Gardener and Photographer with a love of Roses and a magpie-eye for all things Horticultural
I love the Alpine House at RHS Wisley - a traditional glasshouse packed full of plants, their terracotta pots sunk into a raised sandy bench. Just the right height for a close look at these intricate and beautifully bright jewels. The Davies Alpine House at Kew - the clam shell - has cutting edge architecture…
Continue reading ➞ The Alpine House at RHS Wisley – a box of delights!
The King and Queen on a rare visit to the RHS gardens at Wisley The white Henry Moore Arch at the top of Battleston Hill has disappeared, to be replaced by some seated royalty at the top of the Lily Pond. I saw these beautiful figures last at Hatfield House. There was much, much more…
Continue reading ➞ Henry Moore at RHS Wisley
Rhododendron nobleanum album - at least two specimens on Battleston Hill at RHS Wisley were in flower when I last visited a couple of weeks ago - this old variety will flower anytime between January and March and perhaps even later, after the last frosts. Mid-January, it was the first of the rhododendrons I saw…
Continue reading ➞ Rhododendron nobleanum album – an early flowering beauty
Hermaphrodite Skimmias offer, if it needs to be said, the best of both worlds - self-fertile plants with flower and fruit. Here are two - Skimmia japonica Temptation and a form of Skimmia japonica subsp. reveesiana - Chilan Choice. Admittedly the flowers are not the Main Event that they are with, say, Skimmia rubella or…
Continue reading ➞ I can resist everything but (Skimmia) Temptation
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
Read all about it! Nandinas tall and short - I think the variety on the left is Purple Passion. A favourite plant, this, and worthy of the name Heavenly Bamboo - though it is not a bamboo. Nandina are in the Berberidacea family, though they bear little resemblance to a Berberis, and they have no…
Continue reading ➞ Minka House at Kew/Heavenly Bamboo
The weather forecast isn't great for tomorrow, Saturday, but those careless of a bit of rain, could do worse than spend the time wandering through the winding paths of Battleston Hill, the woodland gardens at RHS Wisley in Surrey. I was there earlier this week, with my umbrella too, and was mesmerised by the colour…
Continue reading ➞ Battleston Hill – a walk on the woodland side…
Edgeworthia chrysantha - an annual pilgrimage A particular plant that I have sought out year after year on the lower slopes of Battleston Hill, the woodland gardens at RHS Wisley, though there are others (against the House, by the water lily canal and the red-flowered form further on into the woodland). Felt-grey padded chrysanthemums, each…
Continue reading ➞ Edgeworthia chrysantha
In the Davies Alpine House at Kew, Sternbergia candida One of several generously plants pots of Scilla madeirensis This one I have photographed before, at Wisley I think, Narcissus romieuxii subsp romieuxii As the labels says - Crocus imperati ssp suaveolens 'Jager' Crocus 'Jager', again Not a poppy, Ranunculus asiaticus Just a few more Alpine…
Continue reading ➞ In the Davies Alpine House, Kew
The Teddington Gardener 