Open to the public

A few hours at Kew Gardens – the newly re-opened Temperate House, Alliums on the Broadwalk, treetop walkway, the Hive, gorgeous Wisteria, a Rhododendron or three, and laburnum arches, waterlilies, the Davies Alpine House and Rock Garden, peonies galore, many remarkable trees, a Japanese landscape and the Pagoda … and much more-

Categories Acid-loving plants, Alpine, annuals, Architectural Plants, Exotic, Garden Design, General comment, herbaceous, Indoor gardening, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Rhododendron & Azalea, Roses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Water gardening, Wildlife gardening, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on A few hours at Kew Gardens – the newly re-opened Temperate House, Alliums on the Broadwalk, treetop walkway, the Hive, gorgeous Wisteria, a Rhododendron or three, and laburnum arches, waterlilies, the Davies Alpine House and Rock Garden, peonies galore, many remarkable trees, a Japanese landscape and the Pagoda … and much more-

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here's a million. Kew Gardens today. Amazing, as ever -

Petersham House Gardens National Garden Scheme Open Day

Categories Cutting Garden, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, Garden Design, General comment, Hellebore, herbaceous, House plants, Indoor gardening, Kitchen Garden, Lawn Care, Open to the public, Organic Gardening, Ornamental trees, Petersham Nurseries, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Vegetables, Wildlife gardening, Woodland Garden1 Comment on Petersham House Gardens National Garden Scheme Open Day

A little bit of repetition in these images, but I am dithering about editing them and can't decide exactly which I prefer, so you're getting pretty much them all! A beautiful sunshiny spring morning, after a night of stormy electric rain, and everything after the warmth of the last week - and the weeks of…

Continue reading ➞ Petersham House Gardens National Garden Scheme Open Day

An East Sussex Odyssey and the jewel in the crown, Great Dixter

Categories Architectural Plants, Bulbs, colour, conifers, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, Dry Garden, Exotic, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, Garden Design, General comment, Great Dixter, herbaceous, Kitchen Garden, Magnolia, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Organic Gardening, Organic pest control, Ornamental trees, Seasonal colour, shade, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Travel broadens the mind, Tropical, Vegetables, Wildlife gardening, Woodland Garden1 Comment on An East Sussex Odyssey and the jewel in the crown, Great Dixter

Well this time I'll let the pictures do the talking. And I nearly didn't call in this time around to Great Dixter and am so glad I did. I don't recall that I have visited in Spring before (it is a stupendous garden in late summer and autumn) and I did attend one of Fergus…

Continue reading ➞ An East Sussex Odyssey and the jewel in the crown, Great Dixter

A Grand Day Out – Part 2 – King John’s Nursery and Gardens, East Sussex

Categories Art in the landscape, colour, Cottage Garden, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, General comment, Open to the public, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on A Grand Day Out – Part 2 – King John’s Nursery and Gardens, East Sussex

A second stop in my East Sussex odyssey, having been to Pashley Manor Gardens and now calling in at this very peaceful nurseries and gardens, King John's. A quirky nursery and plant centre, with a delightful cafe and a beautiful garden surrounding the adjacent house. A wild orchard garden, large lawns, canal, woodland garden, statuary…

Continue reading ➞ A Grand Day Out – Part 2 – King John’s Nursery and Gardens, East Sussex

A Grand Day Out. First stop, Pashley Manor Gardens, East Sussex

Categories Art in the landscape, Bulbs, Camellias, Climbing plants, colour, conifers, container gardening, General comment, Magnolia, Open to the public, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Travel broadens the mind, Woodland Garden1 Comment on A Grand Day Out. First stop, Pashley Manor Gardens, East Sussex

Such a glorious day to go out exploring and so I headed out to the wilds of East Sussex to take in these gardens at Pashley Manor before heading on to .... King John's Nursery and Gardens, Merriments and Great Dixter, and ending up making a few purchases at The Old Rose Nursery in Northiam.…

Continue reading ➞ A Grand Day Out. First stop, Pashley Manor Gardens, East Sussex

THe RHS London Orchid Show – 6th April 2018

Categories General comment, House plants, Open to the public, Orchids, RHS London Show, TropicalLeave a Comment on THe RHS London Orchid Show – 6th April 2018

A day in town, visiting the Royal Horticultural Society Orchid Show at the Horticultural Halls by Vincent Square. Me and rather a lot of other folk - this was by far the busiest I have ever seen one of these London shows and speaks to the quality, calibre and quantity of exhibitors with their amazing…

Continue reading ➞ THe RHS London Orchid Show – 6th April 2018

Camellias, mostly – a beautifully colourful tour through the woodland landscapes at RHS Wisley

Categories Camellias, colour, Evergreen shrubs, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, General comment, Hellebore, herbaceous, Magnolia, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, RHS WIsley, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees, White Garden, Woodland Garden1 Comment on Camellias, mostly – a beautifully colourful tour through the woodland landscapes at RHS Wisley

Such a beautifully sunny, warm and fragrant afternoon at RHS Wisley. Crowds upon crowds filling the car parks but amongst the meandering paths of Battleston Hill, just a few folk pottering through the woodland paths, admiring the camellias. An amazingly colourful display pretty much at their peak, or just a little over, filling the wooded…

Continue reading ➞ Camellias, mostly – a beautifully colourful tour through the woodland landscapes at RHS Wisley

A birthday treat to myself – a day trip to Thailand …

Categories Architectural Plants, Climbing plants, Flower Shows, House plants, Indoor gardening, Open to the public, Orchids, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew1 Comment on A birthday treat to myself – a day trip to Thailand …

While the Beast from the East continues to freeze and snow lies deep and crisp and even on the ground, I thought today would be a good day to find warmer climes - by way of the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew - and explore the floral delights of Thailand. Their annual orchid extravaganza…

Continue reading ➞ A birthday treat to myself – a day trip to Thailand …

Jean Southwell and the Gertrude Jekyll Gardens at Lindisfarne

Categories General comment, National Trust Gardens, Open to the publicLeave a Comment on Jean Southwell and the Gertrude Jekyll Gardens at Lindisfarne

I travelled up to Newcastle-upon-Tyne this past few days to say a final goodbye to a good friend, Jean Southwell, whom I have known for nigh on 30 years and a woman who has been an inspiration and joy to me. And someone who taught a great appreciation for gin, it must me added. She…

Continue reading ➞ Jean Southwell and the Gertrude Jekyll Gardens at Lindisfarne