Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
Plant of the Year 2012 At long last, a package from Thompson & Morgan containing six plug plants of their perennial foxglove, three each of Illumination Pink (Plant of the Year at Chelsea 2012) and a new addition, Chelsea Gold. Thompson & Morgan Parentage from the little-known Isoplexis (Canary Island Foxglove) gives these exciting new Digitalis…
Continue reading ➞ Plant of the Year: RHS Chelsea Flower Show
"Il n'y a rien dans ce monde qui n'ait un moment decisif" There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment - Henri Cartier-Bresson By which artful quote I mean, always have your camera with you. A long walk to the van this morning (parking à la maison is generally more hope…
Continue reading ➞ The Decisive Moment
Just me and a few thousand roses - English roses, Austin roses, Hybrid Teas and Floribundas, Bourbon, Alba and Portland, Hybrid Musk, Gallica and Species roses, Old Roses of other denominations, Modern shrub and ground cover roses, climbers and ramblers & Fragrant English Climbers, wild roses and standards... 'The Teddington Gardener' is also 'Rose Man'…
Continue reading ➞ The Apprentice
David Austin have launched just four new roses this year at RHS Chelsea, including a repeat flowering rambler, The Albrighton Rambler that, to my mind, will be a best seller for the Shropshire firm. So pretty! So useful...Carolyn Knight is a sport of Summer Song, a rich gold to the parental burnt orange. Thomas a…
Continue reading ➞ Chelsea Quartet
Rebecca, a Raymond Evison clematis (The Chelsea feature for 2008 and named after Raymond Evison's eldest daughter. Clematis Rebecca has stunning large red flowers and flowers freely over a long season.) Today I have mostly been working with, and reading this evening about, clematis. The large, summer flowering varieties are coming into bloom in a…
Continue reading ➞ Clematis, Queen of Climbers
Apricot Foxx (pink/peach), Brown Sugar (pink/orange) and La Belle Epoque (brown) are all stunning tulips in this fine display, matched perfectly with Fritillaria imperialis 'Rubra Maxima,' the Crown Imperial and a skirt of Narcissus Suzy (yellow with red centre). A rhythm of large planters along a wide terrace with a daring, close-colour harmony. Another brilliant…
Continue reading ➞ Apricot Foxx, Brown Sugar, La Belle Epoque & Crown Imperials
A woodland spot and an impressive stand of trilliums with purple flame-flowers above distinctive leaves. Trillium chloropetalum is one of the more robust trilliums and makes impressive spring clumps as here, at RHS Harlow Carr. Nearby were Trillium flexipes White and Trillium erectum, below
I''ve had to console myself with a visit to the RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr, while recording Alan Titchmarsh and the goings on at the Chelsea Flower Show on the BBC. But hard done I am not, given the fantastic display at these Yorkshire gardens, as well as brunch at Betty's famous establishment, on site.…
Continue reading ➞ Lemon sorbet, blackberry ice, tutti-frutti, raspberry ripple, orange granita…
OK, so it's not a phase. Officially, Orange and more Orange. A return visit to the RHS gardens at Harlow Carr (near Harrogate in Yorkshire) and so much to see! Small in comparison to RHS Wisley, but still packing in the excitement and seasonal interest. Planted containers full of tulips, in vibrant and jewel-like combinations,…
Continue reading ➞ Molten lava….
The Teddington Gardener 