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…

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…

18th March

…just out and particularly fine. Magnolia ‘Genie’ Magnolia ‘Genie’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ (again) as a contrast. ‘Genie’ wins again in my opinion. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Camellia ‘Alpen…

25th September

…fruit as usual. Acanthopanax aff. sessiliflorus Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ with yet more secondary flowers. Two crops of these in reality. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Rhus chinensis just out in flower –…

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…

27th June

…Not much ‘black’ about it really. Dutch trying to sell on a silly but marketable name again. Hydrangea ‘Black Diamonds’ Hydrangea ‘Black Diamonds’ Agapanthus ‘Golden Drop’ – in flower at…

31st March

…x M. ‘Darjeeing’. Magnolia cylindrica x M. ‘Darjeeing’ Eucalyptus gregsoniana from Roundabarrow with interesting foliage. Eucalyptus gregsoniana Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Serene’. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Serene’ Magnolia…

28th November

…tree on a bank. The pheasants have already eaten the few black berries there were this year. Cornus walteri Cornus walteri Cornus walteri Cornus walteri Cotoneaster franchetii still covered in…

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….

9th March

…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 Rhododendron…