Celebrating gardens, photography and a creative life
A floral fantasy at Trentham Gardens with Japanese anemones in the foreground and the last few lingering blooms on hollyhocks spires waving in the background. The yellow plant spilling out of the tall obelisk is verbascum. Continue reading “Two Japanese Anemones”
HeyJude is challenging us to compare a colour picture with a black and white version and say which we prefer and why. While b&w most obviously lends itself to landscapes or portraits, I wanted to try some flowers. Continue reading “Colour or Black and White?”
Mike Powell (whose blog features wonderful pictures of insects) recently asked if ‘common’ is appropriate in a name. I know what he means. And even though these are our most common orchid, growing wild in deserted quarries, woodland, meadows, hedgerows and along footpaths, I caught myself hesitating before tagging them ‘wildflowers’. Continue reading “Dactylorhiza fuchsii | Common Spotted Orchid”
Rudbeckia ‘Giggling’ (looking sunny against a drift of white Gaura) is richly coloured, fast growing and short. I noticed that Walter Blom Plants have listed it as one of their Temperennials, a coinage, in their words, ‘to warn you that they cannot be left cold and wet through the winter’. Continue reading “Rudbeckia ‘Giggling’”
Lilium Marlon has huge, wonderfully scented, upward-facing flowers, held on sturdy stems. Each petal has a wavy edge, traced out in white, and a smattering of freckles. Continue reading “Lilium ‘Marlon’, a Pink Oriental Lily”
Susan Rushton 