Lilies are a long standing favourite in our summer gardens, but what is so special about the Roselilies? Well there are some important advantages that I attempt to list below:- Stunning, double blooms which unfurl like roses. A light and pleasant perfume which is not overpowering like the spicy scent of some traditional Oriental hybrids.[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Six reasons to grow the magnificent Roselilies
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Cut flowers, Fragrant plants, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice Feb 25, 2020
Planting a Spring Bulb Lasagne
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Autumn, Bulbs, Container gardening, Gardening for beginners, Ornamental gardening Sep 04, 2019
A bulb lasagne is simply layers of flower bulbs between layers of compost. The reason for doing this is to greatly increase the season of interest. For example, you could plant tulips on their own. This, though undoubtedly beautiful, would only provide weeks of colour. By planting layers of bulbs that come into flower[…]
The Fight For The English Bluebell
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Fragrant plants, Gardening for beginners, Ornamental gardening, Spring, Wildflowers Aug 20, 2019
Beware, the English Bluebell is under threat from Spanish invaders! The quintessential English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) that we all see and love in our woodlands is in danger due to people inadvertently planting Spanish Bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica). The English Bluebells are now being overtaken by the more vigorous Spanish Bluebell and hybridising with them. There[…]
Buying and planting bulbs in the green
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Ornamental gardening, Spring Feb 13, 2019
There is seldom a more welcome sight than the arrival of our native spring bulbs heralding the hope of warmer times to come. They thrive in our wooded areas and naturalise in grass to brighten our dullest days. Bulbs such as snowdrops (Galanthus), bluebells (Hyacinthoides) and winter aconites (Eranthis) can be planted as dry, dormant[…]
How to grow Gladioli
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Cut flowers, Gardening for beginners, Ornamental gardening, Summer Jan 24, 2019
Gladioli are great for giving height and structure to your flower borders and make an outstanding cut flower. They are also an easy plant to grow. They needn’t be gaudy and garish if the correct varieties are chosen and the correct colour palette is put together. The corms are best planted March to May in[…]
Plant Profile – Polianthes Tuberosa (Tuberose)
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Fragrant plants, Ornamental gardening, Plant Profiles, Summer Jan 08, 2019
Polianthes Tuberosa (Tuberose) is a half hardy, deciduous, tuberous perennial native to Mexico. It’s main attraction is it’s glorious scent. The essence of the flowers is used to produce some of the world’s finest perfumes. It is reputed to be the most scented bulb of all. The delicious scent is strongest in the evenings. Erect[…]
Coach Holidays to the Dutch Bulbfields and Keukenhof Gardens
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Gardening trips and holidays, Ornamental gardening, Spring Nov 14, 2018
As well as being a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of life, a trip to Holland in the spring can be of great benefit to the avid gardener. Not only can you discover new varieties of bulbs for your garden, you can also find out which bulbs compliment each other, both in colour[…]
Gardening news – Breaking the daffodil code: new research is first step in bulb identification
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Gardening news Nov 12, 2018
The RHS and Reading University map daffodil’s chloroplast genome for the first time Genetic markers could help identify bulbs at point of sale and aid conservation efforts and breeding of new cultivars Gardeners might end up never planting the wrong bulb again after the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and Reading University successfully mapped a daffodil’s[…]
Plantaholics choice – Tip top Tulip collections 2018/19
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Spring Aug 19, 2018
The tulip has long been a beloved favourite of mine. Their innate beauty comes at a time of year when many of our garden plants are still dormant. Apart from a true blue, one would be hard pushed to imagine a colour of the rainbow in which their alluring blooms are not available. Their flowers are[…]
Colourful combinations – Tulips and Wallflowers
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Colourful combinations, Fragrant plants, Ornamental gardening, Spring Aug 15, 2018
It may seem that summer will continue for many weeks to come, which it may well do, but we all need to start to plan our gardens for the autumn, winter and spring seasons. We need to get our orders in with the nurseries to ensure that we secure ourselves the best stock and the[…]
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