Day: May 13, 2015

You say Peony, I say Paeonia – whichever you prefer, there’s a wealth of choice and colour at Kew Gardens

Categories Architectural Plants, colour, herbaceous, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew1 Comment on You say Peony, I say Paeonia – whichever you prefer, there’s a wealth of choice and colour at Kew Gardens

At the head of the Family Border and the long, gently curving rose pergola, with the Temple of Aeolus on the mount behind, is the peony border, and though it is early in the season, some have already gone over, while much has yet to even get started. Others are just about right and these…

Continue reading ➞ You say Peony, I say Paeonia – whichever you prefer, there’s a wealth of choice and colour at Kew Gardens

Davies Alpine House at Kew Gardens – and the Rock Garden too – wandering through Kew today

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, General comment, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, spring flowering, Spring GardenLeave a Comment on Davies Alpine House at Kew Gardens – and the Rock Garden too – wandering through Kew today

Continuing with my wanderings through Kew, leaving the Duke's Garden behind and passing the emerging grass borders, we head to the Davies Alpine House and the serpentine Rock Garden beyond. More peonies and iris, more intense colour and floral fireworks - though this last specimen, Viburnum macrocephalum Sterile is more of a giant snowball!  

Duke’s Garden at Kew – Iris, Alliums, Geum and some florid peonies – and on to the Davies Alpine House. Continuing my constitutional around Kew Gardens

Categories Architectural Plants, herbaceous, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colourLeave a Comment on Duke’s Garden at Kew – Iris, Alliums, Geum and some florid peonies – and on to the Davies Alpine House. Continuing my constitutional around Kew Gardens

This last was labelled Paeonia suffruticosa, no more, and is magnificent. Loved as much as me by the iridescent beetle that was in an ecstasy of pollen in the centre of each blossom. Leaving behind this garden and passing by the emerging grass borders, the Davies Alpine House and the Princess of Wales Conservatory beckon.…

Continue reading ➞ Duke’s Garden at Kew – Iris, Alliums, Geum and some florid peonies – and on to the Davies Alpine House. Continuing my constitutional around Kew Gardens

From the Queen’s Garden, skirting the Orangery for some beautiful Irises and a hint of the peonies to come – and on to two remarkable wisterias. Kew Gardens – take a walk with me….

Categories Abstract Photography, General comment, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, WisteriaLeave a Comment on From the Queen’s Garden, skirting the Orangery for some beautiful Irises and a hint of the peonies to come – and on to two remarkable wisterias. Kew Gardens – take a walk with me….

Leaving Kew Palace behind me and heading towards the Duke's Garden, the walk takes me past several stands of striking variegate Irises, which I think would convert anyone who is averse to any varigated foliage, full stop. The flowers are a bonus, but the leaves on their own, especially with a froth of blue forget-me-nots,…

Continue reading ➞ From the Queen’s Garden, skirting the Orangery for some beautiful Irises and a hint of the peonies to come – and on to two remarkable wisterias. Kew Gardens – take a walk with me….

Kew Palace, the Queen’s Gardens and a Laburnum-swagged pergola

Categories Abstract Photography, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Climbing plants, Fragrant plants, Garden Design, General comment, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, spring flowering, Spring GardenLeave a Comment on Kew Palace, the Queen’s Gardens and a Laburnum-swagged pergola

Bright blue skies, golden Laburnum, lilac-pink Cercis siliquastrum, snowballs of Viburnun opulus, pale blue iris, lavender-grey lilacs and a lot of beautiful greenery. A bee-line today straight over to Kew Palace and the gardens behind - a sunken herbalists garden and a more formal parterre. Around the former, an arched pergola wrapping around three sides…

Continue reading ➞ Kew Palace, the Queen’s Gardens and a Laburnum-swagged pergola