Just two simple pictures today - most forms of Hellebore really get into their stride in very early Spring - and some continue long into Summer. In the vanguard are these delightful pure white forms of Helleborus niger, the Christmas Rose. Plenty of time for the rich ruffles of plum, chocolate and slate that come…
Architectural Plants
Christmas Eve at RHS Wisley
Bright stems of dogwood, willow and ornamental blackberry by the lake in the RHS Gardens at Wisley There was a little doubt whether these gardens would be open today after the storms over night - many gardens have been forced to close today - but hard work on the part of the garden team made…
Sweet Charity
Mahonia x media Charity Well, actually, I know that the two close-ups are the named variety Charity - the other photograph was taken in the Woodland Garden at Kew and was too far into the border for me to make out a label. I'm certain there was one - they are sticklers for labelling but…
Acers in my garden
Acer palmatum dissectum Acer palmatum Atropurpureum Acer griseum These three acers are all in pots, at the bottom of the garden and effectively screened from the house by a miniature forest of boisterous bamboos and all manner of more traditional ever-greenery. They form a backdrop to the thatched Breeze House (placed under the canopy of…
Chaos theory, logarithms and cauliflowers
Brassica oleracea 'Romansco' A trip to the supermarket and back with a little piece of fractal mathematics - spirals within spirals within logarithmic spirals - in fact, this is probably the first time since school that I've made any mention of logarithms... The chartreuse green of this little, rather pricey, vegetable hasn't truly come through…
Continue reading ➞ Chaos theory, logarithms and cauliflowers
Giant Himalayan Lily – Cardocrinum giganteum
Cardocrinum giganteum, giant totems in the Woodland Garden at Kew, today. Quite amazing these, even the seedheads atop giant vaulting poles, are dramatic. I missed their flowering earlier in the year but these will decorate the Woodland Garden for weeks to come. I bought a single bulb from the RHS Spring Fair at Wisley and…
Continue reading ➞ Giant Himalayan Lily – Cardocrinum giganteum
Prickly customers – Yucca and Cordyline
Cordyline australis, in my garden today, flowering extravagantly - again Yucca with dramatic flower spike - Twickenham, today The long tail of Autumn and the mild weather that has continued for these past few weeks has triggered a second flowering for the Cordylines in my garden - the one closest to the house is branching…