Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
Stachyurus chinensis, a beautiful golden rain next to the House at RHS Wisley, looking across to the Lily Pond, past the King and Queen.. An exceptional specimen this, spicily fragrant and with larger flowers than the common-or-garden variety - there is one Ordinary specimen next to the Stachyurus pictured above that is going over now,…
So much colour exploding in our gardens now that winter is loosening its grip and Spring is given a chance - longer days, some sunshine but still chill nights and cool temperatures yet ... the sap is rising, buds are bursting into leaf and blossom and the woodland floor is a bright mosaic of primroses,…
Continue reading ➞ A kaleidoscope of colour, coming to a garden near you…
The Chokushi-mon and Japanese Landscape at Kew Gardens today Chaenomeles speciosa adding some bright scarlet highlights to the many greens of the Japanese Landscape. Iris unguicularis elsewhere adds bright blue elsewhere in the scheme. Green, however, is the unifying theme. Prunus cerasifera is one of the first trees to come into blossom - you might…
Continue reading ➞ A gander at some star attractions at Kew Gardens today
Rhododendrons like this amazing Choremia Tower Court, blazing in the sunshine this afternoon in The Savill Garden within the greater Windsor Great Park - made this a fine choice for a walk, through these extensive gardens before exploring further into The Royal Landscape to search out the Jubilee Horse and the Copper Horse, with views…
Continue reading ➞ The Savill Garden, fragrant, fizzing with colour and all set for Spring
Pure white crocus, streaked with lilac and tufts if egg-yolk-gold Narcissus Jetfire, a strong sturdy, early narcissus, excellent for naturalising in grass. Primroses coming to the party now too - all manner of colours but I always revert to these more natural tones, if not the original species. Coronilla valentina glauca Citrina - compact evergreen…
Continue reading ➞ White, yellow, pink – three colours Spring
Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Flore Pleno' A classic double snowdrop, something to whet the appetite and perhaps prompt a visit to one of the gardens where these diminutive beauties are currently out in force, in all their myriad forms. The best varieties to choose and how to grow them - LINKS - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/197933/Galanthus-nivalis-f-pleniflorus-Flore-Pleno-%28d%29/Details http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/plants/11370238/Wonderful-snowdrop-varieties.html https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/articles/graham-rice/10-agm-snowdrops…
Continue reading ➞ Snowdrop time….
A light dusting of snow in the woods around Ham, though at home in Teddington there was enough for a serious game of snowballs between the children heading to school. (below) The churchyard at St. Peter's Church by Petersham Nurseries. While the Cutting Garden, while not exactly deep and crisp and even, had a wintery…
Continue reading ➞ What did I say about February? Tricky already…. A Snow/No Snow day
I am dreaming of Spring, mostly. There is a great deal to admire in February so I worry that we might wish the month away without appreciating what is looking - or giving - its best right now, or the quiet simplicity of our gardens stripped bare of all of the spring and summer fireworks…
Continue reading ➞ February made me shiver….
I love the scent of hyacinths and have made a statement piece here using a long zinc wndowbox (without drainage holes) and packed it with Skyjacket hyacinth bulbs that I picked up at the Rochdale County Council nursery in Middleton, Manchester, at the beginning of December (a bargain 50p each, so I bought a whole…
Continue reading ➞ More hyacinths – one of my favourite scented flowers
The Teddington Gardener 