David C.H. Austin OBE: A Personal Valediction
It was a sad day when I opened an e-mail to tell me that David C.H. Austin (or ‘Mr A’ to many of those who knew him) had died at the age of 92. So close to the company’s Christmas party, I imagined, just a couple of days before the anniversary of the death of his wife, Pat. You can read the official obituary of someone who will always be one of my heroes on the David Austin Roses website. Here, I’m sharing my memories of the man who changed my life when he approved my appointment to one of the most fascinating jobs I can imagine. Continue reading “David C.H. Austin OBE: A Personal Valediction”
Hurray For Autumn Colour!
Looking At Flowers Close Up
Cee has invited us to share close up pictures or macro shots as part of this week’s Fun Foto Challenge – who could resist? My first is a close up of the extremely double Clematis ‘Josephine Pink’. The flower changes considerably as it opens: at this stage, mounds of overlapping inner petals are almost obscuring the bigger ones that form an outer ruff, with still more petals to come.
The great thing about a close up is the textural quality it gives. I hardly know whether the pointed petals would feel stiff or soft if I could reach my hand out and touch the flower. Continue reading “Looking At Flowers Close Up”
Crocosmia masoniorum ‘Rowallane Yellow’ AGM
Many of the plants that most catch my eye have something majestic about them. In this case it’s the rich yellow flowers held horizontally along single-sided stems that taper down in a showy arc. Each individual floret is unmistakably a lily with its stamens and stigmas flung out in invocation. Buds tier beneath, patiently await their turn in the spotlight. Continue reading “Crocosmia masoniorum ‘Rowallane Yellow’ AGM”
Red Veined Sorrel
Red veined sorrel (botanical name Rumex sanguineus) is one the prettiest of the sorrels which makes it as useful in ornamental gardening as it is in the kitchen garden. The narrow leaves have a red rib and a network of red veins.
For more information and a sorrel soup recipe, visit Manor Farm Herbs.
Virtual Streptocarpus Collection
Although I have never grown a streptocarpus, I do collect these generous plants after a fashion, by taking pictures of them and sharing my virtual collection here. Much of my material comes from Dibleys Nurseries’ award-winning displays at the major UK flower shows that attract me like a bee to honey. Their plants always look in wonderful condition, each flower jostling with its neighbour for our attention. Add in the variety of colours, patterns and forms and you have a flower photographer’s treat. Continue reading “Virtual Streptocarpus Collection”
Susan Rushton 