Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
The woods of the Wild Garden, betwixt the Rock Garden, Alpine Meadow and Seven Acres (at RHS Wisley) were bright and fragrant with witch hazels, with names I had read about but not seen either on Battleston Hill nor at Kew. These delicate thread-like flowers are completely hardy and will thrive, unharmed by snow and…
Continue reading ➞ Still bewitched by Witch Hazels…
Camellia japonica Desire – a semi-double camellia photographed today and a classy customer with a centre in warm shades of ivory and ice cream – while just a couple of days ago, she was more wholly shell-pink and decidedly frosty. The edges of the formally arranged petals are blushed pink, giving a beautiful bi-colour effect.…
Continue reading ➞ Shades of Desire
Hellebore Winter Sunshine Another stocky, sturdy and very floriferous Hellebore, with a creamy white congestion of flowers, piled one on top and in front of each other - maturing to a deeper greeny-chocolately-red. http://www.thegardencentregroup.co.uk/item/Herbaceous-Perennials/Winter-Sunshine-PBR/LIO Helleborus x ericsmithii 'Winter Sunshine' is a fabulous variety of this choice hybrid, with clusters of purple buds on dark purple…
Continue reading ➞ Winter Sunshine
Ipheion uniflorum - an onion - in the Davies Alpine House at Kew Narcissus cuatrecasesii, Muscari neglectum, Tropaeolum tricolor I make a point of calling in at the Alpine House at Kew (it is right next to the Princess of Wales Conservatory, at the top of the Rock Garden and behind the Grass Beds) as…
Continue reading ➞ February – Jewels in the Alpine House at Kew
Hellebore Anna's Red - my favourite, a statuesque crown of flowers on long richly coloured stems and more outward facing blooms (not so shy as many other nodding varieties!) Hellebore Penny's Pink Two recent introductions from the plant breeder Rodney Davey. I've said much about these plants and their rich colours. Anna is Anna Pavord,…
Continue reading ➞ Anna’s Red and Penny’s Pink
Four tough little things, these golden-yellow snowdrops - Galanthus nivalis 'Sandersii' I confess at first I thought these were just a little anaemic but closer inspection proved their yellow markings were just as they should be. Plenty of snowdrop varieties have come through in the Rock Garden at Kew and many deserve a closer look.…
Continue reading ➞ Golden Snowdrops – Galanthus nivalis ‘Sandersii’
Evergreen Clematis armandii 'Snowdrift' Pure white, almond scented, propeller shaped blossom, in the hundreds, smother this evergreen climber in early spring (March - April). Thick, waxy leaves add year round interest and excellent screening - it can grow to 20' quite comfortably. There are clematis for every month of the year and such a variety…
Continue reading ➞ Snowdrift – and other winter clematis
Low winter sunshine, strafing across the grass borders at Kew - incidentally these were being cut back to tufts of stubble by the gardeners and so I make note to do the same in my gardens soonish too - and illuminating this circle of crocus. I walked all the way around, watching the light highlight,…
Continue reading ➞ Crocus at Kew
The deeply luminous Hellebore Anna's Red - big plants with big flowers and all in a rich ruby red. The cultivar is only a few years old but specimens bulk up nicely, with outward facing and nodding flowers held on tall stems. A real star and a favourite of mine, ever since I saw it…
Continue reading ➞ Anna’s Red, Candy Love & Angel Glow…. more Hellebores!
The Teddington Gardener 