Fragrant Hyacinths, a Cutting Garden rich in promise and Thug, the Petersham Cat

My day has been perfumed by these beautiful hyacinths - I have more at home, so the fragrance surrounds me even now. Heaven. Especially welcome given the chill, steady mizzling which I hope and believe will give way to something brighter, dryer, though colder, tomorrow. I bought more Hyacinth bulbs today, Gypsy Queen, in a…

Teddington Gardener Review of the Year – November 2014 – Madeira, Kew Gardens, RHS Wisley, Isabella Plantation (Richmond Park), Petersham Nurseries, Salvias, Ginkgos and prepartions for Christmas. Tropical Island Gardens while Autumn makes an appearance at home.

Teddington Gardener Review of the Year – September 2014 – The Savill Garden, Kew Gardens, Nymans, Wakehurst Place, RHS Wisley and Petersham Nurseries. Summer Crescendo.

The Savill Garden, Kew Gardens, Wakehurst Place, Petersham Nurseries, RHS Wisley. Plenty of Hydrangeas to admire, roses of course, lots, dahlias, colchicums, late-summer borders stars such as asters and rudbeckias, orchards....  Altogether much to admire!

Teddington Gardener Review of the Year – May 2014 – Kew Gardens, Composting, Auriculas, the first Roses, Wild Food Foraging, Chelsea Fringe and Chelsea Flower Show, Petersham Nurseries. Intimations of Summer.

Roses, amazingly early, appreciating the mild winter and warm, early Spring. Kew Gardens, Auriculas, Paeonies, Chelsea Fringe and a brief call in at the Chelsea Flower Show, more roses, much at Petersham Nurseries, Wild Food foraging with Claudio Bincoletto, the Joy of Composting... another glorious month!

Teddington Gardener Review of the Year – April 2014 – RHS London Show, Kew Gardens, Ightham Mote, Knole, Emmetts Garden & Petersham Nurseries. Spring in full spate.

  A colourful progression through the month, featuring Wisley, Igtham Mote, Knole, Petersham Nurseries, RHS London Show, Kew Gardens, my own projects featuring Spring Bulbs and new planting..... Flowering Cherries, Crab Apples, massed Tulips, Rhododendrons and Azaleas, Bluebells, Auriculas.... a gorgeous month.

Teddington Gardener Review of the Year – March 2014 – Kew and Wisley, The Savill Garden and Petersham Nurseries. Spring advances.

My first March visit to Kew Gardens A purchase of a very brilliant little machine - scarifying and aerating the lawn with ease... My first March visit to Kew Gardens - taking in the Pagoda, Chokushi-mon Japanese Landscape, the Xstrata and some of the arboretum. My first week at Petersham Nurseries, at the beginning of…

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…

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…

Overcast all day, some rain but with some bright sparks and highlights… fiery Spirea, white/grey/yellow combinations, tall bamboos and a TARDIS-like van, new roses, a cutting garden update

Fire and gold tints throughout this display - from an unexpected source - Spirea nipponica Snowmound is better known for its smothering of white blossom on arching stems in June and July but this vigorous shrub is putting on a spectacular finish, teamed with spires of Molinea grasses, fountains of green Liriope muscari, berries of…