Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
Fields of Blue - Camassia leitchlini at RHS Wisley - with Rhododendrons in the woods there too (below) Primula auricula Blue Velvet - in the Alpine House at RHS Wisley yesterday Wisteria floribunda Yae kokuryu (above) at RHS Wisley - below, Clematis alpina Pamela Jackman (in my garden) If you are planning a blue-themed garden…
Continue reading ➞ Springtime Blues at Wisley… and the rather excellent online RHS Plant Selector
A riot of colour and some very beautiful tulips on show - tall, short, frilly, fluted, splayed, lily-flowered, painted and shaded and striped, bold and bright, dark and brooding, sheer, soft and silky, double-doubled and in pretty much every colour (bar a true blue). The most intriguing is this last one (above), the English Mustardy-yellow,…
Continue reading ➞ A blast to the retina – Tulips at RHS Wisley
Lewisia cotyledon Regenbogen The Alpine House at RHS Wisley never fails to delight me - there is always something bright and interesting to look at and the display changes with the seasons so each plant is always looking its best. There are two Glasshouses and it is the traditional display that I prefer - raised…
Continue reading ➞ A kaleidoscope of treasures in the Alpine House at RHS Wisley
I'm thinking about climbing plants - for use in a myriad ways in the garden and it is a huge topic. Plants for sun and shade, large and small, with the promise of scent and flower in every month of the year. I think I ought to restrict myself to those gems which are in…
Continue reading ➞ Climbers for every occasion (Part 1: Spring and early Summer)
Semiaquilegia Sugar Plum Fairy Clematis montana (below) Blossom from our Isaac Newton Apple Tree Anisodontea Large Magenta (below) Lilac Pink Magic somethingorother Aquilegia (below) Lilac and Viburnum Statement Hydrangeas Cow parsley, tulips, clematis montana, honesty, Fritillary persica... A lamp and a vase (two vases) Camassia and Fritillary persica in the cutting garden Clematis alpina Helsingborg…
Continue reading ➞ Random pictures from a Bank Holiday Monday – blossom & blooms at Petersham
Magnolia Black Tulip Of this particularly beautiful magnolia, one of my favourites - Bred in New Zealand by leading Magnolia breeders, Felix and Mark Jury, Magnolia Black Tulip® is stunning. This woody tree grows well in most climates, tolerating all but the coldest temperatures. It performs best in the sun and enjoys protection from strong…
Continue reading ➞ Magnolia Black Tulip – and Escargots à la Bourguignonne
Petersham's cat, Thug. Enjoying the morning sunshine, but not so warm and contented that he didn't try to give me just a little nip...
Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila 'Atlantis' (Dwarf fan-shaped columbine 'Atlantis') A short (30cm) aquilegia with these very appealing bi-coloured blooms, with short spurs and glaucous foliage. I'm much happier with this plant than with the State Series aquilegias I saw last spring - big plants , OK, but flowers on steroids, not for me. I'm sure…
Continue reading ➞ Aquilegia flabellata var. pumila ‘Atlantis’, if you please
Something to brighten up a shady spot in the garden, Epimedium grandiflorum Lilafee Interesting foliage, bright amethyst flowers held above fresh bronze leaves, a plant happy in shade, dry shade even, and under tree canopies - a recent (2012) introduction and sure to be a winner. The flowers are not showy or show-stopping, like the…
Continue reading ➞ Finally! Something Not a tulip – Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Lilafee’
The Teddington Gardener 