Just a dash of yellow…

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Yellow polyanthus, providing some relief from the concentrations of hellebores that are the subject of many recent posts. More Hellebores will there be, but in the meantime, a pause for a dash of yellow, tempered by fresh green foliage. On balance, the yellow primroses and polyanthus are more likely to be scented (closer to the…

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Roses, Petersham Nurseries and Sunshine

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Petersham Nurseries in the sunshine this afternoon. A lovely Spring Day with a beautiful, warm and sunny weekend ahead. So much to take in but I have to start with roses... Roses all the way down both sets of benches here - a diverse selection but many, many classic shrub and Old Roses and it…

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Orchids at Kew – last call….

Categories Open to the public, Orchids, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew1 Comment on Orchids at Kew – last call….

The Orchid Festival at Kew ends this Sunday - 9th March - and if you can get there, it comes highly recommended. And it is at least 21 degrees centigrade in there, with a tropical soundtrack to boot. Gorgeous. http://www.kew.org/visit-kew-gardens/whats-on/orchids/

Chaenomeles – Japonica to you and me….

Categories Architectural Plants, General comment, Open to the public, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Travel broadens the mindLeave a Comment on Chaenomeles – Japonica to you and me….

Chaenomeles x hybrida, in pink This pink stand of Chaenomeles x hybrida, by the Pagoda at Kew Gardens today. Though I do not know what it is a hybrid of - Chaenomeles speciosa, in scarlet The scarlet Chaenomeles speciosa sits within the Japanese Landscape under the Chokushi-Mon and grabs the eye! The camellias are dropping…

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Sometimes the old ones are the best…

Categories General comment, RosesLeave a Comment on Sometimes the old ones are the best…

I joined the Historic Roses Group last year (at the Hampton Court Flower Show in fact) and have been looking after a collection of Old Roses for a few years now - as well as following their use in the breeding of modern English roses from David Austin. There is much to admire and hundreds…

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Tackling that mossy lawn..

Categories General comment, Lawn CareLeave a Comment on Tackling that mossy lawn..

I've been battling with a particularly stubborn problem lawn since last summer - specifically rampant moss that refuses to give in.. True, the lawn is shaded by maturing trees - specimens which have grown significantly over the past three or four years - maples, mimosa, a spreading Robinia, oak too, from next door; it was…

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