#myddletonhouse

[fit-pixels-art]

Quick watercolour and gouache plein air study at Myddleton House Enfield. Another gloriously crisp and sunny November day sees us fight our way through afternoon traffic snarled up by some yuge jungle event at the drumsheds near tottenham. Seems a bit early in the day to be larging it but what do I know. Anyway, it was very pleasant to sit and paint for forty minutes or so despite the chilly day once we got there.

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 20 November 2019

Cascading from their containers in this cacti and succulent glasshouse were the trailing stems of Sedum morganianum (donkey's tail, burro's tail, lamb’s tail). This evergreen succulent can reach 30cm or more in length with overlapping, glaucous blue-green leaves and sometimes clusters of small, starry red-purple flowers.

Jill Raggett

[nikmemelondon-blog]

I always discover something new when I visit Myddleton House Gardens, well worth a visit ~ #enfield #london #northlondon #myddletonhouse #myddletonhousegardens #garden #fortyhall #discover #daysout #greenhouse #cactus #flowers #flower #pink #visitlondon #omgb #visitbritain #lovegreatbritain #flowerphotography #flora #floral #cacti #explore #wanderlust #prickly (at Myddelton House Gardens)

[dandelioninajungle]

Some of my favourite pictures from yesterday, ft. My mum. #garden #englishgarden #green #greenery #nature #leevalley #eabowles #myddletonhouse #enfield #flowers #squash #kitchengarden #beauty (at Myddelton House Gardens)

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Tuesday 19 November 2019

The cascading stems of Hoya linearis (wax flower, porcelain flower) was thriving in this warm, humid glasshouse. The plant is native to the Himalayas and needs to maintain temperatures above 10C in winter.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 18 November 2019

The red bracts on the flowering stem of Racinaea dyeriana (Tillandsia dyeriana) each have a small white flower that only lasts a few hours and then darkens. This air plant is an endemic of Ecuador and grows in mangrove forests where it is critically endangered due to habitat lost.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 8 February 2020

Growing in the shelter of a net tunnel the Allium ampeloprasum ‘Giant Winter’ (leek) can be harvested when needed. This very hardy late variety produces thick leaves that are tightly wrapped to form a tall cylindrical shape, they can stand in the ground for a long time through the winter. Seeds are sown from January to February under glass or March to April outdoors.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 15 November 2019

Here the branches of the deciduous shrub Berberis 'Georgei' (barberry) form an arch over the path. This sterile hybrid produces an abundance of yellow flowers in the late spring that are followed by these red berries which made a great show, even on a grey day in the rain.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Sunday 9 February 2020

In the productive garden at Myddelton House, Enfield, UK, Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Red Bull' (Brussels sprout) was ready for harvest as needed. This European sprout variety has a mild, delicate, nuttier flavour than standard green types. The red colour is enhanced and develops greater intensity after a hard frost.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Sunday 9 June 2019

In the conservatory of Myddelton House, Enfield, London, was the cactus Cereus validus 'Spiralis' (twisted cereus, contorted cereus, helter skelter cactus) described on a website I saw as “...cool, funky, with an alien vibe”! This columnar cactus is a native of South America so in the U.K. this plant needs to grow inside with bright but indirect light.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 16 November 2019

In the warm glasshouse of Myddleton House, London, the beautifully trained climber Aristolochia grandiflora (pelican flower, Dutchman’s pipe) was flowering. These dramatic blooms have evolved to be pollinated by flies attracted by a foul smell, similar to that of rotting meat. Each trumpet-shaped flower lasts for two days. On the first day it is in the female phase, with the flies trapped by downward facing hairs in the pouch of the flower to ensure pollination. On the next day, the flower changes to male phase and pollen is deposited on the pollinators, the odour disappears, the hairs wither and the insects are released to visit the next flower.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 8 June 2019

The drama of the flowering spikes of the monocarpic giant echiums flowering at Myddelton House, Enfield, London. The species are probably Echium pininana (giant viper's bugloss, tree echium) and Echium wildpretii (tower of jewels, tree echium) or their hybrids. These plants are biennial or short-lived perennials and die after flowering and setting seed. The bees were enjoying the opportunities provided by so many flowers.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Saturday 15 June 2019

Growing over the wall, winding through the gateway and thriving in a shady corner is Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris (climbing hydrangea). This is a vigorous, large, self-clinging, deciduous climber with flower heads made up of small fertile flowers surrounded by showy white sterile ones.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Monday 10 June 2019

In the productive garden Allium schoenoprasum (chives) are grown for their onion-tasting leaves and attractive edible pinky-purple flowers. This low maintenance herbaceous perennial is ideal for edging paths and borders with the flowers attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Friday 28 June 2019

For summer container displays succulents make an alternative to water needy bedding plants. Recently I have seen Aeonium 'Zwartkop', Agave species, and Crassula rogersii (stonecrop) all used to create sculptural displays.

Jill Raggett

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Thursday 6 June 2019

Myddelton House Garden, Enfield, London, was the home of the renowned gardener E A Bowles and in the restored productive garden is a display of Dykes Medal irises. This is a recognised Plant Heritage Collection of Iris with each cultivar having received the Dykes Medal from the American Iris Society. These plants thrive in this sunny location with good drainage.

Jill Raggett