Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
Jude the Obscure - with a strong citrus scent, fruity, with guavas and white wine This article is by Robert Calkin, originally published in The Royal National Rose Society Historic Rose Journal Autumn 2013. If you are not a member of the Historic Rose Group, articles such as these are just one reason to join!…
Continue reading ➞ A fragrance by any other name
A vase full of rose hips from The Generous Gardener, a favourite from David Austin No flowers for the Christmas table this year, but a display of these rather fat and rosy orange hips from The Generous Gardener. A very adaptable large shrub or climber, with large soft pink, highly fragrant flowers, flaming red fresh…
Continue reading ➞ The Generous Gardener
Well, I'm almost ready for The Big Day... The wrapping of presents is required and a little housekeeping. If the rain lets up, then I can get into my garden and clear away the last of the leaves but little else is urgent. There are jobs that could be tackled but I will postpone any…
Continue reading ➞ O Christmas Tree…
Early morning, arriving in the remote island archipelago of Cape Verde - a couple of days sailing from La Palma (Canary Islands) and the last land we were to see for nigh on six days before reaching South America. It is increasingly difficult to believe I was there - late November - the rain and…
Îles des Salut, off the coast of French Guiana: former penal colony and one-time home to Dreyfus Land! After nearly six days at sea, a very welcome opportunity to set foot on dry land - Tenerife is some 3500 miles back east. A tropical island - a group of three in fact including Devil's Island -…
Continue reading ➞ Iles des Salut
The last leg of my recent trip, a whistle-stop tour of the island of Barbados I might have a banana plant in the garden but here the similarity ends - if I am ever to think of creating a garden with a more tropical feel, this is what I am up against! I've much to…
Or rather 'right plant, right place' - even in these extreme environments, many plants are thriving I had the good fortune of visiting Mount Teide on Tenerife recently - the cone of the volcano rising to become Spain's highest point, set within the high walls of a collapsed caldera. And the sun shone. Not the…
Continue reading ➞ Mount Teide Volcano, Tenerife
I've tried to capture a decent photograph of these beautiful little creatures, and have once or twice, but I thought using a little video might produce better results. Like moths (they do the same job, for the same rewards, though at different times of the day) they are fast moving and camera shy. I don't…
Continue reading ➞ Hummingbirds
I've spent a lot of time on the water these past three weeks - who knew the Atlantic was quite so wide - so I thought it only right to give you a glimpse of a glittering sea, this particular view looking east from Barbados, my final destination. Tenerife is about 3500 miles ahead! The…
The Teddington Gardener 