Autumn, Winter and early Spring Beauty: Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’

The autumn-flowering cherry, Prunus x subhirtella 'Autumnalis Rosea' Spring-flowering cherries are coming into bloom now - and a fine sight they will be, really nothing to equal the glamorous profusion of it in fact. But this one is a proper gem, since it comes into flower whenever there is a mild spell throughout the winter…

Mellow Yellow (part 2)

Amber, citrine, primrose, sunshine, canary, gold, lemon, tawny, aureate, lutescent, xanthic, chrysal, honey, aurulent... A ripe collection of just a few yellow and golden-fruited shrubs and trees - they have all featured in other entries in the last couple of months - but I thought it would be cool to bring a few of the…

Sorbus glabrescens & Sorbus alnifolia – White and Red

Sorbus glabrescens with Sorbus alnifolia in the background Sorbus glabrescens, with white fruit (above) and (below) the red fruit of Sorbus alnifolia All change - Sorbus alnifolia with Sorbus glabrescens in the background Sorbus alnifolia by the Chokishi-Mon in the Japanese Landscape at Kew I've come across Sorbus glabrescens in the Arboretum at RHS Wisley…

Welcome to February with Parrotia persica Vanessa

Vanessa' is a selection of Persian ironwood that develops a more upright, columnar habit than the species. This durable tree is beautiful in every season, as its foliage, branch structure and bark are all exceptional. Its leaves are oval shaped with somewhat scalloped edges. They emerge green edged with burgundy, maturing to midgreen in summer.…

Malus transitoria – crab apple delights

Malus transitoria, the cut-leaved crab apple (photographed at RHS Wisley earlier this week) Crab apples are often excellent small trees for the garden, with late spring blossom to rival many of the Japanese Cherries, persistent fruit (attractive but only barely edible in the strictest sense). The blossom can be exceedingly fragrant and runs the gamut…

Golden brown texture like sun…

Golden brown texture like sun Lays me down with my might she runs Throughout the night No need to fight Never a frown with golden brown Every time just like the last On her ship tied to the mast To distant lands Takes both my hands Never a frown with golden brown Golden brown finer…

A Whiter Shade of….. Rowan (Sorbus glabrescens)

Sorbus glabrescens in the arboretum at RHS Wisley The arboretum at RHS Wisley in Surrey is a useful place to see many varieties of tree in a relatively small area - in particular it is possible to compare many different types of Silver Birch, or Rowan (Sorbus) or  Crab Apples (Malus) although the specimens planted…

Virginia Water in Autumn

A walk around the whole of Virginia Water, from The Savill Garden, past ruins and totem poles, cascades and beneath glorious autumn colour. Low, slanting sun, blue skies, golden foliage... Rejuvenating! http://www.theroyallandscape.co.uk/gardens-and-landscape/virginia-water/