Open to the public

Petersham House Gardens – formal gardens, generous borders and a vibrant Cutting Garden

Categories annuals, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Climbing plants, colour, conifers, container gardening, Cutting Garden, Dahlias, David Austin roses, Evergreen shrubs, floristry, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, Garden Design, General comment, Grasses, Hellebore, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Kitchen Garden, late summer border, Open to the public, Organic Gardening, Petersham Nurseries, Roses, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, Vegetables, Woodland Garden1 Comment on Petersham House Gardens – formal gardens, generous borders and a vibrant Cutting Garden

After a cycle ride along the towpath and the Thames sparkling in the sunshine, and nearly being late for taking so many photographs, a look in the Kitchen Garden first, which was the vegetable garden but has been co-opted into an additional Cutting Garden, as well as having the peony beds, Hellebores, many old roses…

Continue reading ➞ Petersham House Gardens – formal gardens, generous borders and a vibrant Cutting Garden

The Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens – there be fearsome Dragons

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, General comment, Hydrangea, late summer border, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, shade, Summer garden, Travel broadens the mind2 Comments on The Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens – there be fearsome Dragons

The newly restored Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens, replete with fearsome dragons. Built in 1762, it was one of a series of oriental-inspired buildings smattered through these new gardens, though the only one to have stood the test of time. The dragons are beautiful, colourful, gilded and sparkling, and quite fearsome. On the lowest tier…

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

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Bedding, colour, conifers, Dahlias, dark foliage plants, David Austin roses, Dry Garden, evergreen perennial, Exotic, Fragrant plants, Friends, Garden Design, General comment, Grasses, herbaceous, House plants, late summer border, Lawn Care, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Roses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, Summer garden, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Water gardening, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on 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…

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

Windsor Great Park, a breezy cycle ride, a little Polo, wildflower meadows, two monarchs on horseback, a lovely picnic and a look around the shop …

Categories annuals, late summer border, Open to the public, Savill Garden, Summer garden, The Savill Garden, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on Windsor Great Park, a breezy cycle ride, a little Polo, wildflower meadows, two monarchs on horseback, a lovely picnic and a look around the shop …

A most perfect afternoon, taking the bikes out to Windsor Great Park. Right around the lake, Virginia Water, stopping at the Old Post Office for a drink, watching the horses at Guards Polo grounds (my, the grass was green...) then on to the Copper Horse and the shade of a beautiful Oak tree for a…

Continue reading ➞ Windsor Great Park, a breezy cycle ride, a little Polo, wildflower meadows, two monarchs on horseback, a lovely picnic and a look around the shop …

Exbury Gardens, Hampshire

Categories Acid-loving plants, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Autumn garden, Camellias, conifers, Dahlias, Evergreen shrubs, Exotic, Garden Design, General comment, Hydrangea, Japanese Maples (Acers), Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees, Water gardening, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on Exbury Gardens, Hampshire

A trip down to Southampton this morning, to drop family off at the airport and then a convenient drive into the New Forest, ponies galore, and the gardens at Exbury. I've never been though know of their reputation for Rhododendrons, Camellias and Azaleas, and for a fine autumn showing of mature Acers. Obviously we are…

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Ham and Petersham in Bloom / Britain in Bloom and Petersham Nurseries

Categories Architectural Plants, colour, container gardening, Cottage Garden, dark foliage plants, evergreen perennial, General comment, herbaceous, late summer border, Open to the public, Organic Gardening, Petersham Nurseries, Plants for a shady garden?, Seasonal colour, shade, Summer gardenLeave a Comment on Ham and Petersham in Bloom / Britain in Bloom and Petersham Nurseries

Petersham Nurseries have donated plants, time and a considerable amount of compost (I know, I carried it ...) to plan, prepare and plant up three new stone troughs - horse troughs effectively - at three prominent sites within the local community. All part of Britain in Bloom and building on the success Ham and Petersham…

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Hampton Court Flower Show Part Four – more gardens … more nurseries … just more!

Categories annuals, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Bedding, Bulbs, Clematis, Climbing plants, colour, container gardening, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, Dahlias, dark foliage plants, Dry Garden, evergreen perennial, Exotic, floristry, Flower Shows, Garden Design, General comment, herbaceous, Hydrangea, late summer border, Open to the public, Orchids, Ornamental trees, Seasonal colour, Seeds, shade, Shrubs, Summer garden, Tropical, White Garden, Wildlife gardeningLeave a Comment on Hampton Court Flower Show Part Four – more gardens … more nurseries … just more!

Hampton Court Flower Show – Part 2 (Festival of Roses)

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Climbing plants, colour, dark foliage plants, David Austin roses, Flower Shows, Garden Design, General comment, Open to the public, Roses, Seasonal colour, Shrubs, Summer gardenLeave a Comment on Hampton Court Flower Show – Part 2 (Festival of Roses)

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show – Part 1 (Show Gardens)

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Cottage Garden, Flower Shows, Fragrant plants, Garden Design, General comment, herbaceous, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Seasonal colour, Shrubs, Summer gardenLeave a Comment on Hampton Court Palace Flower Show – Part 1 (Show Gardens)