…much darker. Not unusual in young plants and the colour can and does change with age. Magnolia ‘Joker’ Magnolia ‘Joker’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x M. ‘Serene’. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x…

…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…

…loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ x Magnolia salicifolia) Magnolia ‘Lucy Carlson’ Magnolia ‘Lucy Carlson’ Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’ Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’ Magnolia ‘Crystal Chalice’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Serene’ (no name as…

…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…

…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…

…‘Black Lace’ Sambucus niger ‘Black Lace’ Picea pungens ‘Glauca Globosa’ and Sambucus niger ‘Black Lace’. Picea pungens ‘Glauca Globosa’ Arisaema consanguineum Arisaema consanguineum Arisaema consanguineum and Calamagrotis x acutiflora ‘Karl…

…for the insects. Nepeta, clover and ‘Eggs and bacon’ Last errant flower on Azalea indica ‘Balsamaeflora’ in the Rockery. Azalea indica ‘Balsamaeflora’ The near black flowers of Rhododendron sanguineum ssp….

…flower on Hosta fortunei ‘Aureomarginata’ as I can remember on any Hosta group. Hosta fortunei ‘Aureomarginata’ At the nursery entrance Escallonia ‘Iveyi’ and Buddleia ‘Black Knight’ looking good together. Escallonia…

…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…

…nearly over. Campanula rotundifolia Centauria scabiosa, Greater Knapweed, which seems brown in bud unlike ours at Caerhays which has black surrounds to the bud. Perhaps this is Scabiosa jacea, Brown…

…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…

…years and they seen to develop a black fungal infection in the main trunk. Two others nearby are about to go the same way. Snakebark maple The Exochorda are romping…

…Pinus radiata Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Serene’ is not bad but windblown. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x ‘Serene’ The new growth on Tilia endochrysa is, yet again, breathtaking. Tilia endochrysa Magnolia…

…edging to the petals as you would expect from a Ruby. Planted 2015. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickards Ruby’ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Pickards Ruby’ Magnolia dawsoniana ‘Chindit’…

…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…

…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…