Open to the public

Kew in the Country – Wakehurst Place, water gardens, wetland, woodland and wildflower meadows…

Categories Architectural Plants, Evergreen shrubs, Japanese Maples (Acers), Open to the public, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Wildlife gardening1 Comment on Kew in the Country – Wakehurst Place, water gardens, wetland, woodland and wildflower meadows…

An afternoon wander through the woodland, wetland, water gardens and wildflower meadows at Wakehurst Place, Kew in the Country (and National Trust too, but the parking is only free to Friends of Kew.. a big issue, this...) There is much, much more to see here within the greater parkland and more formal gardens at Wakehurst…

Continue reading ➞ Kew in the Country – Wakehurst Place, water gardens, wetland, woodland and wildflower meadows…

From a wet Thursday… poppies, wisteria, foxgloves & roses – and a blurred view across Petersham Meadows

Categories Fragrant plants, National Trust Gardens, Open to the public, Petersham Nurseries, Roses, Seasonal colour, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Wildlife gardening, WisteriaLeave a Comment on From a wet Thursday… poppies, wisteria, foxgloves & roses – and a blurred view across Petersham Meadows

Rain, rain and more rain, yesterday - persistent and accompanied by chill winds too. Considering the balmy temperatures of the previous day it was quite a shock to the system! It did, however, provide an opportunity for some picture taking with the advantage of some photogenic rain drops...  

You say Peony, I say Paeonia – whichever you prefer, there’s a wealth of choice and colour at Kew Gardens

Categories Architectural Plants, colour, herbaceous, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew1 Comment on You say Peony, I say Paeonia – whichever you prefer, there’s a wealth of choice and colour at Kew Gardens

At the head of the Family Border and the long, gently curving rose pergola, with the Temple of Aeolus on the mount behind, is the peony border, and though it is early in the season, some have already gone over, while much has yet to even get started. Others are just about right and these…

Continue reading ➞ You say Peony, I say Paeonia – whichever you prefer, there’s a wealth of choice and colour at Kew Gardens

Davies Alpine House at Kew Gardens – and the Rock Garden too – wandering through Kew today

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, General comment, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, spring flowering, Spring GardenLeave a Comment on Davies Alpine House at Kew Gardens – and the Rock Garden too – wandering through Kew today

Continuing with my wanderings through Kew, leaving the Duke's Garden behind and passing the emerging grass borders, we head to the Davies Alpine House and the serpentine Rock Garden beyond. More peonies and iris, more intense colour and floral fireworks - though this last specimen, Viburnum macrocephalum Sterile is more of a giant snowball!  

From the Queen’s Garden, skirting the Orangery for some beautiful Irises and a hint of the peonies to come – and on to two remarkable wisterias. Kew Gardens – take a walk with me….

Categories Abstract Photography, General comment, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, WisteriaLeave a Comment on From the Queen’s Garden, skirting the Orangery for some beautiful Irises and a hint of the peonies to come – and on to two remarkable wisterias. Kew Gardens – take a walk with me….

Leaving Kew Palace behind me and heading towards the Duke's Garden, the walk takes me past several stands of striking variegate Irises, which I think would convert anyone who is averse to any varigated foliage, full stop. The flowers are a bonus, but the leaves on their own, especially with a froth of blue forget-me-nots,…

Continue reading ➞ From the Queen’s Garden, skirting the Orangery for some beautiful Irises and a hint of the peonies to come – and on to two remarkable wisterias. Kew Gardens – take a walk with me….

Kew Palace, the Queen’s Gardens and a Laburnum-swagged pergola

Categories Abstract Photography, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Climbing plants, Fragrant plants, Garden Design, General comment, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, spring flowering, Spring GardenLeave a Comment on Kew Palace, the Queen’s Gardens and a Laburnum-swagged pergola

Bright blue skies, golden Laburnum, lilac-pink Cercis siliquastrum, snowballs of Viburnun opulus, pale blue iris, lavender-grey lilacs and a lot of beautiful greenery. A bee-line today straight over to Kew Palace and the gardens behind - a sunken herbalists garden and a more formal parterre. Around the former, an arched pergola wrapping around three sides…

Continue reading ➞ Kew Palace, the Queen’s Gardens and a Laburnum-swagged pergola

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

Categories Acid-loving plants, Camellias, Evergreen shrubs, General comment, Magnolia, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, RHS WIsley, Seasonal colour, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees for smaller gardens1 Comment on 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…

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

Auriculas and other delights – the Alpine House at RHS Wisley, early May

Categories Alpine, Auricula, Open to the public, RHS WIsleyLeave a Comment on Auriculas and other delights – the Alpine House at RHS Wisley, early May

A delight, as ever, inside the Alpine House at RHS Wisley. Auriculas are out in numbers, and much else besides. A perfect spot then to while away half an hour, taking in the rich detail and rich colours of many of these splendid little fellows.

A little early May tour around RHS Wisley – Rockery, Woodland and Rockery again…

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, Climbing plants, Fragrant plants, General comment, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Rhododendron & Azalea, RHS WIsley, Roses, Seasonal colour, spring flowering, Spring GardenLeave a Comment on A little early May tour around RHS Wisley – Rockery, Woodland and Rockery again…

A tour through the Surrey gardens of RHS at Wisley, taking us from the entrance (and before we even get going we have to stop and gawk at the Clianthus Kaka King!) before skirting along above the water lily pond to see the Wisteria and Roses enjoying the warmth of a long brick wall -…

Continue reading ➞ A little early May tour around RHS Wisley – Rockery, Woodland and Rockery again…