Taxi?! Luton Hoo, in Bedfordshire, has a fascinating history, the family seat of an über-weathly family who lost almost all their fortunes in the credit-crunch of the 1980's. Fabergé eggs once sat casually on side tables! It is now an Elite Hotel, and lovely too, with formal gardens and parkland and nearby, a Land Rover…
David Austin roses
Keep on deadheading repeat-flowering roses for a show that will go on and on…
I really enjoy deadheading roses - or rather as the outgoing Head Gardener at Mottisfont Abbey Rose Gardens prefers, removing the spent blooms. It is a very satisfying job in the garden, and has an immediate effect on the look of a rose bush. It is a quiet job, allowing you time to take a…
Continue reading ➞ Keep on deadheading repeat-flowering roses for a show that will go on and on…
Roses all the way at Petersham Nurseries… new, modern, old-fashioned and classic…
Eglantyne, LD Braithwaite, Mary Rose, Claire Austin, Francine Austin, Margaret Merril, Pat Austin, Super Excelsa, Harlow Carr, Maid Marion, Wildeve, Brother Cadfael... are all there as standards. The large shrubs - in distinctive green and gold 15l tubs, include Boscobel, Royal Jubilee, Scepter'd Isle, Princess Anne, The Alnwick Rose, The Lady's Blush, Wildeve... probably more...…
Continue reading ➞ Roses all the way at Petersham Nurseries… new, modern, old-fashioned and classic…
Lady Emma Hamilton Jam…
Now I have to say first that Lady Emma Hamilton is my favourite rose, certainly my favourite from the David Austin stable and probably my favourite, full stop. Regular readers of these pages will know that Orange is a favourite colour, and Lady Emma has this in spades - a glorious bright orange richly…
Roses, of course, and other floral delights for Thursday
The rich red of Tess of the D'Urbervilles, against a tapestry of blackberry and plum tones from the Penstemons, dark leaves of one hydrangea and the cranberry flowers of Pink Annabelle. These might not all be bedfellows in your border, but the colour associations can still be made. Tess is one of David Austin's Fragrant…
Continue reading ➞ Roses, of course, and other floral delights for Thursday
June, in an English garden bordering Richmond Park
and my summer containers, barely a month planted up - some large terracotta pots and about 8 smaller, though still sizeable, Chelsea planters in complimentary colours. and a shallow bowl of house leeks, Sempervivens, in flower...
Summer Song to Tess of the D’Urbervilles via A Shropshire Lad and James Galway – Roses for Sunday
The burnt orange of Summer Song against the warm golds of Crown Princess Margareta. 'Tis June and the roses are heading towards their absolute Peak. Of course, the English Roses from David Austin will flower again, several times indeed and very welcome they will be too. But just now, with the summer-flowering roses -…
Guess what? More roses! Hopes for a return to Mottisfont too…
And after this little teaser, I'll be opening the flood-gates as I hope to get to Mottisfont tomorrow - the National Trust property in Hampshire and National Collection of Old Roses established by Graham Stuart Thomas (weather and other commitments allowing). 'Tis June and it is roses, all the way. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont/things-to-see-and-do/article-1355842043826/ Mottisfont World-famous roses Every…
Continue reading ➞ Guess what? More roses! Hopes for a return to Mottisfont too…
Putting on a Petersham show… roses by me, styling by Amanda
and from our Doyenne of the Displays, Lady of the Carts, Madame Maestro.... Filled, finessed, crafted and created, displays at Petersham Nurseries, styling by Amanda - the newest member of the Horticulture Green Team. Roses by me....!
