th April

…nursery today:Ribes speciosum Ribes speciosum Telopea ‘Shady Lady White’ Telopea ‘Shady Lady White’ Calothamnus quadrifidus – first flowers ever with us on the ‘one sided bottlebrush’. Calothamnus quadrifidus Our first…

20th February

‘Lady Clare’ Camellia ‘Lady Clare’ Camellia ‘Lady Clare’ Camellia ‘Lady Clare’ There used to be two clumps of these giant snowdrops on the bank. The flymo has got one but…

18th May

…flowering much earlier in the year. Rhododendron neeriflorum Rhododendron neeriflorum In the rockery Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ was sadly too far out to cut. Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ I…

5th April

‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Deep Purple Dream’ d) Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Deep Purple Dream’ has its first three dark flowers. Never seen Dark Purple Dream and Black Tulip…

7th April

…x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ – they really are black. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ Enormous flower clusters on an elderly Illicum anisatum in full shade. The old plant may well…

29th March

…planted Magnolia ‘Summer Lady’ from Germany is not that exciting as yet but different. Magnolia ‘Summer Lady’ Magnolia ‘Tropicana’ with Michelia doltsopa behind it. Magnolia ‘Tropicana’ Rhododendron pseudochrysanthemum Rhododendron pseudochrysanthemum…

5th July

…change our mind. Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants Blackcurrants, gooseberries and redcurrants Triteleia laxa is one of those bulbous plants whose leaves die just before they flower….

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…