Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
OK, so it's not a phase. Officially, Orange and more Orange. A return visit to the RHS gardens at Harlow Carr (near Harrogate in Yorkshire) and so much to see! Small in comparison to RHS Wisley, but still packing in the excitement and seasonal interest. Planted containers full of tulips, in vibrant and jewel-like combinations,…
Continue reading ➞ Molten lava….
Don't worry, I'm sure it's just a phase. Indulging my delight in all things orange, with the return of the deciduous azalea, coming in to flower roundabouts now (yellows, reds, pinks, purples too, of course). The Grand Display may possibly a little later than in previous years, but time enough to plan a visit to…
Continue reading ➞ The return of something orange…
From the Telegraph, 27th April 2002, an article reproduced in full, written by Ursula Buchan. What can I say, I have dinner to make (the photographs are mine at least). How to grow: Gentiana Ursula Buchan's guide to the queen of all alpine plants Gentiana verna: exhilarates the heart and mind MENTION the word "gentian"…
Continue reading ➞ Gentian verna
A rather beautiful flower, stained pink on the reverse against pure white, and with golden-yellow anthers, blooming in late spring and followed by woolly seed heads. Dark green, maple like foliage, lobed and slightly hairy beneath, on a plant that reaches between 30-50cm. Well drained soil in sun or part shade, slightly alkaline conditions are…
Continue reading ➞ Anemone sylvestris
A rather lovely (that word again!) spring-flowering plant with shallow bowl-shaped flowers in shades of red, blue-violet and white and as here, painterly - in two tones - appearing from March to April above the deeply divided, fresh green leaves. These pretty poppy-flowered anemones make charming cut flowers. Ideal for a sheltered, sunny site.
Buttercup, Etain and Rebecca. Delightful creatures and fragrant, especially the clear strong yellow Buttercup.
A rather lovely form of knapweed, Centaurea montana Amethyst on Ice, with contrasting inner, and longer, outer florets. Perennial cornflowers prefer sun, poorer soils and good drainage, lime too. I'm looking forward to seeing an all 'black' flowered form, the name of which entirely escapes me at the moment....
Gales and driving rain. It won't be good for the cherry blossom. In parks, on pavements and roads - a knee-deep lava flow of tissue-thin pink and white petals. I know Cherry Blossom Time is an ephemeral display, but does it have to be blasted off the branches. So soon? Oh well, what's next?
A rather wonderful, cushion-mound of mossy evergreen foliage, Saxifrage 'Pixie Rose', is a miniature showstopper when in flower (ie. now and into Summer). Foliage little more than 10cm tall, with a spread of up to 30cm, with star-shaped flowers straining upwards. One for an Alpine bed, scree or rockery, with humus rich, moist but…
Continue reading ➞ Saxifrage Pixie Rose
The Teddington Gardener 