White flowers add brightness to the dingiest of corners. Whole borders and even gardens have been based around white flowers against a foliage background of green or grey. The most famous perhaps is the White Garden created by Vita Sackville-West at her home, Sissinghurst Castle in the Weald of Kent in England. In this part[…]
12 Top White Flowered Plants For The Garden And Home
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Climbing plants, Fragrant plants, Houseplants, Ornamental gardening, Perennials, Roses, Shrubs Feb 02, 2021
Plantaholic’s Choice – Desirable Daffodil Collections
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Cut flowers, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Spring Sep 01, 2020
Many among us are delighted by the appearance of the first daffodils, more correctly known as Narcissi, heralding that spring is well and truly on the way. Some of us will always love the quintessential yellow trumpet varieties that perhaps remind us of halcyon days. There are of course many other types these days in[…]
Plantaholics Choice – Tip Top Tulip Collections
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Bulbs, Container gardening, Ornamental gardening, Plantaholics choice, Spring Aug 24, 2020
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[…]
How To Grow Saffron
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Autumn, Bulbs, Container gardening, Fruit and veg gardening Jul 29, 2020
Saffron is the world’s most expensive spice, so why not try your hand at growing your own. It comes from the Saffron Crocus (Crocus Sativus) and is prized for adding flavour, colour and aroma to dishes such as Paella. It is also used as a dye and over the centuries it has been reputed to[…]
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
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.[…]
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[…]
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