A Petersham Nurseries Gallery – after heatwaves and downpours, the show just gets better and better

A kaleidoscope of perennials, with all manner of colourful stuff doing it's thing, plenty of Echinacea, Salvias and Dahlias and much more besides - of course a rose or two. Bright bold and beautiful summer characters, whatever your garden style. I love this little fellow on the Monarda, especially    

A few things that caught my eye today – a little tour of Petersham Nurseries on the longest Day of the Year

No captions this time - far too hot to be bothering with detail like that I'd say - but a few images from a post-lunch ten minute trot through the Nurseries, the Cutting Garden and plant benches. All quite colourful I think you'll agree (and of course, I can take a lot of pictures in…

Postcards from Sussex – the extraordinary Arundel Castle and Gardens

Shropshire, Wales, Oxforshire ..  we are putting in the miles together! But the last leg is in Sussex in the beautiful town of Arundel - which is presided over and looked down upon by the rather spectacular Arundel Caste. Part genuine medieval fortification and part Gothik 19th Century confection - it truly is an amazing…

Postcards from Oxfordshire – Woodstock and Blenheim Palace

Wending our way southwards, down the M40 and a stop-over in Woodstock, the charming little town next to Blenheim Palace. The sun continued to kiss our happy little heads as we trailed around the extensive park and formal gardens. Breathtaking, as always. Read more at http://www.blenheimpalace.com/ I finish off with a quick tour of Daylesford…

Postcards from Oxfordshire – Jacobean Chastleton House

A sleeping country gentleman's house this, nothing aristocratic but beautifully preserved - preserved just enough but not restored - the dust and cracked plaster are still there to see - and the decline of centuries is an open book. The poverty of the estate has become its greatest asset, where other properties' wealth may have…

Postcards from Shropshire – Part 6 and a final look at David Austin Roses (including roses in containers)

The Patio Garden Our patio garden features English specimen roses in a variety of large, decorative terracotta planters. English Roses, with their gracefully rounded, shrubby growth, are ideal for growing in this way. They bring character and interest to the gravelled area around the Plant Centre and their beautiful, deliciously fragrant flowers can be easily…

Postcards from Shropshire – Chapter 5 from David Austin Roses – The Lion Garden

The Lion Garden The Lion Garden has been redesigned and the sculpture moved to create a focal point. Four long borders mingle shrub roses, including many English Roses, with herbaceous perennials, creating a wonderful contrast of colour, form, texture and scent. The borders are punctuated by magnificent standard roses, which add height and structure to…

Postcards from Shropshire – a fourth helping from David Austin Roses (stay with me folks…)

The Renaissance Garden The National Collection of English Roses is held in the gardens at Albrighton. The Renaissance Garden is perhaps the most beautiful of all the gardens, and is devoted to English Roses. These roses start flowering in late May and continue right through to the frosts of early winter. This lovely garden demonstrates…

Postcards from Shropshire – third helpings from David Austin Roses

A return through the Long Garden - the unusual feature of these photographs is of course the sunshine and blue skies - the Divine smiling on these roses and me, a humble if enthusiastically photographing acolyte ... The Long Garden The Long Garden forms the central core of the rose garden, with the other gardens…