Chez JR: woodland gardening in London
24 May, 2025
Six on Saturday - 24th May 2025
15 May, 2025
Open Gardens 2025 - plants from 101JR
Open Gardens - about the plants
Campanula
Crambe cordifolia
Crassula ovata
Geranium
Hylotelephium (the plant formerly known as sedum)
Jasmine Beesianum
Jasmine (common)
Jasmine (winter flowering)
Lamium
Mint
Pittosporum tobira
Phormium
Raspberry "Malling Promise"
Sorbaria Sorbifolia
Tradescantia Zebrina
Vinca minor
28 April, 2025
Telegraph Hill Open Gardens 2025
Telegraph Hill Open Gardens 2025
Saturday 17th May & Sunday 18th May 14:00 - 18:00
02 September, 2023
Six on Saturday - 2nd September 2023
Survivors and thrivers
One: rose
This started life in my company as one of those little pots of living flowers given to me by a friend for my birthday a couple or three years ago. I planted it out and it has survived. When it is in bud/early flower it is particularly pretty.
Two: Clematis Armandii - again!
I thought I was seeing things last week - a single wisteria flower and a single c. armandii flower. I wasn't. Armandii has put on a second flush of smallish flowers for reasons only known to itself. Here's a picture to prove it.
Three: the plant formerly known as sedum
I know they are very common and very easy to grow but at this time of year they bring a bit of brash joy to the garden. This clump are only just starting to colour up but even so, have been attracting bees for a couple of weeks now. Perfect timing as the nearby lavender has just received a trimming so there's something for the bees to move on to.
Four: survivors
Yes, it's the apple tree again but humour me: it lost its second bough in December 2014, it is now hollow half way down, and home to gazillions of anty & beetly creatures, and yet it is still producing apples. They are cookers and we've rescued the remains of the crop from the clutches of the squirrels and they are making a jolly nice addition to the breakfast museli at the moment. The apples that is, not the squirrels. I fully expect to wake up one morning and find the trunk on the ground as it is already very wobbly indeed. Also surviving and thriving is a begonia that I thought was lost to last December's exceptionally cold weather. Not a bit of it.
Five: harvest surprise
I mentioned the courgettes in the last post. They are still going strong and I'm still picking them when they are small, generally getting a couple a day. These are this morning's. Also in the trug are blueberries, some tomatoes - semi-ripe as I'm finding that some critters are availing themselves of the crop as it ripens - and a long aubergine. Finally, a nice surprise. I'd failed with cucumber seeds this year and so bought a young plant from I can't remember where. It is now creeping around the greenhouse and producing fruit which are nothing like those pictured on the label. A brief consultation with #GardeningTwitter experts and I find that I'm growing what is most likely Cucumber Crystal Apple. They are exquisetly sweet and flavoursome. Thanks to the responsive folks over at the Royal Horticultural Society for warning about discarding them if they were bitter. Happily they are anything but.
Six: Japanse anemone honorine jobert
These are standing about six feet tall this year and are flourishing. Over the years they've produced offspring which pop up tens of feet away. I can forgive them for that given the long show they give me and how very undemanding they are.
19 August, 2023
Six on Saturday - 19th August 2023
Remembering mum
One: Rosa Gentle Hermione
Two: Geranium Rozanne
Another bee magnet, and a fantastically long flowering plant. It does wilt somewhat in the heat, but has been very well behaved during July and August.
Three: Clematis "Princess Diana"
Diana does well in the shade although I've probably not been feeding her enough. I don't recall getting around to pruning her last year so it is a wonder that there are any flowers this year!
Diana does well in the shade although I've probably not been feeding her enough. I don't recall getting around to pruning her last year so it is a wonder that there are any flowers this year!
Four: Canna tropicanna black
Five: Clematis viticella (probably)
Six: Augergine "moneymaker"
25 June, 2023
Six on Saturday - 24th June 2023
All things blue and beautiful
One: bright blue Hydrangea Macrophylla Zorro
Two: beginning to go blue
I've been giving Mum's hydrangea the "Zorro" treatment. I've had it since she passed in 2014 and it has been pink most years. It certainly has some blue tinges now. Come back in another year or two to see if I've been successful in turning the pompoms blue.
Three: blue bee heaven
This is one of several profusions of campanula which are dotted around the garden. The bees adore it if the buzzing is anything to go by.
Four: bicycle blues
Five: Salvia "amethyst lips
Six: fortification
28 January, 2023
Six on Saturday - 28th January 2023
New year, new signs of growth
One: Chinese money plant in a special oriental pot
Two: Snowdrop in waiting
Three: Zorro in waiting
Four: Sorbaria Sorbifolia poised to put on a display
Five: Euphorbia characias
Six: summer fruits awaiting
This is my latest in the #SixOnSaturday series inspired by The Propagator and currently being championed over at Garden Ruminations. Check out the participant guide here. I aspire to be as disciplined, creative and inspiring as them but for now, I'll remain pleased if I can just limp on with a post every now and again. Next week is another singing week so I'll hope to be back the week after.
Six on Saturday - 24th May 2025
Six on Saturday - it's been a while! Goodness, my last #SixOnSaturday was way back in September 2023. A lot of life has happened since t...

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Telegraph Hill Open Gardens 2025 Saturday 17th May & Sunday 18th May 14:00 - 18:00 Local gardens in and around Telegraph Hill, SE London...
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Open Gardens - about the plants You'll most likely be reading this page because you visited our garden as part of the Telegraph Hill Ope...
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Six on Saturday - it's been a while! Goodness, my last #SixOnSaturday was way back in September 2023. A lot of life has happened since t...