Well, what can I say about yellow flowers? I think I’m safe to leave them to speak for themselves. Continue reading “Gallery Of Yellow Flowers”
Gallery Of Yellow Flowers
Daffodils, Past, And At Holehird Gardens
My picture today is another one for dreaming over for those who have the power to sit down here in their minds and spend a moment enjoying the spring flowers, the view and the fresh air.
Classic Combination Planting: Clematis With Roses
Today, I’m offering you a picture to dream over: Clematis ‘Perle d’Azur, Rosa ‘Rêve d’Or’ (the pale apricot climber) and Stachys byzantina with a pink moss rose and papaver at RHS Rosemoor.
Clematis and roses have been planted together in cottage gardens for centuries.
The art of combination planting is to mix plants that will extend the flowering season (just how many buds are there on the moss rose?); be harmonious in colour and contrasting in height and texture (the soft lamb’s ear, the prickly roses) and in flower shape. The lamb’s ear brings its spires; the poppy, cups; the roses are rosettes, and the clematis are single, open flowers. The clematis provides height and a mass of purple-blue, which goes so well with the pastel pinks and apricots. There’s a climbing rose too. For good measure, the roses throw scent into the mix. Continue reading “Classic Combination Planting: Clematis With Roses”
Hellebore Hybrids: How Doubles Evolve
Although we think of hellebores as having petals, technically they are sepals, which accounts for their flowers’ longevity. This single hellebore is one of my favourites I’ve seen this year. Continue reading “Hellebore Hybrids: How Doubles Evolve”
Floral Art at The Southport Flower Show
‘Bringing Your Furniture to Life’ in the Floral Art Marquee at last year’s Southport Flower Show was designed by Angela Coulton of Petal & Twig. Continue reading “Floral Art at The Southport Flower Show”
Gallery Of Orchids From RHS Wisley’s Glasshouse
Continue reading “Gallery Of Orchids From RHS Wisley’s Glasshouse”
Assessing The Beauty Of Hellebore Hybrids
A plant breeder has the unenviable task of deciding which hybrids to keep and which to discard. The nearest a photographer comes to that experience is when we are in a garden exploring a collection of hybrid plants, deciding which forms to capture.
The nodding habit of most hellebore hybrids forces us to bend and balance as we make our deliberations, lifting each flower head and looking inside. As a general rule, the more regular a pattern, the more photogenic the flower if we are aiming for a fresh look rather than artistic decay, but there are exceptions. Continue reading “Assessing The Beauty Of Hellebore Hybrids”
