Trees for smaller gardens

RHS Wisley – life and death in the Surrey hills… Hydrangeas, Camellias and Hellebores, mostly, Sorbus and Malus, Cornus, Salix and Rubus, Acer, Rhododendron, Chimonathus, Henry Moore and a Squirrel

Categories Abstract Photograpy, Acid-loving plants, Alpine, Architectural Plants, Camellias, Christmas, Fragrant plants, General comment, Hellebore, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, RHS WIsley, Trees for smaller gardens, Wildlife gardening, Winter Garden2 Comments on RHS Wisley – life and death in the Surrey hills… Hydrangeas, Camellias and Hellebores, mostly, Sorbus and Malus, Cornus, Salix and Rubus, Acer, Rhododendron, Chimonathus, Henry Moore and a Squirrel

Acer griseum, lauded for its peeling bark, caught here in the chill morning sunlight on the slopes of Battleston Hill at the RHS gardens at Wisley. The gardens feature the remnants of many fine plants, dying beautifully, hydrangeas foremost in this class, as well as the heralds of a new season, with the earliest hellebores…

Continue reading ➞ RHS Wisley – life and death in the Surrey hills… Hydrangeas, Camellias and Hellebores, mostly, Sorbus and Malus, Cornus, Salix and Rubus, Acer, Rhododendron, Chimonathus, Henry Moore and a Squirrel

Hand-made Christmas decorations using the very lovely Ginkgo biloba (a Blue Peter moment…)

Categories Architectural Plants, Autumn garden, General comment, jobs to do in ..., my projects, Trees for smaller gardens1 Comment on Hand-made Christmas decorations using the very lovely Ginkgo biloba (a Blue Peter moment…)

One very good reason to have your own very own Ginkgo tree, a local and renewable source of original hand made Christmas decorations - I've had to 'scrump' for these leaves but they do make lovely little baubles. Well, I think so. Now I'll do a little research to find just the tree suitable for…

Continue reading ➞ Hand-made Christmas decorations using the very lovely Ginkgo biloba (a Blue Peter moment…)

This time around, a final Kew Gardens Miscellany – woodlandy, watery, with a little bird life and some proper Art

Categories Art in the landscape, Autumn garden, General comment, Japanese Maples (Acers), Magnolia, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, Trees for smaller gardensLeave a Comment on This time around, a final Kew Gardens Miscellany – woodlandy, watery, with a little bird life and some proper Art

A grove, as far as I could tell, of Zanthoxylum .. The Botanical Art collection in this uber-stylish building... That's Magnolia stellata arching over the Camellia Walk and finally, Henry Moore, newly installed Reclining Mother with Child (1975-6).

Autumn finery at Kew Gardens – Liquidambers, of course, my favourite Cotinus, Liriodendron, Hamamelis and Prunus, the ornamental cherries…

Categories Architectural Plants, Autumn garden, Flowering Cherry, General comment, Ornamental trees, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, Trees, Trees for smaller gardensLeave a Comment on Autumn finery at Kew Gardens – Liquidambers, of course, my favourite Cotinus, Liriodendron, Hamamelis and Prunus, the ornamental cherries…

Blue skies, sunshine and a long hour at Kew Gardens to spy some autumnal goings on with a collection of amazing trees. I didn't travel far from the Palm House and I know there would be much, much more to see if I had to time to explore further - I really wanted to see…

Continue reading ➞ Autumn finery at Kew Gardens – Liquidambers, of course, my favourite Cotinus, Liriodendron, Hamamelis and Prunus, the ornamental cherries…

The Savill Garden in November (well Autumn last year but I must return there soon…!)

Categories Autumn garden, Fragrant plants, General comment, Grasses, Hydrangea, Japanese Maples (Acers), Magnolia, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Roses, Savill Garden, The Savill Garden, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens, Wildlife gardeningLeave a Comment on The Savill Garden in November (well Autumn last year but I must return there soon…!)

I'm reprising these photos, taken almost exactly a year ago, in The Savill Garden, part of Windsor Great Park, cosseted by Virginia Water. I must return there soon, before the strengthening winds strip the trees bare. I hope these pictures might convince you to put on your wellies and get out there too - or…

Continue reading ➞ The Savill Garden in November (well Autumn last year but I must return there soon…!)

Cor blimey! luv-a-duck apples-and-pears…

Categories General comment, Ornamental trees, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens1 Comment on Cor blimey! luv-a-duck apples-and-pears…

The Wild Pear, Pyrus pyraster, blooming at Kew (above) Pyrus nivalis the Snow Pear, flowering in front of a group of Amelanchier (above) Amelanchier intermedia (above) Malus Laxton's Red (above and below) Malus Robert's Crab (above) Malus baccata Jackii (above) Malus halliana (above) Malus Laxton's Red (above) and the 'duck' in question... Crab-apples and wild…

Continue reading ➞ Cor blimey! luv-a-duck apples-and-pears…

Hanami – my very own Cherry Blossom Festival in Kew Gardens

Categories Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, General comment, Ornamental trees, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens1 Comment on Hanami – my very own Cherry Blossom Festival in Kew Gardens

A combination of recent warm weather, sunshine, light breezes and little rain combine to make the show of cherry blossom, just yesterday at Kew Gardens, beautiful. Crab-apples and wild pears, Amelanchier and the last of the magnolias were also in flower, but the cherries, by dint of the sheer exuberance of their display, won me…

Continue reading ➞ Hanami – my very own Cherry Blossom Festival in Kew Gardens

Kew Green – waiting for the Wisteria to flower…

Categories Architectural Plants, Bulbs, Flowering Cherry, General comment, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees for smaller gardensLeave a Comment on Kew Green – waiting for the Wisteria to flower…

A brief stop on the north side of Kew Green, to a terrace of charming and characterful houses. I missed the Wisteria the last time if memory serves and I am a couple of weeks early this time around - it is just beginning to emerge with hints of blue against the brickwork. The double…

Continue reading ➞ Kew Green – waiting for the Wisteria to flower…

The most gorgeous, happiest little crab apple

Categories spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens, Wildlife gardeningLeave a Comment on The most gorgeous, happiest little crab apple

I met this beautiful little tree this afternoon, the both of us positively basking in the warm sunshine and (the tree) having suffered not a jot with the chilly winds and hail we have had earlier this week. I don't know the cultivar but is an early-flowering variety, or has been chivvied along by the…

Continue reading ➞ The most gorgeous, happiest little crab apple