Gardeners Tips

The International Daffodil Register And Classified List 2008 compiled by Sally Kington needs to be studied to be able to name the varieties shown.

Lady Margaret Hall Oxford April 2010 where studying and gardening went hand in hand.

But perhaps more gardening than studying.

This picture was taken in late March at the University Botanic Gardens Oxford. I’m not sure of the variety, but they remind me of tete a tete. The White betula (Birch) provides an interesting contrast to the lush green of early spring. In the background is the River Cherwell, flowing under Magdalen Bridge

Misty Christ Church Meadow Oxford

Sunrise at Christ Church Meadow Oxford

The International Daffodil Register And Classified List 2008 compiled by Sally Kington needs to be studied to be able to name the varieties shown.

A big bright month for flowers following a lush spring in Yorkshire. Not all plants behave to the seasonal timetable buy the Poppies are still stunning.

Aster alpinus the Alpine aster – bought from the nursery at Newby Hall in blue, white and purple varieties which are still to flower.

Selfsown Aquilegia or columbine, set off by broad Bearded Iris leaves.

Oriental Poppy that looks blood red late in the day but was glowing in the early sunshine.

Iris reticulata with self sown Euphorbia

Deciduous Azalea in Late spring yellow. One of the Rhododendrons in the Pentanthera group

Nothing in the flower world says more about the season than a Sedum like this bunch of Autumn Joy. As a careless gardener I seem to have lost my Sedum with dark purple, fleshy leaves but it was never as robust as Autumn Joy.

Due to a lack of sun and summer warmth our Sunflowers have been very tardy this year. It is hard to believe that I have only one flower on display at the beginning of September.

I planted some perennial Lobelia and they have thoroughly enjoyed the wet conditions during summer as they built up strength for this sort of floral display.
This variety may be Lobelia speciosa ‘Grape Knee Hi’ or Hadspen Purple and I have several Lobelia cardinalis that have prevoiusly defied my gardening skills.

Another monster this year has been the Phlox paniculata. White and pink varieties in particular have shown spectacular flowers and scent.
Bunches of flowers indoors are still giving delightful aromas even though we have hidden the flowers on top of tall cupboards as the vases are a bit naff and there are so many other flowers deserving display.

The late flowering double Clematis has just made it into my autumn photos. Clematis Josephine Evijohill is a ‘florida’ type that was on sale at a local nursery. I resisted the temptation to buy and so I will not have any genuine garden photos to show in future.

Yellow & Lilac
Tejvan took this photo in Oxford Botanic Gardens. On the left is an imposing Verbascum. I love the way its tall yellow spikes contrast so well with the purple spikes in the background. Just to add a bit of interest there is the odd splash of orange from a rogue intruder.