28th May

‘Black Dragon’ Wisteria ‘Black Dragon’ Wisteria ‘Black Dragon’ on the gents’ loo just going over. The flowers tend to be hidden by the foliage but the smell drowns out whatever…

28th September

…the Blackthorn. This tells you the vagaries of the spring weather. Hawthorn Hawthorn We saw brilliant brown autumn leaf colour in the nursery on Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’. At The Cottage…

23rd April

…Maria’ is nearly over. MAGNOLIA ‘Stellar Acclaim’ MAGNOLIA ‘Stellar Acclaim’ MAGNOLIA ‘Stellar Acclaim’ MAGNOLIA ‘Woodsman’ MAGNOLIA x brooklynensis ‘Eva Maria’ MAGNOLIA x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ MAGNOLIA x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’…

4th March

…Planted 2013. Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’ Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’ Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x ‘Black Tulip’ has small rounded flowers. Not sure how these will turn out. Magnolia ‘Vulcan’ x ‘Black Tulip’ Magnolia…

26th April

…extraordinary blue flowers. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Woodsman’ x Magnolia ‘Patriot’ Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black Beauty’ at its very best. Magnolia x brooklynensis ‘Black

10th May

…colchica ‘Black Beauty’ Staphylea colchica ‘Black Beauty’ Sapium sebiferum very late into leaf but very much alive and well. Sapium sebiferum 2023 – CHW Camellia reticulata ‘Lovely Lady’ still with…

17th July

…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. didymum on the Rockery steps….

30th March

…year but this is the second flowering of Magnolia ‘Rose Marie’ x ‘Black Tulip’. Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ After all last week’s excitement over the Cephalotaxus fortunei I thought I would…

7th November

…Saxifraga ‘Black Ruby’ Saxifraga ‘Black Ruby’ Libertia caerulescens – a very late flower with seed pods. Libertia caerulescens Sarcocca wallichii – no great smell yet and early. Sarcocca wallichii Sarcocca…

26th October

…fuchsia looks as if 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…