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…

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…

A snapshot from the RHS Gardens at Wisley

With a friend visiting from Melbourne and cool, cloudy weather, an opportunity to explore RHS Wisley and with 20 Plant Societies - Delphiniums and Cacti, Hostas and Bonsai, Pitcher Plants, Heathers, Vegetables, Dahlias and more - no better excuse to spend three hours in these varied landscapes. We explored the Cottage Garden - gorgeous planting,…

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…

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…

Blue Skies and Roses at Petersham Nurseries – and Petersham Open Gardens is today ….

A few random photos (and randomly shuffled I think too) from Petersham Nurseries and from Petersham House Gardens yesterday, under rich blue skies punctuated by the prettiest of white clouds. Clouds of perfume too, especially from the rambler rose Paul's Himalayan Musk clothing the big holly tree in the House Gardens, and Blush Noisette in…

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 House Gardens Open Day …

Just a look, with some duplication perhaps - sorry about that, but technology is tetchy this evening - of the gardens at Petersham House, adjacent to the eponymous Nurseries we know and love.  The gardens are open tomorow, and the lawns will be striped to perfection by the time I take more pictures tomorrow morning…