A rainy day at Wisley – but read on – there’s Cherry, Camellia, Rhododendron, Magnolia & more…

An exceptionally damp day, last Friday, at RHS Wisley in Surrey but undeterred was I, with my Driza-bone coat, wide-brimmed hat, umbrella and camera - it was business as usual ... Much opportunity for photography with ornamental cherries and Magnolias in blossom and looking fine; Camellias dotted throughout Battleston Hill and Seven-acre Wood; likewise some…

A banquet-kaleidoscope-smorgasbord-gallimaufry of early Spring colour and scent … (or Where’s Thug?)

Ah, well, you've got me - one huge gallery of images and barely a note to cover the 'who, what, why, where and when' of it all - The 'where'will be at Kew and Wisley and a few points in between, including those deliciously cool crocus on my own front step, delicately rain-dropped and rather…

Just a little gallery – Acers through to Woodwardia – a horticultural catch-up of the past couple of colourful, autumnal weeks

  Well, Acers first - from Wisley and Kew, Winkworth Arboretum and here and thereabouts! Followed by the rest of the As through to C ..s .... and moving on through the D E F and a touch of the Gs - there's a whole little gallery of Gentians afterwards - the more colourful elements…

If you go down to the woods today – neon rhododendrons, bluebells, magnolias (still), bergenia, Flamingos and a glorious Staphylea emodi – at RHS Wisley

A perfect wander through the meandering paths on Battleston Hill at Wisley - quiet too (it usually is) giving you the peace and solitude to really appreciate the diverse planting, the understory, shrubs and tall mature trees. The magnolias were until recently the thing here, some real superb specimens, absolute stars, and the hellebores too…

Spring begins to fizz at Sissinghurst Castle – and the whole show will just get better and better…. @Sissinghurst NT #SpringWatching

The gates open at 11am sharp and I'm the first to hand in my Shilling token (the price Vita originally charged visitors) to the helpful attendants and I'm flying through, skirting the lawns in front of the Tower and into the woodland Delos garden, before hitting the White Garden (bare bones at this time of…

A storm of magnolias at RHS Wisley makes Battleston Hill quite magical… @RHSWisley #MagnoliaWatch #SpringAtWisley

Magnolia sprengeri Copeland Court, one of a bounteous display of Magnolias threading their way through the landscape of Battleston Hill at RHS Wisley. Given the changes in height and the winding pathways, they can be seen from above, below, close-up and at a distance - adding their compliment of colours to some of the early…

Magnolias – the grand display at Kew continues (one week on)…. @kewgardens #SpringAtKew

Magnolia campbellii - seen across the expanse of parkland, spotlighting the Magnolia collection at Kew A return visit to Kew, to see again the Magnolias in after a week that has featured some sunshine and some chill nights, though little wind or rain to damage the blossom. Petals there are no on the grass and…

Magnolias – A grand display at Kew …. @kewgardens #springatkew #magnoliawatch

Magnolia campbellii (above and below) A chill hour spent in Kew Gardens but mightily impressed with the Magnolias - all I went to see and I confess I was not optimistic about seeing so much in flower, a delightfully grand show. Such a glorious sugar confection of pinks and white! I had been thinking we…

A kaleidoscope of colour, coming to a garden near you…

So much colour exploding in our gardens now that winter is loosening its grip and Spring is given a chance - longer days, some sunshine but still chill nights and cool temperatures yet ... the sap is rising, buds are bursting into leaf and blossom and the woodland floor is a bright mosaic of primroses,…