Floating Flowers …. almost igniting this huge bronze bowl at Petersham Nurseries (a new institution!)

Categories Abstract Photography, annuals, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Autumn garden, Dahlias, David Austin roses, floristry, Fragrant plants, Garden Design, General comment, Grasses, Hellebore, herbaceous, Hydrangea, late summer border, Magnolia, Open to the public, Petersham Nurseries, Roses, Seasonal colourLeave a Comment on Floating Flowers …. almost igniting this huge bronze bowl at Petersham Nurseries (a new institution!)

We have really enjoyed floating all manner of seasonal flowers in this wide, shallow and beautifully scrolled bronze bowl, which we began in February. Then it was a huge brass urn from the Bank of Rome (it was one of a pair, one since sold, the other, available...) but we swapped to the lower, pedestal-less…

Continue reading ➞ Floating Flowers …. almost igniting this huge bronze bowl at Petersham Nurseries (a new institution!)

Petersham House Gardens – formal gardens, generous borders and a vibrant Cutting Garden

Categories annuals, Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Climbing plants, colour, conifers, container gardening, Cutting Garden, Dahlias, David Austin roses, Evergreen shrubs, floristry, Fragrant plants, Fruit Trees, Garden Design, General comment, Grasses, Hellebore, herbaceous, Hydrangea, Kitchen Garden, late summer border, Open to the public, Organic Gardening, Petersham Nurseries, Roses, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, Vegetables, Woodland Garden1 Comment on Petersham House Gardens – formal gardens, generous borders and a vibrant Cutting Garden

After a cycle ride along the towpath and the Thames sparkling in the sunshine, and nearly being late for taking so many photographs, a look in the Kitchen Garden first, which was the vegetable garden but has been co-opted into an additional Cutting Garden, as well as having the peony beds, Hellebores, many old roses…

Continue reading ➞ Petersham House Gardens – formal gardens, generous borders and a vibrant Cutting Garden

A few houseplants (Practise what you preach…)

Categories General comment, House plantsLeave a Comment on A few houseplants (Practise what you preach…)

A few of my houseplants, dotted throughout the conservatory, kitchen, sitting room, bedrooms and bathrooms and all with their own particular requirements for sunshine, shade, indirect but bright light, humidity and watering regime. Plenty of room for more I think though .... Many of the pots are Burmese, though I should correctly say from Myanmar.…

Continue reading ➞ A few houseplants (Practise what you preach…)

On Home Ground – a little peak at Petersham Nurseries

Categories Clematis, Climbing plants, colour, Cutting Garden, Dahlias, David Austin roses, Exotic, General comment, herbaceous, House plants, Hydrangea, Indoor gardening, late summer border, Organic Gardening, Petersham Nurseries, Roses, Seasonal colour, Seeds, shade, Shrubs, Summer garden, Tropical1 Comment on On Home Ground – a little peak at Petersham Nurseries

The Garden Shop at Petersham Nurseries is filled with houseplants, whose homes hail from all over the world, together with seeds and tools, pots and gardening equipment and in the blessed rain yesterday, was my home for the day. In the rare moments between torrents, I had a wander through the rest of the nursery…

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The Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens – there be fearsome Dragons

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, General comment, Hydrangea, late summer border, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Plants for a shady garden?, Rhododendron & Azalea, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, shade, Summer garden, Travel broadens the mind2 Comments on The Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens – there be fearsome Dragons

The newly restored Great Pagoda at Kew Gardens, replete with fearsome dragons. Built in 1762, it was one of a series of oriental-inspired buildings smattered through these new gardens, though the only one to have stood the test of time. The dragons are beautiful, colourful, gilded and sparkling, and quite fearsome. On the lowest tier…

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Kew Gardens, Part One (there will be more tomorrow now I’ve actually booked for the Great Pagoda)

Categories Architectural Plants, Art in the landscape, Bedding, colour, conifers, Dahlias, dark foliage plants, David Austin roses, Dry Garden, evergreen perennial, Exotic, Fragrant plants, Friends, Garden Design, General comment, Grasses, herbaceous, House plants, late summer border, Lawn Care, Mediterranean Garden, Open to the public, Ornamental trees, Roses, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Seasonal colour, shade, Shrubs, Summer garden, Trees for smaller gardens, Tropical, Water gardening, Wisteria, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on Kew Gardens, Part One (there will be more tomorrow now I’ve actually booked for the Great Pagoda)

A first look at the newly restored and be-dragoned Great Pagoda. Of course I didn't think to book, so shall be returning tomorrow at 10.30am for that pleasure. I have ascended the Pagoda before, pre-restoration about what, five years ago? But the Dragons are new, 1.8m long on the lower level carved in wood, greatly…

Continue reading ➞ Kew Gardens, Part One (there will be more tomorrow now I’ve actually booked for the Great Pagoda)

Windsor Great Park, a breezy cycle ride, a little Polo, wildflower meadows, two monarchs on horseback, a lovely picnic and a look around the shop …

Categories annuals, late summer border, Open to the public, Savill Garden, Summer garden, The Savill Garden, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on Windsor Great Park, a breezy cycle ride, a little Polo, wildflower meadows, two monarchs on horseback, a lovely picnic and a look around the shop …

A most perfect afternoon, taking the bikes out to Windsor Great Park. Right around the lake, Virginia Water, stopping at the Old Post Office for a drink, watching the horses at Guards Polo grounds (my, the grass was green...) then on to the Copper Horse and the shade of a beautiful Oak tree for a…

Continue reading ➞ Windsor Great Park, a breezy cycle ride, a little Polo, wildflower meadows, two monarchs on horseback, a lovely picnic and a look around the shop …

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…

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My own private oasis – lots of green, a little pink summery loveliness, bamboo, bananas, charity shop finds and lots that love the shade ….

Categories colour, Composting, cookery, Evergreen shrubs, General comment, Organic Gardening, Organic pest control, Plants for a shady garden?, Shrubs, Summer garden, Woodland GardenLeave a Comment on My own private oasis – lots of green, a little pink summery loveliness, bamboo, bananas, charity shop finds and lots that love the shade ….

This is a small private garden, no more than 24' wide and a little longer, well possible maybe twice as long, with a mature Horse Chestnut tree, from a neighbouring garden, that shades at least half of it. It was the reason we bought this house, such a beautiful sight in full flower and broke up…

Continue reading ➞ My own private oasis – lots of green, a little pink summery loveliness, bamboo, bananas, charity shop finds and lots that love the shade ….