Taxi?! Luton Hoo, in Bedfordshire, has a fascinating history, the family seat of an über-weathly family who lost almost all their fortunes in the credit-crunch of the 1980's. Fabergé eggs once sat casually on side tables! It is now an Elite Hotel, and lovely too, with formal gardens and parkland and nearby, a Land Rover…
Travel broadens the mind
Waterperry Gardens – the Waterperry Obelisk, Alpine Garden, Virgin’s Walk, Plant Centre, a little shopping in the Gallery and a last look at the Delphiniums….
The Waterperry Obelisk Designed and carved by Simon Buchanan, the obelisk is the brainchild of the School of Economic Science who own Waterperry Gardens. They commissioned the work so visitors have a greater understanding of the philosophical principles of the School by expressing a common aim of members. The obelisk is similar to those of…
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Eschscholzia californica – vivid flowers with a nuclear connection…
I was asked recently where the name for this colourful and superbly-silky-soapy-flower came from and had to look it up. I had assumed the tag 'californica' at least gave a clue as to its heritage and it is in fact native to America and Mexico and is the State Flower of California. The display, above,…
Continue reading ➞ Eschscholzia californica – vivid flowers with a nuclear connection…
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A London City Break – Greenery in the City/Neal’s Yard, Ed’s Diner, Miss Saigon, The Groucho Club, The Mighty Boosh, National Portrait Gallery, Trafalgar Square and a Blue Cockerel……
A London City Break - and I can only think of including a photograph of Neal's Yard as a way of justifying any mention in these horticulturally-led pages - for an oasis it was, where greenery and vegetation is otherwise very scarce. True, London has some excellent Parks - Hyde Park, Regents Park, St James'…
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Chaenomeles – Japonica to you and me….
Chaenomeles x hybrida, in pink This pink stand of Chaenomeles x hybrida, by the Pagoda at Kew Gardens today. Though I do not know what it is a hybrid of - Chaenomeles speciosa, in scarlet The scarlet Chaenomeles speciosa sits within the Japanese Landscape under the Chokushi-Mon and grabs the eye! The camellias are dropping…
Continue reading ➞ Chaenomeles – Japonica to you and me….
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Whichford Pottery
Whichford Pottery - handmade terracotta pots. On my list of Lovely Things. Plus, if I ever return to pottery class, something that I might more usefully pursue (my kitchen cupboards hold testament to my artistic talents, ceramic-wise, after two evening courses... plenty of smallish bowls, useful for olives and dips, hula hoops and peanuts, but…
Continue reading ➞ Whichford Pottery
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Escape winter….. Orchids at Kew 2014
Did you know that 8% of all flowering plants are orchids? Well there are quite a lot of them here in the Princess of Wales Conservatory for the Orchid Festival at Kew Gardens... Warm, humid spaces, with a tropical soundtrack too, filled with all manner of floral delights, thousands of orchids and other exotica. The…
Continue reading ➞ Escape winter….. Orchids at Kew 2014
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Berberis – A Dectective Story
I featured this plant on the 18th January, bemoaning the lack of information on the label and finding out just a little about what the index numbers might refer to. Happily more than a few questions have been answered by a friend who has been able to look up the details from the original plant-hunting…
Continue reading ➞ Berberis – A Dectective Story
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Minka House at Kew/Heavenly Bamboo
Read all about it! Nandinas tall and short - I think the variety on the left is Purple Passion. A favourite plant, this, and worthy of the name Heavenly Bamboo - though it is not a bamboo. Nandina are in the Berberidacea family, though they bear little resemblance to a Berberis, and they have no…
Continue reading ➞ Minka House at Kew/Heavenly Bamboo
The Teddington Gardener 