…bartramiana FJW’s Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ just out. FJW’s Azalea ‘Black Hawk’ Then to the Kitchen Garden for a review of the first Malus to show. Malus ‘Braendkjaer’. Malus ‘Braendkjaer’ Malus…

…Glow’ Magnolia ‘Brombeer’ now properly open. Magnolia ‘Brombeer’ Magnolia’ Romance’ nearly open. Magnolia’ Romance’ Magnolia ‘ Vulcan’s Forge’ now fully out. Magnolia ‘ Vulcan’s Forge’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M….

…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’ x Magnolia ‘Pickard’s…

…too 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…

…‘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…

…‘Johnny Johnstone’ Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x ‘M. ‘Black Tulip’ is developing well into a decent tree. Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x ‘M. ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x ‘M. ‘Black Tulip’…

…Ucodendron whatonii Ucodendron whatonii 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…

…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…

…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…

…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…

…on Cotoneaster franchetti below the tower. Cotoneaster franchetti Cotoneaster franchetti 2020 – CHW Mespilus germanica with just a few ripe and well split medlars remaining on the tree. A few…

…dealt with in October. Another big batch of plants Another big batch of plants 2022 – CHW First flowers out on Ceanothus arboreus ‘Trewithen Blue’ below the Tower. Ceanothus arboreus…

…of the typical white edging on the petals can be seen here which is another plus alongside the very dark colour. So much better than ‘Black Tulip’! Magnolia ‘Genie’ Magnolia…

…a Sambucus seedling collected and named by Sir Harold Hillier while at Guincho. It has dark, but not exactly black, leaves as we see. Melicytus obovatus Click here for the…

…nicely out as ours is today below the tower on the lawn. Buddleja salviifolia Even more incredible is Firmiana simplex at 15-20 feet again with no shelter to speak of….

…the care home policy to the Siege of Caffa in 1346, that grim chapter of the Black Death when a Mongol army catapulted plague-ridden bodies over the walls “Our policy…

…wilsonii Viburnum setigerum just into flower. Viburnum setigerum This is Ilex corallina (not Ilex verticillata) as demonstrated by the leaf ‘drip’ shown black here on an old leaf. Ilex corallina…

…Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’ has no flowers at all but wonderful black new growth. Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’ Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’ 2019 – CHW Just drizzle and the odd…