Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
Four tough little things, these golden-yellow snowdrops - Galanthus nivalis 'Sandersii' I confess at first I thought these were just a little anaemic but closer inspection proved their yellow markings were just as they should be. Plenty of snowdrop varieties have come through in the Rock Garden at Kew and many deserve a closer look.…
Continue reading ➞ Golden Snowdrops – Galanthus nivalis ‘Sandersii’
Low winter sunshine, strafing across the grass borders at Kew - incidentally these were being cut back to tufts of stubble by the gardeners and so I make note to do the same in my gardens soonish too - and illuminating this circle of crocus. I walked all the way around, watching the light highlight,…
Continue reading ➞ Crocus at Kew
While we are on the subject of Primroses, Polyanthus and Primlets, I saw this darling gem at the garden centre at Kew - Primula Strong Beer. Deep blue-violet flowers over deep purple flushed leaves. I also saw Polyanthus Castillion, an orange (not pictured) with dark leaves and a favourite of mine last year (Orange, as…
Continue reading ➞ Strong Beer and other primroses…
A favourite tree, in bloom intermittently throughout the winter months whenever a mild spell allows - the blossom and the mild weather are both always welcome. These pictures were taken last week, in the Japanese Landscape by the Chockushi-Mon. Bright blue sky and dazzling low winter sunshine adding to the delight of the pretty blossom.…
Continue reading ➞ Winter Cherry – Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’
Sackler Crossing Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London 2004 – 2006 The Sackler Crossing is part of a new route through the 120 hectares of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Set low to the surface of the lake, its serpentine form seems to float across the water, allowing people to experience the surrounding landscape from new…
Continue reading ➞ John Pawson’s serpentine Sackler Crossing (and ducks)
Further findings from my most recent walk through Kew Gardens (we've seen Bark!) and I hadn't expected to see much by way of trees in flower, this early in the season. Three specimens caught my eye. The Cornelian Cherry, Cornus mas, was putting on a delicate show, by the lake. bright but widely spaced clusters…
This is my beautiful, but simple, orchid exhibition at home - just the two phalaenopsis (moth) orchids. I'm prompted to photograph them given the imminent opening, next weekend, of the annual orchid display at Kew Gardens, transporting an already tropical Princess of Wales Conservatory into a technicolour paradise. I urge you to go if you…
Continue reading ➞ Escape Winter – Orchids at Kew 2014
Sorbus glabrescens with Sorbus alnifolia in the background Sorbus glabrescens, with white fruit (above) and (below) the red fruit of Sorbus alnifolia All change - Sorbus alnifolia with Sorbus glabrescens in the background Sorbus alnifolia by the Chokishi-Mon in the Japanese Landscape at Kew I've come across Sorbus glabrescens in the Arboretum at RHS Wisley…
Continue reading ➞ Sorbus glabrescens & Sorbus alnifolia – White and Red
I featured this plant on the 18th January, bemoaning the lack of information on the label and finding out just a little about what the index numbers might refer to. Happily more than a few questions have been answered by a friend who has been able to look up the details from the original plant-hunting…
Continue reading ➞ Berberis – A Dectective Story
The Teddington Gardener 