Many people have wonderful late spring and early summer displays in their gardens, followed by a rather drab time when all the earlier blooms have faded. The amazing Echibeckia ‘Summerina’ Series plug this gap by continually blooming through to the first frosts. Many of us will be familiar with Echinaceas (Coneflowers) in our gardens. You[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Echibeckia ‘Summerina’ Series
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Cut flowers, Ornamental gardening, Perennials, Plantaholics choice, Summer Jun 16, 2020
Plantaholic’s Choice – Aster dumosus ‘Autumn Jewels’
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Autumn, Container gardening, Ornamental gardening, Perennials, Plantaholics choice, Summer Jun 02, 2020
It is possible to have an absolute riot of colour in our gardens throughout May and June and then suddenly to have nothing but green. We all need to think about the blooms that are to come to provide late summer and autumn colour and create a continuously beautiful space to enjoy. Asters, better known[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Penstemon Pensham Series
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Ornamental gardening, Perennials, Plantaholics choice May 13, 2020
Penstemons have long been a favourite in our gardens with their stunning bell shaped flowers, particularly for those of us that garden in the cottage style. They could however be a little temperamental. The Pensham series of Penstemons were originally bred by the late renowned plant breeder Edward Wilson in Pensham in Worcestershire. He bred[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Reblooming Irises
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Cut flowers, Ornamental gardening, Perennials, Plantaholics choice Feb 05, 2020
Iris Germanica, better known as Bearded Iris because of soft hairs growing in the centre of the flowers, have long been a staple of our cottage gardens and herbaceous borders. They come in such a wide variety of colours and colour combinations that you might think that the breeders have just about achieved all they[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – NEW Alstroemeria ‘Valley’ Collection (Summer Paradise Series)
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Cut flowers, New plants, Ornamental gardening, Perennials, Plantaholics choice Feb 04, 2020
There are a great many varieties of Alstroemeria, some short, some tall, some bright and some in delicate pastel shades. The brand new Alstroemeria ‘Valley’ Collection (Summer Paradise Series) however have an attribute seldom held by other varieties. That is that they are exceptionally winter hardy. Many other Alstroemeria series have had the[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – NEW – Peony Coral Sunset
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Cut flowers, New plants, Ornamental gardening, Perennials, Plantaholics choice Jan 08, 2020
Peonies have long been a great favourite of mine, and I am familiar with many varieties. However I was quite taken aback to see this stunning new form which I believe may be one of the best herbaceous varieties. Below I have listed some of it’s many endearing attributes:- A very long lived, perennial garden[…]
Plantaholic’s Choice – Helleborus Niger Christmas Carol
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Ornamental gardening, Perennials, Plantaholics choice, Winter Nov 27, 2019
Many of us will be familiar with Helleborus Niger, the Christmas Rose. It’s English name however is a bit of a myth as it is rarely in flower before late winter in our gardens. Helleborus Niger Christmas Carol however can be in flower from Christmas through to mid spring. This evergreen, hardy perennial will provide[…]
Plant Profile – Hardy Osteospermums
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Ornamental gardening, Perennials, Plant Profiles Sep 30, 2019
Many of us are used to growing Osteospermum in our summer patio containers for their bright and cheerful daisy flowers. There are a wide array of beautiful varieties but they are not winter hardy in all but the very mildest areas of the UK. How many of us new though that there are a few[…]
NEW – Giant Dinner Plate Iris
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure New plants, Ornamental gardening, Perennials Sep 19, 2019
You might have heard of dinner plate Dahlias but Irises?! Iris ensata, sometimes known as Iris kaempferi or Japanese Iris, are a stunning group of moisture loving Iris I have long been fascinated with. They are hardy and perennial. The new Dinner Plate Series however are brand new, superior breeding with huge blooms 15cm[…]
Chick Charms® – New Breeding in Sempervivums
By Mark - Garden for Pleasure Container gardening, Gardening for beginners, Ornamental gardening, Perennials May 20, 2019
Sempervivums, also known as Houseleeks or Hens and Chicks, were a plant often seen in rockeries in the nineteen seventies and were widely available on the plant stall at your local jumble sale as they are easy to propagate and grow. They sadly fell out of fashion for some time. That is until new breeding[…]