Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
I'm preparing for a workshop covering the possibilities for gardening in a little - or a lot - of shade and have begun to put together the gallery (above, but more to come) to illustrate some of the contenders that anyone tackling such a proposition might entertain. Damp shade and dry shade, dappled shade…
Continue reading ➞ The shady garden in summer and into autumn … beginning an A-Z
I've a workshop planned this week as part of the School of Garden Inspiration syllabus at Petersham Nurseries. The subject is bulb planting in the garden, and more specifically, Spring-flowering bulbs that are available now for planting in the coming weeks and months. Some practical information and hopefully, some inspiration along the way. Without doubt,…
Ah, well, you've got me - one huge gallery of images and barely a note to cover the 'who, what, why, where and when' of it all - The 'where'will be at Kew and Wisley and a few points in between, including those deliciously cool crocus on my own front step, delicately rain-dropped and rather…
The Chokushi-mon and Japanese Landscape at Kew Gardens today Chaenomeles speciosa adding some bright scarlet highlights to the many greens of the Japanese Landscape. Iris unguicularis elsewhere adds bright blue elsewhere in the scheme. Green, however, is the unifying theme. Prunus cerasifera is one of the first trees to come into blossom - you might…
Continue reading ➞ A gander at some star attractions at Kew Gardens today
Rhododendrons like this amazing Choremia Tower Court, blazing in the sunshine this afternoon in The Savill Garden within the greater Windsor Great Park - made this a fine choice for a walk, through these extensive gardens before exploring further into The Royal Landscape to search out the Jubilee Horse and the Copper Horse, with views…
Continue reading ➞ The Savill Garden, fragrant, fizzing with colour and all set for Spring
Pure white crocus, streaked with lilac and tufts if egg-yolk-gold Narcissus Jetfire, a strong sturdy, early narcissus, excellent for naturalising in grass. Primroses coming to the party now too - all manner of colours but I always revert to these more natural tones, if not the original species. Coronilla valentina glauca Citrina - compact evergreen…
Continue reading ➞ White, yellow, pink – three colours Spring
A light dusting of snow in the woods around Ham, though at home in Teddington there was enough for a serious game of snowballs between the children heading to school. (below) The churchyard at St. Peter's Church by Petersham Nurseries. While the Cutting Garden, while not exactly deep and crisp and even, had a wintery…
Continue reading ➞ What did I say about February? Tricky already…. A Snow/No Snow day
I am dreaming of Spring, mostly. There is a great deal to admire in February so I worry that we might wish the month away without appreciating what is looking - or giving - its best right now, or the quiet simplicity of our gardens stripped bare of all of the spring and summer fireworks…
Continue reading ➞ February made me shiver….
Asters and Hydrangeas, Salvia patens and Indigo Spires, and Caryopterix, Clematis viticella, Agapanthus, Viola, Penstemon, Verbena bonariensis, Dianella & Geranium Rozanne, Crocus and Heliotrope... the blues and violets of an Autumn garden. Mix them up with rich purples and pinks (I'm thinking Sedums here) and the golds and oranges of Heleniums and Helianthus - and…
