Kew Gardens – a look back in anticipation of looking forward to a visit soon …

  A look back to a visit in early August 2018 when the Pagoda was reopening after a refurbishment and the installation of the dragons. If you want a look inside the pagoda, or a look at the landscape from its heights, you can use tags or search functions. The gardens are open again after…

The RHS London Orchid Show – 6th April 2018 – A truly extravagant show and worth another look? Definitely.

This 2018 show, on this day, was by far and away the busiest and most well attended of any show the RHS has put on in its London Halls. And what exceptionally well informed folk, public and exhibitors alike. It was a real treat, shuffling along from one stand to the next. Worth reprising I…

Stylish Summer Containers

I'm hosting a workshop at Petersham Nurseries, part of a seasonal series we hold, discussing all things containers, planters, troughs, window boxes, bowls, urns ... for a long-lasting, hopefully interesting, fragrant, colourful, herby, floral, edible and beautiful summer-long display. I shall be looking back at some of the medleys we put together last summer, autumn…

Green

  Well I thought I had created a monster gallery of pink, but it turns out that Green really has the stage. Again, all photographs from 2015, and pretty much everyone has the name of the plant embedded in the data. Very organised I was then, and how many photos, especially in July, August and…

15 Favourites – Houseplants

Continuing the series of '15 Favourites', this time it is the turn of the houseplant. A veritable Jules Vernes 'around the world' tour, with tropical and desert dwellers from several continents, these are plants that we do our very best to accommodate in our homes, trying to give them an environment as close to their…

A few houseplants (Practise what you preach…)

A few of my houseplants, dotted throughout the conservatory, kitchen, sitting room, bedrooms and bathrooms and all with their own particular requirements for sunshine, shade, indirect but bright light, humidity and watering regime. Plenty of room for more I think though .... Many of the pots are Burmese, though I should correctly say from Myanmar.…

On Home Ground – a little peak at Petersham Nurseries

The Garden Shop at Petersham Nurseries is filled with houseplants, whose homes hail from all over the world, together with seeds and tools, pots and gardening equipment and in the blessed rain yesterday, was my home for the day. In the rare moments between torrents, I had a wander through the rest of the nursery…

Kew Gardens, Part One (there will be more tomorrow now I’ve actually booked for the Great Pagoda)

A first look at the newly restored and be-dragoned Great Pagoda. Of course I didn't think to book, so shall be returning tomorrow at 10.30am for that pleasure. I have ascended the Pagoda before, pre-restoration about what, five years ago? But the Dragons are new, 1.8m long on the lower level carved in wood, greatly…

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....