Author: Robyn DrinkwaterPage 15 of 33

May 2012: Cypripedium

Cypripediums have a reputation for being very difficult to grow and even more difficult to acquire. Plants in the wild have become rare due to changes in land…

All a tangle

This is a Clematis like no other; a leafless tangle of green reed like stems. The scandent growth mounds over itself reaching 1.5metres in height. A native to…

A Georgian gem

Aipyanthus pulchra was growing in association with Daphne, Pulsatilla, Scabiosa in grassland when collected on Mt Kazbegi in Georgia at 2298 metres. Found throughout the Caucasus and western…

What a difference a few days make

Leaving Scotland’s driest and sunniest month of March since 1929 for the east winds that turned the balmy high teen temperatures we had been used to for 10…

Traditional bedding

The two strips of planting leading into the Temperate Palm House represent spring bedding at its best. These two cultivars; Polyanthus ‘Crescendo Yellow’ and Tulip ‘Purple Prince’ make…

April 2012: Rhododendron

Rhododendron adenosum grows in open woodland where the plants will receive protection from frost. Pink buds open white with internal mottling and prominent flower parts. Rhododendron vernicosum, is…

Leafing through Lupins

We are now observing good growth on the emerging herbaceous plants. Taking a closer look at the emerging foliage on some reveals colonies of bugs and beasties. This…

Invasive alien

Libertia sessiliflora, collected in Chile and obviously enjoying our climate. The soil surface beneath the colony of mature plants is awash with germinated seedlings from the parent plants….

March 2012: Bowiea volubilis

The bizarre scrambling climber, Bowiea volubilis or climbing onion plant is actually in the same family as the hyacinth (Asparagaceae). The green bulb is native to the Eastern…

Floral scents

Abeliophyllum distichum exuding floral scent from the mass of pink tinged blossom covering the deciduous wood. Worth a walk to the south facing border at the foot of…

A spring favourite leaping continents

Used as we are to the yellow flowers of the Primrose, there are colour variations of this species which we are lessPrimula vulgaris familiar with. A native to…

A frosty reception

Observe the frost on Pachystegia insignis (sometimes called Olearia insignis) and see value added to a plant that you may pass by without a second glance at this…

Reminders of romance

Seed pods; bright yellow, tucked into the evergreen canopy of Euonymus wilsonii. Splitting apart into even segments revealing the red coated aril. A spectacular find at this time…

Shoots leaves and flowers

With the days lengthening and the soil warming; growth, especially in herbaceous plants, is shooting away. Helleborus vesicarius is looking promising with flowers colouring optimistically. Opening green these…

Grey skies, moisture laden leaves

Euphorbia characias ssp. wulfenii ‘John Tomlinson’ is brought to life after rain. The droplets collect on the grey blue waxy cuticle of the leaf and reflect light. Arranged…

End of an era

Our native Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) with one of out Arboricultural Team at the top, as it is dismantles to make itsafe in the Upper Woodland Garden after…

Frost in season

The weekend of 14 – 16 January brought the coldest weather of the winter, so far, quite a shock to the system given the weather pattern this winter….

Quercus robur

The aboricultural and Alpine teams tackle the removal of one of 35 large trees lost on the 3rd. Quercus robur, the Common Oak (Pedunculate Oak, English Oak) was…

Something new

Luckily the Nursery suffered less damage to its infrastructure than the main Garden. However, the skin of one of the largest tunnels was completely blown off. Fortunately, there…

Seedling growth

Temperatures reaching double figures have been a daily occurrence this month and so too through December. Even the overnight minimum does not often drop below zero. Apart from…