The Japanese Wisteria, W. brachybotrys from Kyushu Island. Growing here in the white garden at Sissinghurst, up towards the open window of the Priest's House.
The airy and beautiful Melica f. albida has become my 'go to' grass for weaving through planting, unifying the whole. It effortlessly looks good with everything. Here, in tandem with wallflower 'Ruby Gem', Euphorbia sikkimensis, Rosa 'Mary Queen of Scots', Lathyrus vernus alboroseus and Darmera peltata
May 1st - Sissinghurst
1. Welcome
2. Tower
3. Rosa Mary Queen of Scots
4. Azalea and Onoclea fern in the nut platt
5. Dove cot in the Orchard
6. Delos and the Priest's House
7. Blossom
The Green-winged Orchid (Anacamptis morio), is a short, spring-flowering, perennial found in unimproved grasslands, particularly on damp clay soils.
It is celebrated for its, often, intense purple-pink flowers 7 - 30cm in height, that bloom between April and June.
The flowers are clustered at the top, varying from deep purple to pink or white. The "hood" of the flower has distinct green veins, which gives the plant its name.
The leaves are narrow, pointed, and unlike the similar Early-purple Orchid, they are never spotted.
It is a "deceit" orchid pollinated by bumblebees; it attracts them with its vibrant colour and scent but offers no nectar, forcing bees to move quickly between plants.
It is a long-lived plant with a below-ground tuber and relies on a special relationship with fungi in the soil to germinate.
The Green-winged Orchid is classified as Near Threatened in Great Britain and is in decline due to habitat loss, agricultural "improvement" of grasslands (use of fertilizers), and neglect of traditional management.
Here in our Orchard at Sissinghurst, we work hard to ensure the conditions suit the spread of this and other native wild orchids. As a result, numbers are increasing year on year, with 515 counted yesterday.
Davidia involucrata (Dove tree) introduced by Ernest Wilson in 1904. Seen here growing in the garden at Gravetye Manor (which was all looking quite incredibly beautiful) huge congrats to @tom._coward and team
Working in collaboration with Dan Pearson Studio, our evocation of a Grecian landscape, first imagined and realised at Sissinghurst by Harold and Vita in the early 1930's, is fully complete. A joy of a project and a planting that will slowly improve and evolve. Thank you @coyotewillow@froggattnigel
See Sissinghurst burst to life over the summer months☀️
Part 3 of Troy Scott Smith's course, 'The Art of Gardening at Sissinghurst,' is now on Create Academy.
Explore the full course in the link in bio 🔗
In this final section, 'Late Spring & Summer', join @troyscottsmith1 as he takes you through how he plans, prunes, and transforms the Sissinghurst gardens in preparation for summer.
🌻 Potter around the Sissinghurst Rose Garden
🌻 Learn how to create and adapt a planting plan
🌻 Add to the White Border for summer
🌻 Learn how to tidy up iris beds
🌻 See how Troy and Paul create rich compost
#Sissinghurst #gardening #troyscottsmith #createacademy
What a privilege and absolute joy to spend a few days visiting Sissinghurst, Great Dixter, Gravetye Manor, and Munstead Wood. I'm in awe of the ambition and imagination of the creators, but also I recognise and applaud the talent, care, and expertise of those teams who care for these special places today.
