…‘Innocence’ just coming out above Bond Street. Staphylea holocarpa ‘Innocence’ The first full out bluebell I have seen with true blue colours. Bluebells In the old Hardy & Bert’s nursery…

…a gold medal only £575! Burncoose stand Burncoose stand Distylum myricoides ‘Blue Cascade’ Distylum myricoides ‘Blue Cascade’ Distylum myricoides ‘Blue Cascade’ Cyathia cooperi Cyathia cooperi Good use of Primula and…

…‘Blue Shadow’ is about right. Not quite sure about the name yet? Where is the ‘blue shadow’ the judges will say. Cornus kousa ‘Blue Shadow’ Cornus kousa ‘Blue Shadow’ Magnolia…

…‘Pickard’s Ruby’. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Pickard’s Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’. Magnolia ‘Rebecca’s Perfume’ New…

…‘Jester’ Wonderful autumn colour on Quercus imbricata. Quercus imbricata Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’ with extraordinary autumn hues which I had not seen before. Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’ To add to…

…flowering is not bad! Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Jobson’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’ has astonishing blue buds with a silvery indumentum. They open blueish and then a…

…coming out and not as dark in bud as Magnolia ‘Genie’ from a day ago. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Caerhays Splendour’…

…but have failed miserably up to now. Blue-green young foliage and tiny rockery plants really which I believe have now been reclassified as rhododendrons. Menziesia ‘Honshu Blue’ Menziesia ‘Honshu Blue’…

…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…

…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…

…Marie’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’ below Donkey Shoe. No hybrid name as far as I can see. Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x M. ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x M. ‘Black…

…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…

…Star’ Magnolia ‘Burgundy Star’ This is Magnolia ‘Aphrodite’ which continues to impress (Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Deep Purple Dream’). Sister seedling to ‘Antje Zandee’ presumably and not much different….

…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…

…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…

…sessiliflorus Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ with yet more secondary flowers. Two crops of these in reality. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ Rhus chinensis just out in flower – a little earlier than usual?…

…Off’ Camellia ‘Black Lace’ with its first offering. Camellia ‘Black Lace’ Camellia ‘Duchess de Caze’ is also now on parade. I don’t like the colour mix. Camellia ‘Duchess de Caze’…

…Spanish. bluebells bluebells A good clump of now wild (but once cultivated) pinkish bluebells. pinkish bluebells pinkish bluebells Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’ just emerging into flower in the border opposite the front…

…the blackberries were sparse, undeveloped and with tiny fruits. blackberries blackberries The elders mainly had very few seed heads and these too were sparse and underdeveloped for the time of…

…outside the Back Yard 2023 – CHW One flower now fully out (on a gloomy day) on Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Darjeeling’. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Darjeeling’ Juglans ailantifolia with…