Celebrating gardens, photography and a creative life
A fine pot of the spring flowering, pale lilac, species crocus, Crocus paschei, was exhibited at the Iris reticulata show by Sue Bedwell, taking first place in its class.
The flowers have a distinctive yellow throat and orange stamens. These ones had luminous petals with delicate veining, but the flowers can sometimes be a darker shade of lilac. Continue reading “Crocus paschei and Iris Seeds”
Continue reading “Gallery Of Orchids From RHS Wisley’s Glasshouse”
RHS Garden Wisley has a wonderful collection of deciduous Calanthe orchids in flower now in the Glasshouse. This plant was labelled Calanthe William Murray gx. Its upper petals are white with pink bottom lips and a central section shaped like a nose.
There are two subgenera of Calanthe. Preptanthe ones like this are winter-deciduous orchids that die back to peculiar structures called pseudobulbs. Hairy flowering stems appear from near their base and bear a cascade of flowers that weigh the stems down into a graceful arc. Continue reading “Flowering Orchid: Calanthe William Murray gx”
Green flowers are not always as subtle as they might appear – some of them are very striking. Today I’m sharing pictures of some of my favourite green hellebores.
Helleborus argutifolius produces one sturdy stem thickly clustered with flowers and buds a few shades lighter than the darker green leaves, and with golden stamens. The flowers persist for weeks or even months as with all hellebores, eventually forming equally striking seed heads, pollinators permitting. Like Helleborus foetidus (below) this is widely grown in the UK and can be found in many winter gardens.
This particular Helleborus foetidus has dark, purple tinged foliage and pretty purple lines around the edges of the petals (or sepals). At a guess, it is part of the Wester Flisk group. H. foetidus is an architectural plant, not because of its height, but because of the stems of elegant, tiered buds that hang like bells above deep, palmate foliage. Continue reading “Green Flowers: Hellebores”
Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Old Courtâ is a quirky, spirited, ornamental, spidery double that takes wild to a whole new level. It’s one of my favourite flowers at any British flower show. Continue reading “Leucanthemum x superbum ‘Old Courtâ (Shasta Daisy)”
…would it? Either way, I’m wishing my American friends a very happy Thanksgiving. If you’re traveling, keep safe. If it’s just an everyday day for you, I hope these flowers will bring a little cheer. Continue reading “Thanksgiving Would Not Be The Same Without Brussels Sprouts”
Auriculas have an old-fashioned quality: something about the green flowered and mealy grey flowered ones on display at this year’s N.A.P.S. show mades them seem as if any decent Renaissance poet ought to have written a verse or two in their honour. Continue reading “Flower Macros: Primula Auriculas”
Susan Rushton 