Caltha palustris, a lush growing plant with a wide distribution covering the temperate northern hemisphere. It has the most unfortunate common name; “May blob”, referring to the golden…
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…
Another unwelcome visitor appeared on my plot – slugs. This time the victim turned out to be Nemophila maculata ‘Five spot’ seedlings. Slugs munched on the cotyledons and…
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…
Willow fence – a recent addition on my plot. Constructed with a thought of keeping children at bay and as a support structure for fleece and letter netting….
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…
In the last four weeks many different plant support structures appeared on student plots. Each one of them demonstrates my classmates’ creative approach to practical tasks. Below I…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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….
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…
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…
When you take an owenership of a piece of land and start cultivating it you become very protective of it. You start realising all dangers which can creep…
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…