Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
An initially confusing name for a very beautiful small, deciduous tree, bearing large goblet shaped blooms of an arresting deep colour. Underplant with contrasting bulbs (deep blue muscari or pale narcissus perhaps) for a show-stopping display! One of the smaller growing magnolias, more suitable for a town garden, in full sun or light shade, with…
Continue reading ➞ Magnolia ‘Black Tulip’
Always a treat to visit this theatrical little garden centre, overlooking the water meadows (by the river, between Richmond and Ham Common). Extraordinary furniture and objets at jaw-droppingly obscene prices (part of the fun of the place), great cafe and good plant choices. I bought some big Hydrangea Annabelle there last summer, with huge football…
Continue reading ➞ Petersham Nurseries
A japonica variety, with a dense spreading to upright habit, and from mid-spring to early summer bears large white flowers, which are formal double with notched petals in our cool climate. Superb.
A strong and upright shrub, photographed here at Wisley last year (15th March), with glossy dark green leaves, profusely bearing large, single, crimson-red flowers, with prominent golden-yellow stamens. Early blooming. Camellias are elegant shrubs for a border or woodland garden; they also make excellent specimen plants, both outdoors in open ground and preferring ericaceous compost,…
Continue reading ➞ Camellia japonica ‘Sylva’
Picotee relates to pale flowers with a red or purple edging to the petals and sometimes purple veins and purple nectaries. Hellebore flower forms can be anemone-centred, double, spotted and single. A lot of hybridising is going on for greater colour range and more extravagant forms. I should think not all will be completely successful…
Continue reading ➞ Hellebore Harvington Hybrids ‘Picotee’
Anna's Red, a superb new introduction from Devon based nurseryman Rodney Davey, named for Anna Pavord. Rich colouring, great contrast, pearly sheen to new buds and pink colouration to marbling on new foliage, fading to cream. Large blooms, outward facing or slightly nodding. A delight and the fruit of twelve years of work by this…
Continue reading ➞ Hellebore Anna’s Red
Rodney Davey, Hellebore Magician.. A link to an Independent newspaper article featuring Rodney Davey, hellebore breeder - and the development of Anna's Red, a remarkable new form, now commercially available. I have two plants now, and a third of Penny's Pink, coming from the same esteemed magician.
Hellebores on my mind at the moment, unsurprisingly. 'Candylove' looking particularly extravagant today at Syon, 'Anna's Red' on the dining room table (substituting for roses) and itself getting set to be photographed tomorrow along with Penny's Pink (both from the stable of Devon man, Rodney Davey). I'm expecting to see a multitude at the RHS…
Continue reading ➞ Hellebores all the way!
The Teddington Gardener 