The roses are starting to flower in Greenwich Park Rose Garden. Just Joey is just gorgeous.
And I am sharing this with Garden Photography.
Plants
Last Magnolias in Greenwich Park
The magnolias are mainly over for the year – glorious, sculptural, waxy, enticing – just beautiful.
Clematis ‘Prince Charles’
I have a problem – my clematis ‘Prince Charles’ is putting out new growth with clear determination! It is only early December and not at all what I expected so I consulted the RHS.
It is a young plant, put in earlier this year and the RHS advises me to ‘…Prune in late winter or early spring when buds show signs of growth – typically in February (!). If young clematis plants are left unpruned they often produce very long single stems with the flowers produced only at the very top. Unless the plant already has three or four healthy stems growing from the base, all newly planted clematis should be pruned back hard the first spring after planting. Cut back to just above a strong pair of leaf buds about 30cm (1ft) above soil level. This will encourage multiple stems which can be trained in to supports to give a good coverage. During the spring and summer, tie in new growth, spacing stems evenly on the support…’.
So it seems as though I will have to cut back – what do you advise?
Quinces
The quince tree looked so miserable earlier in the year, with shrunken fruits, that I had given up on getting any fruit. However, it has surprised me – Quince Meeches Prolific.
Bumblebees & Echinacea
I popped into the Suffolk garden at the end of a hot day and found this bumblebee in the echinaceas – wonderful!
Pennisetum orientale
A wonderful group of grasses – love it!
Grasses in the early morning
First thing in the morning I check the garden – just to make sure it is still there! I still can’t believe what has been achieved. The grasses are flowering, and beautiful in the early sunshine.
Geranium Macrorrhizum ‘Bevan’s Variety’
A geranium flowering prolifically in the ‘fernery’ might be Geranium Macrorrhizum ‘Bevan’s Variety’ by Woottens of Wenhaston. It was only rated 7/10 by Michael Loftus, the founder of the nursery, and I suspect the reason is its slightly untidy growth and lack of strong markings on the petals. But I find it a generous plant and much loved by the bees. I am growing it is pots and in the garden. However, its provenance remains to be confirmed…
Last Irises in Greenwich Park
I missed the irises – how is that possible? And now I will have to wait another year.
The Silver Ribbon Fern
My unknown fern is Pteris Cretica ‘Albolineata’, or Silver Ribbon Fern. It has not overwintered well and needs repotting and feeding, I will move it into the shade, and put the pot in a saucer to try and keep it damp.
You may be interested in
A fulsome history & description of Pteris Cretica
Caring for Pteris Cretica