Camassia cusickii is a bulb that naturalises in full sun to partial shade, throwing up sturdy spires of starry, steel blue flowers. Its folk names include Wild Hyacinth and Quamash. English bluebells are contributing their darker blue blur in the picture above. Continue reading
These daffodils looked sweet peeping out through the foliage of taller ones. I saw them at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs. I can hardly believe it has three years ago since we were enjoying their company and hospitality – and, of course, their flowers.
Their show gardens must be at or around their prime now and are so very worthy of a visit. If you fancy a peep, check out this post to see what I mean.
Blue and white striped irises are especially lovely, their colour accentuated by a blue pot. I would have guessed these are ‘Katharine Hodgkin’, but they lack the characteristic yellow that suffuses the lip of the lower petals. In compensation, the tips of the crest-like upper petals have artistic streaks of delft blue. Continue reading
Life is fragile enough for large mammals like us, so what security can these dainty flowers have? Quite a lot actually – these particular ones, that is. And I’m not referring to that attractive looking layer of bark mulch. Continue reading
Northern garden lovers may already be familiar with Harlow Carr. Its long streamside garden is an almost irresistible lure for me when the swathes of candelabra primulas or blue poppies are in flower, but it’s well worth a visit at almost any time of the year. Continue reading
Double snowdrop from three angles
That’s just my view of course, but I had a rare chance to visit and see Colesbourne Park for myself, just a few days before it officially opens for the first of their celebrated snowdrop weekends in 2016. Visitors are in for a treat! Continue reading
It may seem unseasonal to post pictures of daffodils in the autumn, but far from it: if you live in the northern hemisphere, this is a great time to plant bulbs for flowers next spring. Meanwhile, the gardens of my Australian blogging buddies seem to be full of life all of a sudden, so I imagine it’s daffodil season there.
Either way, I’d only need the flimsiest of excuses to belatedly share pictures from our visit to Brent and Becky Heath, including some taken in their private garden, trial grounds and growing fields. I’m not a daffodil expert so please don’t ask me for their names!
Fragrant lilies in a corner of the garden at Wollerton Old Hall against a backdrop of hedging, roses and clematis. Wouldn’t a tumble of lilies make a great collective noun?
The weekly photo challenge often surprises me as I find myself sharing a picture I wouldn’t have expected to. I usually just say no to bright flowers in a brightly lit garden: it’s not the kind of picture that usually works out well. Continue reading
My recent post on Hidcote’s red border – and seeing so many pictures of tulips appearing in my Reader – inspired me to share this picture. It shows another colour themed planting, this time at Kiftsgate Court Gardens.
I believe this is the yellow border, pictured here early in the season – thought it does looks more like chocolate, orange and lime in this view, so perhaps you know differently! It reaches its peak of flowering – and, no doubt, yellowness – in August and September. Continue reading
