Verbascum ‘Caribbean Crush’
This summer, you’ll be much more likely to see me out trying to capture different forms of verbascums on my iPhone than to see me playing Pokémon Go.
I added this one, Verbascum ‘Caribbean Crush’, to my virtual collection at the recent RHS Tatton Park Flower Show. The flowers open upwards as the sturdy spire lengthens, starting off a soft, peachy yellow, gradually deepening to a burgundy copper as they age. The effect is of two cultivars in one: very striking.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Crumble
This week, we’re invited to share something with a cherry on top: a real one or a metaphorical one. As my last post was of cherries, I’m going with a crumble. Continue reading “Weekly Photo Challenge: Crumble”
Wordless Wednesday: Young Morello Cherries
Bridgemere Display Gardens: The Cottage Garden
One of England’s largest and most successful garden centres, Bridgemere Garden World, has been part of a large chain for several years. Its independent roots still shine through as a result of the group’s strategy to preserve the local feel and individuality of their acquisitions. It’s one of my oases of pleasure in an increasingly mad world. Continue reading “Bridgemere Display Gardens: The Cottage Garden”
RHS Hampton Court’s Plant Marquee: Details
Plant breeders are fascinated by details. Me too. At the recent RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, though time was tight, I spent a good hour checking out the displays and selling stands in the Plant Marquee. The ones that caught my eye did so because of the details. Did you notice that each flower of Viola ‘Elaine Quinn’ is a slightly different mix of violet and white with unique speckles and stripes?
Individually each is beautiful, together they give me pause: one minute I like the lighter ones best, the next the darkest ones. My eye alights on one flower then another like a human butterfly. Continue reading “RHS Hampton Court’s Plant Marquee: Details”
Rosa Chinensis ‘Viridiflora’: The Green Rose
Rosa chinensis ‘Viridiflora’, the green rose, is a curiosity that has small whorls of bracts in place of flowers. The bracts are like tiny leaves, with jagged edges and reddish tips and/or streaks. These examples were photographed at The Antique Rose Emporium, and are neater in form than some others I’ve seen. While never showy, the rose repeats well and has a light, peppery, spicy scent.
As it lacks true flowers, Rosa chinensis ‘Viridiflora’ is sterile. The rose has been traced back to 1845, but may be much earlier than that. Since the first chance mutation was noticed and admired enough to multiply, it has been kept in circulation by rooting or grafting.
Famously described as a little monstrosity when it was first exhibited in Paris, it is mostly grown by rosarians and used by florists.
Susan Rushton 