Open to the public

A Kew Gardens Miscellany – the Roses (some flower, lots of hips), a glide through the Davies Alpine House and of course, some autumn leafery (see the Ginkgos) …

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Autumn garden, Camellias, Christmas, Climbing plants, General comment, Grasses, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Roses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on A Kew Gardens Miscellany – the Roses (some flower, lots of hips), a glide through the Davies Alpine House and of course, some autumn leafery (see the Ginkgos) …

An unexpected bit of free time today and lo! A parking space by the Victoria Gate which meant I had to stop - and (first things first) smell the roses. Gertrude Jekyll, Stanwell Perpetual and Madame Isaac Pereire brought High Summer right back on a mostly overcast mid-November day. Soul food. From the Rose Garden,…

Continue reading ➞ A Kew Gardens Miscellany – the Roses (some flower, lots of hips), a glide through the Davies Alpine House and of course, some autumn leafery (see the Ginkgos) …

Catching up on an end-of-October, very autumnal excursion through the gardens at RHS Wisley – Wild Woods and still Waters, Glasshouse Borders, Arboretum & Orchards

Categories Autumn garden, Fruit Trees, Grasses, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Japanese Maples (Acers), Open to the public, Ornamental trees, RHS WIsley, Seasonal colour, Woodland Garden1 Comment on Catching up on an end-of-October, very autumnal excursion through the gardens at RHS Wisley – Wild Woods and still Waters, Glasshouse Borders, Arboretum & Orchards

Well this is all very well and good but where are the words? the captions? the bon-mots and folderols? Adopting a habit of many fellow horticultural bloggers, this is Wordless Wednesday - that mid-week point when there is still so much to do and less time than you thought you had, so pictures and just…

Continue reading ➞ Catching up on an end-of-October, very autumnal excursion through the gardens at RHS Wisley – Wild Woods and still Waters, Glasshouse Borders, Arboretum & Orchards

A return to RHS Wisley – as October arrives with blue skies and the warm gold of an Indian Summer

Categories Architectural Plants, Autumn garden, colour, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, David Austin roses, Fragrant plants, General comment, Grasses, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, plants for roses, RHS WIsley, Seasonal colour, Trees for smaller gardens, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on A return to RHS Wisley – as October arrives with blue skies and the warm gold of an Indian Summer

Roses, to come, but first a gallery of late-flowering perennials, shrubs and trees bringing a rich diversity and vibrancy to these gardens as October sidles into view. The Gardens at RHS Wisley - the Royal Horticultural Society's flagship garden - never disappoint and even with frequent visits, there is always something new to delight, excite…

Continue reading ➞ A return to RHS Wisley – as October arrives with blue skies and the warm gold of an Indian Summer

Follow me as I tour the gardens at RHS Wisley – grasses and bananas, the Glasshouse (tropics and desert) and dry borders, fruit fields and a fragrant rose garden …

Categories Architectural Plants, Dahlias, dark foliage plants, David Austin roses, Dry Garden, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, General comment, Grasses, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Kitchen Garden, late summer border, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, plants for roses, RHS WIsley, Roses, Seasonal colour, Shrubs, soft fruit, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Wild Food/Foraging, Woodland Garden2 Comments on Follow me as I tour the gardens at RHS Wisley – grasses and bananas, the Glasshouse (tropics and desert) and dry borders, fruit fields and a fragrant rose garden …

You've walked with me from the entrance at RHS Wisley through to the grass borders, across to the tropical border with towering bananas and cannas and past the dogwood collection (with willows and rubus) which are green green green at the moment but in winter are a forest of ruby, gold, scarlet, black and bone…

Continue reading ➞ Follow me as I tour the gardens at RHS Wisley – grasses and bananas, the Glasshouse (tropics and desert) and dry borders, fruit fields and a fragrant rose garden …

The Hive, mostly, but room here for a few other delights at Kew Gardens …

Categories Art in the landscape, General comment, Grasses, herbaceous, late summer border, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew1 Comment on The Hive, mostly, but room here for a few other delights at Kew Gardens …

The Hive at Kew Gardens - and you had to get up quite early to see it as unpopulated - though not all to myself - as this. One photographer already on site (for The Mail? maybe...) was trying to get a 360°panorama by taking several photographs - to be stitched together later - but…

Continue reading ➞ The Hive, mostly, but room here for a few other delights at Kew Gardens …

Cool, Green and Tranquil Gardens – with a twist – exploring the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden

Categories Art in the landscape, Open to the public, Water gardening, Wildlife gardening, Woodland Garden1 Comment on Cool, Green and Tranquil Gardens – with a twist – exploring the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden

A garden visit this afternoon but not entirely for the horticulture ... This is, despite the artful additions, a just-tamed and beautiful, cool green, tranquil and quite enchanting garden - the rock and water garden to the former Leith Vale Estate built in the 1920s (Leith Vale was then owned by one Trotter, banker and…

Continue reading ➞ Cool, Green and Tranquil Gardens – with a twist – exploring the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden

An Afternoon at RHS Wisley – the Double Herbaceous Borders, Cottage and Jubilee Rose Gardens, a touch of woodland and more …

Categories Architectural Plants, Bedding, Climbing plants, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, David Austin roses, Dry Garden, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, General comment, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Open to the public, Plants for a shady garden?, RHS WIsley, Roses, Seasonal colour, Summer garden, White Garden, Woodland Garden5 Comments on An Afternoon at RHS Wisley – the Double Herbaceous Borders, Cottage and Jubilee Rose Gardens, a touch of woodland and more …

The spectacle of the Double Herbaceous Borders at RHS Wisley at the height of summer! I definitely have Border Envy though I appreciate how much work goes into this long-lasting display. Such healthy happy plants too. The Country Garden, pictured below is no less of an extravaganza but the effect in many parts is of…

Continue reading ➞ An Afternoon at RHS Wisley – the Double Herbaceous Borders, Cottage and Jubilee Rose Gardens, a touch of woodland and more …

A few things that caught my eye today – Petersham Nurseries – flower therapy and a quote from Cabaret, what more do you need?

Categories Architectural Plants, Bedding, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, Dahlias, David Austin roses, Fragrant plants, Grasses, herbaceous, Hydrangea, late summer border, Open to the public, Petersham Nurseries, plants for roses, Roses, Seasonal colour, Summer garden, White Garden4 Comments on A few things that caught my eye today – Petersham Nurseries – flower therapy and a quote from Cabaret, what more do you need?

Flower therapy, this. From Petersham Nurseries today.  To quote from Cabaret - 'Leave your troubles outside, So- life is disappointing? Forget it! We have no troubles here! Here life is beautiful... ' After this you can go back to Brexit/Conservative Leadership/Chilcot Report/Euro 2016/24HourNews/Emails... 'What good's permitting some prophet of doom To wipe every smile away…

Continue reading ➞ A few things that caught my eye today – Petersham Nurseries – flower therapy and a quote from Cabaret, what more do you need?

More to delight from RHS Wisley …

Categories Acid-loving plants, Clematis, Climbing plants, colour, evergreen perennial, Evergreen shrubs, Fragrant plants, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Open to the public, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, RHS WIsley, Seasonal colour, Summer gardenLeave a Comment on More to delight from RHS Wisley …

  Cool hostas for a shady spot; bright - and fragrant - Azaleas to share the limelight and much more besides - perennials and shrubs for sun and shade, a couple of climbers .... A snapshot of late May (the second May Bank Holiday weekend is upon us!) ...