Wisteria

Exbury Gardens, Hampshire

Categories Acid-loving plants, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Autumn garden, Camellias, conifers, Dahlias, Evergreen shrubs, Exotic, Garden Design, General comment, Hydrangea, Japanese Maples (Acers), Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Trees, Water gardening, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on Exbury Gardens, Hampshire

A trip down to Southampton this morning, to drop family off at the airport and then a convenient drive into the New Forest, ponies galore, and the gardens at Exbury. I've never been though know of their reputation for Rhododendrons, Camellias and Azaleas, and for a fine autumn showing of mature Acers. Obviously we are…

Continue reading ➞ Exbury Gardens, Hampshire

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire – summer, this time around

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Clematis, Climbing plants, conifers, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, Dahlias, Exotic, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, Garden Design, General comment, Grasses, herbaceous, Magnolia, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Seasonal colour, Summer garden, Travel broadens the mind, WisteriaLeave a Comment on Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire – summer, this time around

The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, run extraordinarily well by Hampshire County Council, is an exceptionally varied, beautiful, diverse, botanically curated landscape with so much to recommend, at pretty much any time of year (their winter garden is a beauty and possibly the best in the UK). An extended stay at Mottisfont and then the charms…

Continue reading ➞ Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Hampshire – summer, this time around

Snapshot of a front garden – glorious lilies just at the moment

Categories Architectural Plants, Bedding, container gardening, dark foliage plants, David Austin roses, Fragrant plants, shade, Shrubs, Summer garden, Wisteria1 Comment on Snapshot of a front garden – glorious lilies just at the moment

Watering in the front garden yesterday evening and everything has put on so much growth. The new Wisteria - and I must put up some wires - is rampant as is the Cotinus. Hebe Marjorie was cut back hard in the Spring and has forgiven me with much new growth from the old wood. The…

Continue reading ➞ Snapshot of a front garden – glorious lilies just at the moment

Petersham Open Garden 2018 – all the pictures!

Categories Art in the landscape, Bedding, Bulbs, Camellias, Climbing plants, container gardening, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, Dry Garden, evergreen perennial, Evergreen shrubs, Exotic, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, Garden Design, General comment, Grasses, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Iris, Japanese Maples (Acers), Kitchen Garden, macropetala, Magnolia, my projects, Open to the public, Organic Gardening, Organic pest control, Ornamental trees, Petersham Nurseries, Rhododendron & Azalea, Roses, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, soft fruit, Summer garden, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Vegetables, White Garden, Wild Food/Foraging, Wildlife gardening, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on Petersham Open Garden 2018 – all the pictures!

Ten gardens, ten private passions, ten stories - all on show for Petersham Open Gardens, an event every two years where private gardens showcase their beauty and skills (and skulls in some gardens), for charitable purposes. And given the footfall today, the charity-benefitting coffers will be full to overflowing. Congratulations folk, one and all. I…

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RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 – the show gardens, the great pavillion, the roses and … well, pretty much everything

Categories Acid-loving plants, Alpine, annuals, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Bulbs, Clematis, climbing plant, colour, container gardening, Cottage Garden, Cutting Garden, Dahlias, David Austin roses, Dry Garden, Evergreen shrubs, Exotic, floristry, Flower Shows, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, Garden Design, Grasses, Hellebore, herbaceous, House plants, Hydrangea, Indoor gardening, Iris, Japanese Maples (Acers), Kitchen Garden, late summer border, macropetala, Magnolia, Mediterranean Garden, Mottisfont Abbey, Open to the public, Orchids, Organic Gardening, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, plants for roses, Rhododendron & Azalea, Roses, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Summer garden, Television, Travel broadens the mind, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Water gardening, White Garden, Wildlife gardening, Wisteria, Woodland Garden1 Comment on RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018 – the show gardens, the great pavillion, the roses and … well, pretty much everything

From my walk through Chelsea, to the very last moment - a few hours in the company of the world's greatest flower show....

A few hours at Kew Gardens – the newly re-opened Temperate House, Alliums on the Broadwalk, treetop walkway, the Hive, gorgeous Wisteria, a Rhododendron or three, and laburnum arches, waterlilies, the Davies Alpine House and Rock Garden, peonies galore, many remarkable trees, a Japanese landscape and the Pagoda … and much more-

Categories Acid-loving plants, Alpine, annuals, Architectural Plants, Exotic, Garden Design, General comment, herbaceous, Indoor gardening, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Rhododendron & Azalea, Roses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, Trees, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Water gardening, Wildlife gardening, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on A few hours at Kew Gardens – the newly re-opened Temperate House, Alliums on the Broadwalk, treetop walkway, the Hive, gorgeous Wisteria, a Rhododendron or three, and laburnum arches, waterlilies, the Davies Alpine House and Rock Garden, peonies galore, many remarkable trees, a Japanese landscape and the Pagoda … and much more-

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here's a million. Kew Gardens today. Amazing, as ever -

Four garden centres, planting a new wisteria, repotting houseplants and a few tulips … a day in the life of –

Categories Bedding, Climbing plants, container gardening, Exotic, Flowering Cherry, Fragrant plants, House plants, Indoor gardening, my projects, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Wisteria1 Comment on Four garden centres, planting a new wisteria, repotting houseplants and a few tulips … a day in the life of –

A day of sunshine and showers and a trip down the M3 to Windlesham to visit Longacres and subsequently Wyevale and Hilliers. Three very different garden centres - one huge and sprawling, with everything (save many perennials), one very glum and one that has been extended and revamped beautifully - quite a treat. Longacres is…

Continue reading ➞ Four garden centres, planting a new wisteria, repotting houseplants and a few tulips … a day in the life of –

Taking a peek inside the Alpine House at RHS Wisley – and a scented meander down through the Rock Garden into Seven Acre Wood ….

Categories Alpine, Architectural Plants, Bulbs, Fragrant plants, General comment, Hellebore, House plants, Iris, Orchids, Plants for a shady garden?, RHS WIsley, shade, Shrubs, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Winter Garden, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on Taking a peek inside the Alpine House at RHS Wisley – and a scented meander down through the Rock Garden into Seven Acre Wood ….

A little peak inside the Alpine House which sits atop the Rock Garden in the RHS gardens at Wisley (the rose garden is behind, an allée of Bonsai trees to one side and the vegetable garden too, if you need to get your bearings. This is a traditional glasshouse where the plants are mostly displayed…

Continue reading ➞ Taking a peek inside the Alpine House at RHS Wisley – and a scented meander down through the Rock Garden into Seven Acre Wood ….

Penshurst Place, Kent – a magical tour …

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, herbaceous, Magnolia, spring flowering, Spring Garden, Summer garden, WisteriaLeave a Comment on Penshurst Place, Kent – a magical tour …

A dazzlingly good day out visiting Penshurst Place, near Tonbridge in Kent. A medieval masterpiece set within 11 acres of walled gardens, much remaining true to their Tudor design. Gobsmacked and flabbergasted am I - already planning a return visit ....