Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
Mayfield Lavender Farm, near Banstead, Surrey I had my camera with me this time, having passed this way almost a month ago on my way to pick up some pots from a nearby nursery. Returning for more pots, I was prepared and stopped and had a heady, fragrant wander through the lines and lines -…
Continue reading ➞ Mayfield Lavender Farm – brought my camera this time….
A few pictures from yesterday and today, two gloriously sunny days at Petersham Nurseries. Just lovely.
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…
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…
↑ 20th February.. ↓ 27th June.... and there is still a way to go... the Babylon dahlias have yet to come fully into their stride, and I will continue to watch with wonder as new plants rise up, planting combinations surprise and delight; this long border will continue to be a productive cutting garden until…
Continue reading ➞ The Cutting Garden at Petersham Nurseries – from Zero to Hero in four months
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…
Continue reading ➞ Lady Emma Hamilton Jam…
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
This article is by Robert Calkin, originally published in The Royal National Rose Society Historic Rose Journal Autumn 2013. If you are not a member of the Historic Rose Group, articles such as these are just one reason to join! All the photography is mine. The weather this afternoon is so foul, I've enjoyed the…
Continue reading ➞ Old Rose, Tea, Fruit, Musk, Myrrh – fragrance & unlocking the secrets of the rose
The Teddington Gardener 