…in the spring and the site is too dry. solitary flower Wonderful fruiting on the Hawthorn but no sloes on the Blackthorn. This tells you the vagaries of the spring…

…on Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ 2019 – CHW A helicopter traverses the electricity lines near the castle after heavy rainstorms checking for breaks. There was a blackout just…

…Crataegus brachyacantha, the Blueberry hawthorn, from the southern US states. We have yet to see any blue-black fruits. Crataegus brachyacantha Crataegus brachyacantha Crataegus ambigua – Russian hawthorn. Very similar to…

…for us. Sorbus matsumurana Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’ looking as its name would have you believe. Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’ Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’ Sapium sebiferum very late into leaf…

…its best and ‘Fairy Lime’ is just starting. Michelia ‘Fairy Blush’ Another Old Park rhododendron species I cannot yet identify. Blackish red buds with a hint of blue-black in the…

…‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia liliiflora ‘Holland Red’ with its first flower. Interesting and certainly has the liliiflora shape. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia liliiflora ‘Holland Red’ A wren has built…

…classes. All now taking place in the Royal Cornwall cattle shed with about half the trade stands (including Burncoose) thankfully inside. A much better use of space than our first…

…– CHW The amazing Tilia endochrysea just into leaf. Tilia endochrysea Magnolia ‘A E Bold’ (Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘JC Williams’) with its first flower. We have other plants,…

…Red’ and Magnolia dawsoniana. Rhododendron ‘Cornish Red’ Magnolia ‘Genie’ is nearly black in bud. Far better than M. ‘Black Tulip’. Magnolia ‘Genie’ Magnolia ‘Genie’ 2021 – CHW I am now…

…it is in August. Fuchsia and Echium seedlings The evergreen Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ is excellent as well. Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ Garrya…

…a quite extraordinary colour. Rhododendron dichroanthum ssp. scyphocalyx (F6761) Rhododendron ‘Award’. Rhododendron ‘Award’ Rhododendron ‘Black Magic’. Rhododendron ‘Black Magic’ Rhododendron ‘Glebe’s Surprise’ – there are very few double flowered rhodos…

…black flowers of Rhododendron sanguineum ssp. didymum on the Rockery steps. Rhododendron sanguineum ssp. didymum Rhododendron sanguineum ssp. didymum Rhododendron sanguineum ssp. didymum Rhododendron sanguineum ssp. didymum Hydrangea paniculata ‘Early…

…‘Black Knight’ looking good together. Escallonia ‘Iveyi’ and Buddleia ‘Black Knight’ 2020 – CHW An old clump of Hydrangea ‘Blue Wave’ on the drive. Hydrangea ‘Blue Wave’ Hydrangea ‘Blue Wave’…

…in juicy black fruits in the Isla Rose. Berberis xanthoclada Berberis xanthoclada Berberis subacuminata (FMWJ 1329) with fruits also just turning black. Berberis subacuminata Callicarpa dichotoma just coming into flower…

…recent cold up country and snow in the Midlands.Saxifraga ‘Black Ruby’ looking good in flower. Saxifraga ‘Black Ruby’ Saxifraga ‘Black Ruby’ Helleborus ‘Annas Red’ just coming out. A fine batch…

…starts for our new glasshouse along the top wall. Clearance work Canna ‘Tropicanna Black’ and Acacia longifolia out together. Canna ‘Tropicanna Black’ Aronia melanocarpa ‘Autumn Magic’ with ripe, black berries…

…– flowers fade rapidly from red to pink. Saxifraga ‘Black Ruby’ Saxifraga ‘Black Ruby’ Libertia caerulescens – a very late flower with seed pods. Libertia caerulescens Sarcocca wallichii – no…

…shop. daffodils Fine colours too on Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ just before the leaves fall. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ The squirrels are munching out the bigger acorns from the…

…the Rookery are Ilex kingiana. Nobbles on the trunks, a black hue to this year’s new growth and two year old stems developing a light brown ‘woody’ covering. Ilex kingiana…

…surprising white with, I admit, a blackish velvety stem. Wrongly named? No idea as it is entirely new to me and not in any reference book. Magnolia ‘Black Velvet’ Magnolia…