Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
A continued fall in temperatures and vast swathes of the countryside under deep snow. Buxton, Derbyshire, where once I spent much time, seems to have it particularly bad. Sky News trundled up to Syon on Saturday and were looking for confirmation of the doom & gloom inevitably set to follow slow sales. It is, admittedly,…
Continue reading ➞ Has anyone seen Spring?
Was it really just Tuesday when the sun shone over Wisley? Rain again today and a noticeable drop in temperature and gusty winds too. I had planned on getting back to Wisley for the RHS Grow your Own Weekend but with it feeling like -5ºC, well I might stay home and read the April edition…
Continue reading ➞ Rain and freezing temperatures return…
Excerpts from the RHS commentary on this early flowering cherry: This small tree packs a punch with beautiful deep-pink saucer flowers profusely borne on bare stems. It is a favourite of our gardeners because it gives a splash of intense colour before the other showy flowering trees such as magnolias... really get going. The ornamental…
Continue reading ➞ Prunus ‘Kursar’
Sunshine, shorts and t-shirt on Tuesday; All my thermal gear tomorrow, as temperatures fall to -4C by late afternoon (or not so quite so cold, or colder, or colder a bit later, depending on whichever service you use). Spring not yet, it is.
I've spent much time these past two days (while the sun shone beautifully outside) on a perennial plant 'refresher' course. Past projects, books and t'internet to hand. The winter months parade by and suddenly - spring springs up on you, or very soon will. Time to bring to mind the joys of the herbaceous palette, as well…
Continue reading ➞ Perennial refresher course…
I'm getting out of season again, though I am looking at late summer colour for another project and remembered this combination of grasses with sedums. Simple, long lasting impact - fresh greens for spring, neat habit, darkening flower heads, winter interest with grasses. Hmm...
A little slide show featuring my own garden (well, it is only fair) from 2009 through to last autumn. Set behind a red brick Victorian (1895) house in Teddington, near to the Lock and River Thames. Richmond and Kingston are a short walk away. North west-facing, the sun lights up the end of the garden…
Continue reading ➞ My Own Garden: Atbara Road 2009-2012
Delighted to know that buying an annual membership to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Hampshire (£31), also entitles you to free access to the gardens at Kew and Wakehurst Place, amongst others (because of their reciprocal arrangements). I know I'll be back to the Hampshire gardens (magnolia time, summer for the Centenary Border, autumn…
Continue reading ➞ Membership deal for Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and Kew
Tranquility, The Lark Ascending, Boscobel and Heathcliff- four of the five new roses introduced by David Austin last year. Apart from Albrighton Rambler, whose appearance we might better be able to guess (and is likely to repeat flower..?), the other 2013/14 additions, Carolyn Knight, Thomas A Becket and The Lady Gardener will have to remain…
Continue reading ➞ David Austin roses – introductions 2012/13 and … 2013/14
The Teddington Gardener 