Alpine

A banquet-kaleidoscope-smorgasbord-gallimaufry of early Spring colour and scent … (or Where’s Thug?)

Categories Abstract Photograpy, Acid-loving plants, Alpine, Architectural Plants, Bedding, Bulbs, Camellias, Climbing plants, colour, Fragrant plants, General comment, Hellebore, herbaceous, Japanese Maples (Acers), Magnolia, Ornamental trees, RHS WIsley, Roses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees for smaller gardens, White Garden, Wildlife gardening, Winter Garden, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on A banquet-kaleidoscope-smorgasbord-gallimaufry of early Spring colour and scent … (or Where’s Thug?)

Ah, well, you've got me - one huge gallery of images and barely a note to cover the 'who, what, why, where and when' of it all - The 'where'will be at Kew and Wisley and a few points in between, including those deliciously cool crocus on my own front step, delicately rain-dropped and rather…

Continue reading ➞ A banquet-kaleidoscope-smorgasbord-gallimaufry of early Spring colour and scent … (or Where’s Thug?)

A return to Kew and some contortions in the Davies Alpine House required … plus an invitation to an Open Day

Categories Alpine, General comment, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew1 Comment on A return to Kew and some contortions in the Davies Alpine House required … plus an invitation to an Open Day

A selection of colourful delights from the Davies Alpine House at Kew, from last week. Bent back and scuffed knees, getting these images, but I love these displays, and as a special treat, there is 'behind the scenes' access to the Alpine Glasshouses and the work of the Alpine gardeners at Kew this coming weekend,…

Continue reading ➞ A return to Kew and some contortions in the Davies Alpine House required … plus an invitation to an Open Day

RHS Wisley this time around, Alpine treasures and Butterflies in the Glasshouse

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, Camellias, Fragrant plants, General comment, Hellebore, House plants, Open to the public, RHS WIsley, Seasonal colour, TropicalLeave a Comment on RHS Wisley this time around, Alpine treasures and Butterflies in the Glasshouse

Butterflies in the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley and moving into the Alpine House next - Plenty of treaures in the Alpine House, Fritillaries especially on this visit Butterflies, first, in the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley - happily I timed my visit on one of the last days of this event (I feared I'd missed it)…

Continue reading ➞ RHS Wisley this time around, Alpine treasures and Butterflies in the Glasshouse

Kew, orchids, alpines and enjoying life under the macro-lens

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, Orchids, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Travel broadens the mindLeave a Comment on Kew, orchids, alpines and enjoying life under the macro-lens

Close, closer, close-up - Aloe africanum in the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew - a majestic specimen in flower, with nectar beading in the warm dry conditions. My new Sigma macro lens made a pretty good job of capturing the detail, even though I had to lean precariously over from the path, across some…

Continue reading ➞ Kew, orchids, alpines and enjoying life under the macro-lens

Roses aside, back to Spring where the garden is colouring up with Camellias, Iris, Daphne and Anemone … and more of course

Categories Acid-loving plants, Alpine, Architectural Plants, Bulbs, Camellias, container gardening, Grasses, herbaceous, Plants for a shady garden?, Spring Garden, Winter Garden, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on Roses aside, back to Spring where the garden is colouring up with Camellias, Iris, Daphne and Anemone … and more of course

A gallery only - well I say 'only' - there is much to delight and much that is both beautiful and welcome in the garden. More and ever more colour to lift the spirits with so much more to come - and so I caution - take a pause, enjoy the season, these moments -…

Continue reading ➞ Roses aside, back to Spring where the garden is colouring up with Camellias, Iris, Daphne and Anemone … and more of course

Just to bring you up to date … more hellebores, a crocus or three, bright primroses and the first of a galaxy of irises …

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, Bedding, Bulbs, evergreen perennial, Fragrant plants, General comment, Hellebore, herbaceous, Seasonal colour, White Garden, Winter Garden, Woodland Garden1 Comment on Just to bring you up to date … more hellebores, a crocus or three, bright primroses and the first of a galaxy of irises …

Just to bring you up to date, though by way really of a few galleries rather than long descriptions and horticultural diversions. If I have time, I'll do more I promise! In the meantime, a collection of plants that you might find in a garden centre near you - and if you are lucky, in…

Continue reading ➞ Just to bring you up to date … more hellebores, a crocus or three, bright primroses and the first of a galaxy of irises …

Love your Greens – and golds, silvers, blues and browns, pinks, purples and plum …. #loveyourconifers #loveyourevergreens

Categories Acid-loving plants, Alpine, Architectural Plants, Camellias, conifers, dark foliage plants, Dry Garden, Evergreen shrubs, Fragrant plants, Garden Design, Shrubs, Winter Garden2 Comments on Love your Greens – and golds, silvers, blues and browns, pinks, purples and plum …. #loveyourconifers #loveyourevergreens

Love Your Conifers Part II Just adding to the list of conifers out there, in here - and once again there's nothing dull about these beauties. And there's one for pretty much every part of the garden, in sun or shade, miniature marvels or larger powerhouses, each and everyone adding structure and all year round…

Continue reading ➞ Love your Greens – and golds, silvers, blues and browns, pinks, purples and plum …. #loveyourconifers #loveyourevergreens

Another day, another visit to Kew Gardens – and not one, two, three nor four – but five Glasshouses and #barkwatch continues – deep joy …

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, Composting, Indoor gardening, Open to the public, Orchids, Ornamental trees, Roses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, Travel broadens the mind, Tropical, Wildlife gardening, Winter Garden1 Comment on Another day, another visit to Kew Gardens – and not one, two, three nor four – but five Glasshouses and #barkwatch continues – deep joy …

Into the Palm House first, on a rather dull morning (I missed both brilliantly bright days earlier this week, one at Petersham Nurseries, the other being a Good Boy and doing some housework, washing and much-needed shopping). But hey, it's still looking grand and my kitchen floor is shiny shiny clean. The Palm House was…

Continue reading ➞ Another day, another visit to Kew Gardens – and not one, two, three nor four – but five Glasshouses and #barkwatch continues – deep joy …

My first visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (well, my first this year) – Witch Hazels aplenty, Alpine beauties – Magnolias! – and more… Welcome to Part 1

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, Dry Garden, Fragrant plants, General comment, Hellebore, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Winter Garden, Woodland Garden5 Comments on My first visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (well, my first this year) – Witch Hazels aplenty, Alpine beauties – Magnolias! – and more… Welcome to Part 1

Hamamelis x intermedia Vesna Happily, Kew Gardens are a short distance from Teddington HQ (too) and as long as there is a parking space close to the Victoria Gate entrance, there is no excuse for me not to stop off and take a look inside. Sometimes this is just a short stop, perhaps less than…

Continue reading ➞ My first visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (well, my first this year) – Witch Hazels aplenty, Alpine beauties – Magnolias! – and more… Welcome to Part 1