Flights of Fancy – Hippeastrums on trial at RHS Wisley

The Glasshouse at RHS Wisley is host to a trial of Hippeastrums (though you might say Amaryllis) and a fine show they make, with such a wide variety of form and colour, with giant trumpets and spidery filamentous-ness side by side, gentle pastels against the brassiest and brightest, velvet against satin against crystal. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/plants-blogs/plant-trials/february-2015/hippeastrum-on-trial Amaryllis…

My first look at RHS Wisley (this year) – Colourful winter stems, Alpine and Glasshouse finery and more…

I'm fortunate that the vast array of garden landscapes at RHS Wisley in Surrey are a short drive from Teddington HQ and that I can be as frequent a visitor as I am, without ever, ever being bored - there is always something, whatever the season, to delight and inspire. This unseasonably mild weather (about…

Walk with me through the woodland landscapes at RHS Wisley – a fragrant, colourful tour for these unexpectedly mild days …

I had the time to visit the gardens at RHS Wisley on Wednesday this week, the sunniest of days and quiet too (everybody else was at the work, or the supermarket, or on the M25... ) The colour and fragrance on offer was unexpectedly generous, with Camellias and Rhododendrons, Witch Hazel, Chimonathus and Edgworthia, Hellebores…

A Winter Gallery for your delight and delectation …

More from my Twitter account and once again, just the pictures to look at. It's late and there's another busy day tomorrow .....

All at sea with Miscanthus – the Glasshouse Borders at RHS Wisley

A rather blustery day yesterday at the RHS flagship gardens at Wisley and the Glasshouse borders were taking a battering. The Miscanthus outside the Glasshouse, large beds anchored by golden Beech monoliths and circling flat-topped islands of Sarcococca, became a seething maelstrom of dry-gold, sometimes illuminated and back-lit by shafts of sunlight. In moments of…

Just a little gallery – Acers through to Woodwardia – a horticultural catch-up of the past couple of colourful, autumnal weeks

  Well, Acers first - from Wisley and Kew, Winkworth Arboretum and here and thereabouts! Followed by the rest of the As through to C ..s .... and moving on through the D E F and a touch of the Gs - there's a whole little gallery of Gentians afterwards - the more colourful elements…

B for Begonia

Begonia Fireworks, part of a small display in the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley. Reminds me that I rather like them and should find room for one, or three, at home. I overheard a customer just this last week commenting on how tolerant of, how shall I say, a regime of benign neglect they can be.…

Late, large-flowering Clematis at RHS Wisley – Bloomin’ Marvellous in the Trial Fields

The same situation here, two double rows of plants, growing up tall, roughly woven obelisks, laid out for inspection, assessment and examination - late, large-flowering clematis on trial at RHS Wisley. I was here last year and maybe the year before so that would make this at least year three of the trial. Some varieties…

Agapanthus on trial at RHS Wisley

The Trial Fields at RHS Wisley are full of hopeful contestants for the coveted Award of Garden Merit and plants are submitted to the RHS so that, over a number of years, they can be assessed and performance recorded and rated. Agapanthus are going through this process at the moment (and large, late-flowering Clematis, annual…