Ornamental trees

Kew Gardens – a look back in anticipation of looking forward to a visit soon …

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 – a look back in anticipation of looking forward to a visit soon …

  A look back to a visit in early August 2018 when the Pagoda was reopening after a refurbishment and the installation of the dragons. If you want a look inside the pagoda, or a look at the landscape from its heights, you can use tags or search functions. The gardens are open again after…

Continue reading ➞ Kew Gardens – a look back in anticipation of looking forward to a visit soon …

Arabella Lennox Boyd – invention and boundless imagination in the gardens at Gresgarth Hall

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Autumn garden, Clematis, container gardening, Fragrant plants, Garden Design, General comment, Grasses, herbaceous, Kitchen Garden, late summer border, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Rhododendron & Azalea, Roses, Seasonal colour, Shrubs, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Summer garden, Travel broadens the mind, Trees, Water gardening, Winter Garden6 Comments on Arabella Lennox Boyd – invention and boundless imagination in the gardens at Gresgarth Hall

A garden, though visited in 2015, that has a hold on me still, with vivid memories of superb planting, striking vistas, artistry and sheer passion for the gardens and countryside around. The season 'up north' will be naturally a little later than here, 'down south' so while I visited at the beginning of July, climate…

Continue reading ➞ Arabella Lennox Boyd – invention and boundless imagination in the gardens at Gresgarth Hall

Postcards from Sussex – the extraordinary Arundel Castle and Gardens

Categories annuals, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Bee Friendly Plants, Climbing plants, colour, container gardening, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, Dry Garden, Exotic, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, Garden Design, General comment, herbaceous, Kitchen Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Organic Gardening, Ornamental trees, Seasonal colour, soft fruit, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Summer garden, Travel broadens the mind, Trees, Tropical, Water gardening, Winter Garden2 Comments on Postcards from Sussex – the extraordinary Arundel Castle and Gardens

  To prevent a general revolt over a daily onslaught of postcards from June 2017, you'll be glad yo note I've left out at least four more galleries from David Austin Roses in Shropshire, the delightful Chastleton House and a mooch around Woodstock and Blenheim Palace. For the not so feint-hearted, please search for stories…

Continue reading ➞ Postcards from Sussex – the extraordinary Arundel Castle and Gardens

A few scribblings on creating a White Garden

Categories Acid-loving plants, Alpine, annuals, Architectural Plants, Autumn garden, Bedding, Bulbs, Camellias, Clematis, Climbing plants, conifers, container gardening, Dahlias, David Austin roses, evergreen perennial, Evergreen shrubs, Exotic, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, General comment, Hellebore, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Iris, Magnolia, Mediterranean Garden, Mottisfont Abbey, National Trust Gardens, Ornamental trees, Rhododendron & Azalea, RHS WIsley, Roses, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, Sissinghurst Castle, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Spring Garden, Summer garden, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens, White Garden, Wildlife gardening, Winter Garden, Wisteria, Woodland Garden2 Comments on A few scribblings on creating a White Garden

  Creating a White Garden Straight out of the block, I'm talking about green. And grey, silver, and variegation. We'll get to white but a few thoughts first. ‘Green is the backdrop to the garden but in its range of shades and textures, green has much more to offer as any foreground interest. Grey dims,…

Continue reading ➞ A few scribblings on creating a White Garden

Dale Chihuly – Glass at Kew Gardens – May 2019

Categories Abstract Photograpy, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Bulbs, Climbing plants, colour, General comment, herbaceous, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, Spring Garden, Summer garden, Trees, Tropical, Wisteria1 Comment on Dale Chihuly – Glass at Kew Gardens – May 2019

                            A look back to last year when the gardens and glasshouses were once again a home to the glass works by Dale Chihuly. Gone now of course even if the gardens were open, so please don't visit, when we can, expecting…

Continue reading ➞ Dale Chihuly – Glass at Kew Gardens – May 2019

Kew Gardens – Early One Morning

Categories Acid-loving plants, Alpine, Architectural Plants, Bulbs, evergreen perennial, Evergreen shrubs, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, General comment, Magnolia, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Petersham Nurseries, Rhododendron & Azalea, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees for smaller gardens, WisteriaLeave a Comment on Kew Gardens – Early One Morning

Rolling back the years, almost exactly four years ago in 2016, to an early morning wander through Kew Gardens. As I was working that Sunday I really must have put on some speed to cover so much from the early 8am opening, heading out by 9.30am to head back down the river to Richmond and…

Continue reading ➞ Kew Gardens – Early One Morning

A return to the gardens of RHS Wisley – a riot of colour and scent (well it will be and most definitely was last year)

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Bulbs, Climbing plants, colour, conifers, Dry Garden, evergreen perennial, Evergreen shrubs, Fragrant plants, herbaceous, Japanese Maples (Acers), Magnolia, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Petersham Nurseries, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, RHS WIsley, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees, White Garden, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on A return to the gardens of RHS Wisley – a riot of colour and scent (well it will be and most definitely was last year)

Closed still of course, so a look back to a tour I did this time last year. These photos bring it right back into focus, and I can so clearly remember the paths and turns taken. Fresh greens, bright flowers and scent. Enjoy.   Hawthorn, Bluebells, Azaleas and Rhododendrons, flowering Viburnums, a craft fair, tree-trunk…

Continue reading ➞ A return to the gardens of RHS Wisley – a riot of colour and scent (well it will be and most definitely was last year)

The Judas tree at Kew – 2015 but every year since – Cercis siliquastrum in the Mediterranean Garden – a real star performance @kewgardens

Categories Abstract Photograpy, Art in the landscape, Mediterranean Garden, Ornamental trees, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, spring flowering, Spring Garden1 Comment on The Judas tree at Kew – 2015 but every year since – Cercis siliquastrum in the Mediterranean Garden – a real star performance @kewgardens

Well, I think that just about gives you every angle! This remarkable tree, Cercis siliquastrum, also known as the Judas tree, forms part of the Mediterranean Landscape at Kew Gardens and is just about at its best just now. Alone it is both striking and beautiful but contrasting with the yellow, fragrant gorse, the combination…

Continue reading ➞ The Judas tree at Kew – 2015 but every year since – Cercis siliquastrum in the Mediterranean Garden – a real star performance @kewgardens

Teetering before the fall but still beautiful, the Cherry Blossom Empire @kewgardens 2015

Categories Abstract Photography, Architectural Plants, Flowering Cherry, General comment, Ornamental trees, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees for smaller gardensLeave a Comment on Teetering before the fall but still beautiful, the Cherry Blossom Empire @kewgardens 2015

The Cherry Walk at Kew Gardens, coming up from the Mediterranean Garden and heading towards the roses and Palm House. A couple of weeks ago, this path was lined with pink and white confections, flurries of blossom in candyfloss shades - but now green is the theme. Yet... There is still rather a lot going…

Continue reading ➞ Teetering before the fall but still beautiful, the Cherry Blossom Empire @kewgardens 2015