In its few days of glory each year, when heavy with fresh, fragrant, pea-type flowers, few climbing plants are more spectacular.
Shared for Cee’s Flower of the Day.
Four Kinds of Sweet Pea
Lilium ‘Marlon’, a Pink Oriental Lily
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”
Lathyrus odoratus ‘Spencer Mix’
Lathyrus ‘Spencer Mix’ is sweet pea seed blend that includes white and dark flowers, and clear shades of pink, red, lilac and purple.
Sweet peas are sun lovers, but like their roots in cool, moist soil. They are usually grown for cutting: the more assiduously you pick the flowers, the more the plants will produce. Continue reading “Lathyrus odoratus ‘Spencer Mix’”
Fragrant Flowers: Lilacs
Earlier this week, I was encouraging you to overhear flowers talking. This one might be easier. You just have to imagine the smell of lilacs. Continue reading “Fragrant Flowers: Lilacs”
Calycanthus ‘Venus’ | Carolina Allspice Hybrid
Q: When is a Magnolia not a Magnolia?
A: When it’s a Calycanthus.
Calycanthus is an ornamental, multi-stemmed shrub that caught my eye last year at one of the flower shows. Large, creamy flower buds open out to fragrant blooms held above the foliage. The fleshy flowers are often compared to a magnolia, although the petals are slim, curly and more plentiful. Continue reading “Calycanthus ‘Venus’ | Carolina Allspice Hybrid”
Howick Hall’s Sensory Garden
What makes a sensory garden different to any other garden? We can expect the boundaries to be pushed, as they are in Howick Hall’s new sensory garden. Starting, as in any garden, with the soothing power of green, contrasting textures and colours are layered on to stimulate us.
We respond with an instinctive head-turn as we half-spot a flash of wings between rustling leaves. Our thumbs and forefingers are stained and scented from crushing a rosemary leaf, just one of many fragrant plants around us. We tune in to sounds – water splashing, birdsong and the blunt music of windchimes. Continue reading “Howick Hall’s Sensory Garden”
Susan Rushton 