Jim Gardiner

Quick! Get to the Glasshouse at Wisley to see the Peruvian daffodil

2009-11-17T09:46:00Z

You have just a few days to enjoy the beautiful, yellow, fragrant Peruvian daffodil. It isn't common in cultivation, and this is the best I have ever seen this rarity flower, so I extend my congratulations to the team in Glass.

Late autumn tidy up at Wisley

2009-11-09T15:16:00Z

In last week's sunny weather, and this week's chill, the garden teams have been busy tidying the place ready for the cold season to come.

RHS Garden Wisley wins Large Visitor Attraction of the Year at South East Tourism Awards

2009-10-26T11:19:00Z

I am delighted to share with you the news that RHS Garden Wisley has won ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ at the Tourism Awards South East 2009. Staff and volunteers are thrilled with the decision, which was announced at a celebratory Awards Dinner hosted by Gyles Brandreth at The Wentworth Club on Thursday 22 October.

Wisley Bonfire and spectacular autumn colour at Wisley this week

2009-10-21T09:39:00Z

At the beginning of this week we had some glorious sunshine, and great crowds at our incredibly successful (and enjoyable) Taste of Autumn festival. Next week we have a host of half term activities plus something fun for Hallowe'en to look forward to, and the final week for submitting entries to the RHS photographic competition. Wisley could inspire you for this...

Our famous Nyssa sylvatica 'Wisley Bonfire' takes centre stage on Seven Acres. Here, it is set off by the pink berries of a Sorbus, with butter-yellow leaves on a birch tree behind it, and the Liquidambar styraciflua just beginning to colour up on the left. Over the next few weeks this tree will turn deep red and look stunning, and you might spot more of them around the garden, especially over in the Arboretum.

Last chance to take a prize winning picture

2009-10-14T10:09:00Z

With the autumn colours coming through, and harvests being gathered, you might just be inspired to take a stunning snap, and be in with the chance of winning £1,000 in the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual Photographic Competition.

South African botanical treasures at Wisley

2009-10-07T14:10:00Z

We are enjoying the autumn so far at Wisley. Fruits, flowers and veg are in evidence all over the Garden, and the leaves are starting to turn. We're looking forward to our Taste of Autumn Festival next week, 16-19th October, with great anticipation - it's been a fantastic event over the last few years, and this year it has an exciting new format. Can't wait!!

Plants for Bugs at Wisley: autumn update.

2009-09-30T08:35:00Z

Through the Pinetum and into Howard's Field late summer and autumn colour is coming into its own. Our heather beds are doing well, and there are carpets of beautiful pink and white Cyclamen hederifolium. And right at the end is the Plants for Bugs site, being overseen by Helen Bostock on of the RHS Horticultural Advisors. Further to the initial blog posted earlier this summer, this is her latest update.

Smiling sunflowers: colour on the Trials Field in September.

2009-09-23T13:47:00Z

Flowers continue to take centre stage in September at Wisley. If you've not been down recently, this is the perfect time to stroll around the Trials Field to enjoy a myriad of colour.

Find fine flavour and colour in early autumn at Wisley

2009-09-15T12:28:00Z

Colourful flowers and tempting vegetables, plus an orchard full of fruit and the promise of autumn leaf colour to come - Wisley is looking wonderful this month. The Glasshouse is brimming with begonias amongst an outstanding display of temperate and tropical plants. Our brand new Visitor Guide and map, 'An Edible Autumn' is now available, and highlights some of the plants around the garden at this time of year that smell good, taste great or have delicious sounding names.

September at Wisley: stimulation for your mind and garden.

2009-09-04T10:05:00Z

It's your last chance to book a place on our Perennial Seeding Workshop on Thursday 10th September. This promises to be a fantastic day for learning how to create your own perennial prairie meadow, much like ours on the western side of the Glasshouse that has looked wonderful for much of the summer. See my earlier blogs for more information or click here for more information and call 0845 612 1253.

Sculpture, fun and the ultimate in recycling at Wisley

2009-08-26T14:37:00Z

Our Wild at Wisley children's play area opened recently, and this week we've installed the new sign. It was skillfully carved by Kirsty Summerhayes who works in the Fruit and Trials department, from wood from a fallen oak tree in the garden. Wood is the major theme here, and Paul Sivell has carved a snail, an old man of the woods, dragons and more, similarly from Wisley trees. In fact all the materials for this area have been locally sourced, making it the ultimate in recycling to produce plenty of fun.

How to mow and how to sow a meadow

2009-08-19T13:26:00Z

What a beautiful day it is today. Glorious sun and blue sky, and Wisley looks fantastic. I think the sunflowers on the Trials Field would agree, maybe thinking they're in Tuscany... if sunflowers could think!

How to spend your time in the Garden this August

2009-08-05T08:44:00Z

School holidays are with us again. At Wisley, this means many things. For a start, it's time to cut the hedges. We've reduced this annual task by lessening the surface area of hedge at Wisley in a couple of areas, and when they're all cut the place looks so much tidier.

Summer sunshine, flowers and fun at Wisley

2009-07-22T14:18:00Z

Colourful July, and we're at the peak of the season. If you're coming to visit us this week look out for some of these:

On the corner of the Laboratory, the trumpet vine Campis radicans is creating a vertical carpet of deep orange. On the Top Terrace, the flowers are really starting to perform. It's creating quite a stir, and looks very pretty. I love annuals!

Come see Wisley's wonderful Missouri meadow

2009-07-06T10:52:00Z

It's truly summer now here at Wisley. In July the garden looks wonderful. We have our Armed Forces Day flag prominently positioned on the Conifer Lawn, and the sweet peas and dahlia bed (where the Subtropical Borders usually are) are flowering well. Day by day the self-sown annuals that form this year's Top Terrace bedding display are gradually coming into flower. And in the Fruit Field the cornfield annuals are at their best.

Last year I told you about the prairie meadow we prepared on the far (western) side of the Glasshouse. Designed by Prof James Hitchmough from the Dept of Landscape, University of Sheffield in January 2008, the aim was to create a meadow-like planting with a long flowering season that could be maintained relatively easily and cheaply by RHS staff.