…purple to reddish purple and with or without central blotches. Rhododendron kiyosumense (search elsewhere in the diary to see) is also a form of reticulatum but the Japanese recognise several…

…Magnolia ‘Vairano’ (Magnolia ‘Iolanthe’ x Magnolia campbellii) as good as I have seen it yet. Magnolia ‘Vairano’ Magnolia ‘Antje Zandee’ (Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’ x Magnolia ‘Deep Purple Dream’) just coming….

…old plants of Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ nearing their last ‘hurrah’. Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ Rhododendron ‘Veryan Bay’ First flowering here of Magnolia ‘Purple Prince’ which I first saw in the Valley…

…Wonderful late autumn colour. Styrax japonica ‘Purple Dress’ Styrax japonica ‘Purple Dress’ Then on to inspect storm damage. Lots of small branches under the record Magnolia campbellii. Seeds long gone….

…variegated Cercis canadensis ‘Alley Cat’. If you don’t like variegated things (as my father didn’t) this is not one to contemplate. Cercis canadensis ‘Alley Cat’ Cercis canadensis ‘Alley Cat’ Purple…

…nearly ready for Asia to collect on Magnolia ‘Elizabeth Holman’. I didn’t see another seed head today anywhere in Kennel Close. Magnolia ‘Elizabeth Holman’ Purple petioles on the new growth…

…Hybrids’ Rhododendron ‘Harrow Hybrids’ Ailanthus altissima ‘Purple Dragon’ looking very fine. Ailanthus altissima ‘Purple Dragon’ A young Stewartia pseudocamellia starting to flower in Kennel Close. Stewartia pseudocamellia Tilia caroliniana subsp….

…corresponding on the naming of one or two of his magnolias. We have a (still small) Magnolia ‘Anne Rosse’ x Magnolia ‘Purple Breeze’. First bud showing colour on the new…

…Blue’ is an evergreen sub-shrub unlike the other herbaceous penstemons. Penstemon heterophyllus ‘Heavenly Blue’ Geranium pratense ‘Delft Blue’ Geranium pratense ‘Delft Blue’ Salvia ‘Purple Rain’ was spectacular. Salvia ‘Purple Rain’…

…Double’ and Podocarpus totara. Thalictrum delavayi ‘Hewitt’s Double’ and Podocarpus totara Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and Geranium ‘Wargrave Pink’. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and Geranium ‘Wargrave Pink’ Papaver rupifragum ‘Flore Pleno’ and Sedum ‘Purple…