Does anyone know the name of this superb tree peony? It has lived outside the beautiful Hôtel du Faune in our square at Châtillon for many years now, but we don’t really have a name for it. I wish I hadn’t taken my pictures when it was so bright and sunny, because the sun spoils … Continue reading A mystery tree peony
I couldn’t resist featuring Cherry Ingram’s ‘Great White Cherry’ again. The weather has been pretty endlessly cold and wet, so the foliage has been held back while the flowers stay with us longer. Our cherries are easily the brightest thing in the valley, filled with blossom at the moment. And as it starts to get … Continue reading Wide Wednesday. 3 April 2024
Drowning in blossom – chilly (and rather dampish), but happy. That’s me and my garden at the moment. However, I do wish our cherries had waited until the BV is back for Easter. This year is easily the best year yet for Tai-Haku here. The trees are big enough now, having been planted in 2013, … Continue reading Wide Wednesday
It was a wonderful spring equinox day – sunny, dry and and warm for a change. The Mirror Garden looks lovely as it always does at this time of year. It had its first cut of grass. But I really don’t think I’ve ever seen the euphorbias and the hellebores looking so good. I think … Continue reading Wide Wednesday. 20 March 2024
This gardener was feeling a little lonely and isolated from her fellow gardeners this morning – not a bad thing, as it turns out, since I was pushed into posting on Cathy’s wonderful In a Vase on Monday meme at Rambling in the Garden. It’s been such a long time Cathy! Another factor is the … Continue reading In a Vase on Monday. 18 March 2023
It’s been a fortnight – and I swore to myself I was going to send you flowers each week, as well as a few wide views of what’s happening in the garden! Inconsistent should have been my middle name. But here you are! Some of these were taken with my phone – I won’t do … Continue reading Flowers for the BV, 14 March 2024
Hoping that this will be a regular feature of my pages, this post is published in a spirit of honesty over my gardening failures and the corners of this garden that are less than ideal. As a retired professional gardener, admitting to failures is really hard (especially when faced with the pretty idylls on everyone … Continue reading Wide Wednesday
The garden is really beginning to feel very exciting. I don’t believe I’ve felt as excited about what’s to come for years! This morning I stood on the balcony at 8am and saw how many more flowers there were than the last time I sent flowers to you. There are self-sown primrose/polyanthus hybrids everwhere, and … Continue reading Flowers for the BV, Sunday 25 February 2024
This week (just a bit late for Valentine’s Day, my dear) I’m sending you more snowdrops. They continue apace, but they are very slug-ridden this year. Too much rain, not enough sun, it’s sad. This one, ‘Viridapice’ is probably my favourite, because I like anything that has some extra green to it. (These flowers are … Continue reading Flowers for the BV. 16 February 2024
Today I’m sending you pictures of Galanthus ‘Atkinsii’. It’s a strong snowdrop and is certainly already bulking up here after only 3 years, which is why I guess it’s been awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Award or not, I’m glad it’s here. The outer petals are more slender and delicated that those of … Continue reading Flowers for the BV. 4 February 2024
Garden Dreaming at Châtillon 