Architectural Plants

RHS Wisley – life and death in the Surrey hills… Hydrangeas, Camellias and Hellebores, mostly, Sorbus and Malus, Cornus, Salix and Rubus, Acer, Rhododendron, Chimonathus, Henry Moore and a Squirrel

Categories Abstract Photograpy, Acid-loving plants, Alpine, Architectural Plants, Camellias, Christmas, Fragrant plants, General comment, Hellebore, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, RHS WIsley, Trees for smaller gardens, Wildlife gardening, Winter Garden2 Comments on RHS Wisley – life and death in the Surrey hills… Hydrangeas, Camellias and Hellebores, mostly, Sorbus and Malus, Cornus, Salix and Rubus, Acer, Rhododendron, Chimonathus, Henry Moore and a Squirrel

Acer griseum, lauded for its peeling bark, caught here in the chill morning sunlight on the slopes of Battleston Hill at the RHS gardens at Wisley. The gardens feature the remnants of many fine plants, dying beautifully, hydrangeas foremost in this class, as well as the heralds of a new season, with the earliest hellebores…

Continue reading ➞ RHS Wisley – life and death in the Surrey hills… Hydrangeas, Camellias and Hellebores, mostly, Sorbus and Malus, Cornus, Salix and Rubus, Acer, Rhododendron, Chimonathus, Henry Moore and a Squirrel

Orange, scarlet, blue and shocking pink – Christmas in Technocolor

Categories Abstract Photography, Architectural Plants, Bulbs, Christmas, container gardening, Fragrant plants, General comment, House plants, Petersham Nurseries, Winter GardenLeave a Comment on Orange, scarlet, blue and shocking pink – Christmas in Technocolor

A little technicolor dreaming, an antidote to a wholly white Christmas - intimations of spring too - tulips and hyacinths flowering outdoor next April/May, as cut flowers, we can enjoy them now - the anemones and Amaryllis too - while Orchids are available year round. Clementines, limes and lemons - just as colourful and a…

Continue reading ➞ Orange, scarlet, blue and shocking pink – Christmas in Technocolor

What have I been up to, I hear you ask? Behold British Cut Flowers & Richmond Hill, Festive outdoor containers, twinkling lights at Petersham, Pyromania, Air plants and Terrariums, scented pelargoniums and baubles!

Categories Architectural Plants, Bulbs, Christmas, Cutting Garden, Fragrant plants, my projects, Open to the public, Petersham Nurseries, Seasonal colour, Winter GardenLeave a Comment on What have I been up to, I hear you ask? Behold British Cut Flowers & Richmond Hill, Festive outdoor containers, twinkling lights at Petersham, Pyromania, Air plants and Terrariums, scented pelargoniums and baubles!

British grown cut flowers at Petersham Nurseries this week - Cornish Anemones, Tulips, Ranunculus in mulberry shades, Woodstock Hyacinths - with Kokedama cyclamens hyacinths and other delights for the lunchtime table... A few pictures to follow, as I have been rather busy, Christmas and wotnot, visiting family Up North, and these pages have been blank…

Continue reading ➞ What have I been up to, I hear you ask? Behold British Cut Flowers & Richmond Hill, Festive outdoor containers, twinkling lights at Petersham, Pyromania, Air plants and Terrariums, scented pelargoniums and baubles!

and now for something a little tropical… the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley

Categories Architectural Plants, Climbing plants, General comment, House plants, Open to the public, RHS WIsley, TropicalLeave a Comment on and now for something a little tropical… the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley

The lilac blue flowers at the base of the waterfall are Hypoestes aristata, next to the Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia regina. Sword Agave - last seen in the Hotel gardens in Madeira... The Glasshouse at RHS Wisley https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley/Articles/Greenspiration-at-Wisley  

Pink, Orange, Gold (Euonymus ‘Red Cascade’, Hydrangea Annabelle, Ginkgo biloba, Parrotia persica) at RHS Wisley

Categories Architectural Plants, Autumn garden, herbaceous, Hydrangea, RHS WIsley, Seasonal colour, Winter GardenLeave a Comment on Pink, Orange, Gold (Euonymus ‘Red Cascade’, Hydrangea Annabelle, Ginkgo biloba, Parrotia persica) at RHS Wisley

Euonymus europaeus Red Cascade at RHS Wisley this weekend. Intensely bright pink parachutes with intensely bright orange seeds. https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/99750/Euonymus-europaeus-Red-Cascade/Details http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3336362/How-to-grow-Euonymus-europaeus-Red-Cascade.html How to grow: Euonymus europaeus 'Red Cascade' 12:01AM BST 08 Oct 2005 Matthew Wilson on how to grow a taste of the blazing glory of New England Very little compares to a really good show…

Continue reading ➞ Pink, Orange, Gold (Euonymus ‘Red Cascade’, Hydrangea Annabelle, Ginkgo biloba, Parrotia persica) at RHS Wisley

Luxuriating in decay – the Glasshouse Borders at RHS Wisley

Categories Architectural Plants, Autumn garden, Garden Design, Grasses, RHS WIsley, Winter GardenLeave a Comment on Luxuriating in decay – the Glasshouse Borders at RHS Wisley

The Glasshouse Borders at RHS Wisley There is much to recommend these borders - the long double beds running down from the Fruit Mount to the Lake and running in concentric, linking arcs around the reflecting mirror of water and bounding the Glasshouse. Add a clear sky and low slanting sun, at the end of…

Continue reading ➞ Luxuriating in decay – the Glasshouse Borders at RHS Wisley

Hand-made Christmas decorations using the very lovely Ginkgo biloba (a Blue Peter moment…)

Categories Architectural Plants, Autumn garden, General comment, jobs to do in ..., my projects, Trees for smaller gardens1 Comment on Hand-made Christmas decorations using the very lovely Ginkgo biloba (a Blue Peter moment…)

One very good reason to have your own very own Ginkgo tree, a local and renewable source of original hand made Christmas decorations - I've had to 'scrump' for these leaves but they do make lovely little baubles. Well, I think so. Now I'll do a little research to find just the tree suitable for…

Continue reading ➞ Hand-made Christmas decorations using the very lovely Ginkgo biloba (a Blue Peter moment…)

Gilded Trees – Ginkgo biloba and Parrotia persica at Kew Gardens – liquid gold, ruby & emerald

Categories Abstract Photograpy, Architectural Plants, Autumn garden, General comment, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour1 Comment on Gilded Trees – Ginkgo biloba and Parrotia persica at Kew Gardens – liquid gold, ruby & emerald

Ginko biloba - the prehistoric Maidenhair Tree, with a weeping form which is even more of an absolute gold mine, still, with generally larger leaves and longer leaf-stalks than its upright neighbours. Parrotia persica (below) gold with flashes of red and emerald. and finally, a Grandstand Wisteria... Just half an hour today at Kew Gardens…

Continue reading ➞ Gilded Trees – Ginkgo biloba and Parrotia persica at Kew Gardens – liquid gold, ruby & emerald

Another Kew Gardens Miscellany – Autumn brilliance of course, the Xstrata Treetop Walk, the Lily Pond and a setting for The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Categories Architectural Plants, Autumn garden, climbing plant, General comment, Japanese Maples (Acers), Magnolia, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colourLeave a Comment on Another Kew Gardens Miscellany – Autumn brilliance of course, the Xstrata Treetop Walk, the Lily Pond and a setting for The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party

Acer palmatum in typically bright garb.. Acer sieboldianum (below) Acer platanoides (above) with Castanea sativa, the Sweet Chestnut (below) Fagus sylvatica, a copse of very beautiful Common Beech (though there is nothing common about these specimens) - Leading us over to the Xstrata Treetop Walkway, high above the woodland floor with panoramic views, particularly through…

Continue reading ➞ Another Kew Gardens Miscellany – Autumn brilliance of course, the Xstrata Treetop Walk, the Lily Pond and a setting for The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party