Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
An afternoon wander through the woodland, wetland, water gardens and wildflower meadows at Wakehurst Place, Kew in the Country (and National Trust too, but the parking is only free to Friends of Kew.. a big issue, this...) There is much, much more to see here within the greater parkland and more formal gardens at Wakehurst…
This Mexican Fleabane, despite its lowly name, is a classy plant and one, when - and where - happy, will grow to form a daisy empire in your garden. Erigeron karvinskianus forms a froth of tiny white daisies, with yellow eyes and petals that mature through purple and pink to give a very attractive overall…
Continue reading ➞ A daisy with an eye on Empire… Erigeron karvinskianus
Auriculas on sale at Kew Gardens - not in their little plant centre but right by the exit. How Fiendish! I don't think they have had them in stock for a couple of years and if I remember rightly, they were selling them last with Victorian terracotta pots, at £10 or more. Now they are…
Continue reading ➞ Auriculas at Kew
Rain, rain and more rain, yesterday - persistent and accompanied by chill winds too. Considering the balmy temperatures of the previous day it was quite a shock to the system! It did, however, provide an opportunity for some picture taking with the advantage of some photogenic rain drops...
At the head of the Family Border and the long, gently curving rose pergola, with the Temple of Aeolus on the mount behind, is the peony border, and though it is early in the season, some have already gone over, while much has yet to even get started. Others are just about right and these…
Continuing with my wanderings through Kew, leaving the Duke's Garden behind and passing the emerging grass borders, we head to the Davies Alpine House and the serpentine Rock Garden beyond. More peonies and iris, more intense colour and floral fireworks - though this last specimen, Viburnum macrocephalum Sterile is more of a giant snowball!
This last was labelled Paeonia suffruticosa, no more, and is magnificent. Loved as much as me by the iridescent beetle that was in an ecstasy of pollen in the centre of each blossom. Leaving behind this garden and passing by the emerging grass borders, the Davies Alpine House and the Princess of Wales Conservatory beckon.…
Leaving Kew Palace behind me and heading towards the Duke's Garden, the walk takes me past several stands of striking variegate Irises, which I think would convert anyone who is averse to any varigated foliage, full stop. The flowers are a bonus, but the leaves on their own, especially with a froth of blue forget-me-nots,…
Bright blue skies, golden Laburnum, lilac-pink Cercis siliquastrum, snowballs of Viburnun opulus, pale blue iris, lavender-grey lilacs and a lot of beautiful greenery. A bee-line today straight over to Kew Palace and the gardens behind - a sunken herbalists garden and a more formal parterre. Around the former, an arched pergola wrapping around three sides…
Continue reading ➞ Kew Palace, the Queen’s Gardens and a Laburnum-swagged pergola
The Teddington Gardener 