container gardening

Snapshot of a front garden – glorious lilies just at the moment

Categories Architectural Plants, Bedding, container gardening, dark foliage plants, David Austin roses, Fragrant plants, shade, Shrubs, Summer garden, Wisteria1 Comment on Snapshot of a front garden – glorious lilies just at the moment

Watering in the front garden yesterday evening and everything has put on so much growth. The new Wisteria - and I must put up some wires - is rampant as is the Cotinus. Hebe Marjorie was cut back hard in the Spring and has forgiven me with much new growth from the old wood. The…

Continue reading ➞ Snapshot of a front garden – glorious lilies just at the moment

Waterperry Gardens

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Bedding, Bulbs, Climbing plants, Composting, container gardening, dark foliage plants, evergreen perennial, Evergreen shrubs, Exotic, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, Garden Design, General comment, herbaceous, Open to the public, Roses, Seasonal colour, Summer gardenLeave a Comment on Waterperry Gardens

I was at the HTA National Plant Show at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry yesterday, a tedious journey up and down the M40, especially back but I did make a grateful stop at the wonderful Waterperry Gardens near Oxford. Formerly Miss Havergal's School of Horticulture for Ladies (who trained the Land Girls and much more...) these…

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Cottage Gardens

Categories Architectural Plants, Bedding, Bulbs, Clematis, Climbing plants, colour, Composting, container gardening, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, Dahlias, dark foliage plants, David Austin roses, Dry Garden, evergreen perennial, Evergreen shrubs, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, Garden Design, Great Dixter, Hellebore, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Iris, Kitchen Garden, late summer border, Mottisfont Abbey, National Trust Gardens, nerines, Open to the public, Organic Gardening, Organic pest control, Ornamental trees, Petersham Nurseries, plants for roses, Propagation, RHS WIsley, Roses, Seasonal colour, Seeds, Shrubs, soft fruit, Spring Garden, Summer garden, Trees for smaller gardens, Vegetables, Wild Food/Foraging, Wildlife gardeningLeave a Comment on Cottage Gardens

Phyllis Bide – the perfect rambling rose for a cottage garden – informal flowers in a muddle of apricot and cream – and not a monster either, like Kiftsgate or Wedding Day… The Story cover photo is from the Welcome to Yorkshire Garden at RHS Chelsea this year. Proof if it were needed of the…

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Petersham Open Garden 2018 – all the pictures!

Categories Art in the landscape, Bedding, Bulbs, Camellias, Climbing plants, container gardening, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, Dry Garden, evergreen perennial, Evergreen shrubs, Exotic, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, Garden Design, General comment, Grasses, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Iris, Japanese Maples (Acers), Kitchen Garden, macropetala, Magnolia, my projects, Open to the public, Organic Gardening, Organic pest control, Ornamental trees, Petersham Nurseries, Rhododendron & Azalea, Roses, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, soft fruit, Summer garden, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Vegetables, White Garden, Wild Food/Foraging, Wildlife gardening, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on Petersham Open Garden 2018 – all the pictures!

Ten gardens, ten private passions, ten stories - all on show for Petersham Open Gardens, an event every two years where private gardens showcase their beauty and skills (and skulls in some gardens), for charitable purposes. And given the footfall today, the charity-benefitting coffers will be full to overflowing. Congratulations folk, one and all. I…

Continue reading ➞ Petersham Open Garden 2018 – all the pictures!

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 – the show gardens, the great pavillion, the roses and … well, pretty much everything

Categories Acid-loving plants, Alpine, annuals, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Bulbs, Clematis, climbing plant, colour, container gardening, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, Dahlias, David Austin roses, Dry Garden, Evergreen shrubs, Exotic, floristry, Flower Shows, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, Garden Design, Grasses, Hellebore, herbaceous, House plants, Hydrangea, Indoor gardening, Iris, Japanese Maples (Acers), Kitchen Garden, late summer border, macropetala, Magnolia, Mediterranean Garden, Mottisfont Abbey, Open to the public, Orchids, Organic Gardening, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, plants for roses, Rhododendron & Azalea, Roses, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Summer garden, Television, Travel broadens the mind, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Water gardening, White Garden, Wildlife gardening, Wisteria, Woodland Garden1 Comment on RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 – the show gardens, the great pavillion, the roses and … well, pretty much everything

From my walk through Chelsea, to the very last moment - a few hours in the company of the world's greatest flower show....

Petersham Nurseries: Evolution of a Cutting Garden – 28th April 2018 (in moving pictures too …) plus more tulips and a tour of the garden centre. I’m too good …

Categories annuals, Architectural Plants, Bulbs, container gardening, Cutting Garden, Garden Design, General comment, Petersham Nurseries, Seasonal colour, spring flowering, Spring GardenLeave a Comment on Petersham Nurseries: Evolution of a Cutting Garden – 28th April 2018 (in moving pictures too …) plus more tulips and a tour of the garden centre. I’m too good …

Well I must apologise first - shaky camera, dull and overcast, fingers in the frame ... a less than dynamic narration but nevertheless, the subject of this amateur videography is still shining through. The Cutting Garden within Petersham Nurseries has been a floral powerhouse these past few weeks and the cooler weather we have enjoyed…

Continue reading ➞ Petersham Nurseries: Evolution of a Cutting Garden – 28th April 2018 (in moving pictures too …) plus more tulips and a tour of the garden centre. I’m too good …

Four garden centres, planting a new wisteria, repotting houseplants and a few tulips … a day in the life of –

Categories Bedding, Climbing plants, container gardening, Exotic, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, House plants, Indoor gardening, my projects, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Wisteria1 Comment on Four garden centres, planting a new wisteria, repotting houseplants and a few tulips … a day in the life of –

A day of sunshine and showers and a trip down the M3 to Windlesham to visit Longacres and subsequently Wyevale and Hilliers. Three very different garden centres - one huge and sprawling, with everything (save many perennials), one very glum and one that has been extended and revamped beautifully - quite a treat. Longacres is…

Continue reading ➞ Four garden centres, planting a new wisteria, repotting houseplants and a few tulips … a day in the life of –

A Grand Day Out. First stop, Pashley Manor Gardens, East Sussex

Categories Art in the landscape, Bulbs, Camellias, Climbing plants, colour, conifers, container gardening, General comment, Magnolia, Open to the public, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Travel broadens the mind, Woodland Garden1 Comment on A Grand Day Out. First stop, Pashley Manor Gardens, East Sussex

Such a glorious day to go out exploring and so I headed out to the wilds of East Sussex to take in these gardens at Pashley Manor before heading on to .... King John's Nursery and Gardens, Merriments and Great Dixter, and ending up making a few purchases at The Old Rose Nursery in Northiam.…

Continue reading ➞ A Grand Day Out. First stop, Pashley Manor Gardens, East Sussex

A few shots from Petersham Nurseries – plants, pots and cats ….

Categories Alpine, annuals, Bedding, container gardening, Exotic, floristry, Fragrant plants, House plants, Indoor gardening, Magnolia, Open to the public, Petersham Nurseries, Seasonal colour, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Tropical7 Comments on A few shots from Petersham Nurseries – plants, pots and cats ….

Just a little gallery ...