Lou Nicholls
@loujnicholls.bsky.social
Gardening writing, art, botany, horticulture
Horticultural adventures & other blarney
horticultural trainer, consultant
Freelance writer, public speaker
www.linktr.ee/loujnicholls
Horticultural adventures & other blarney
horticultural trainer, consultant
Freelance writer, public speaker
www.linktr.ee/loujnicholls
Pinned
Lou Nicholls
@loujnicholls.bsky.social
· Nov 20
A big welcome to all the new arrivals on blue sky
I'm a professional gardener who loves sharing my day, cut flowers, veg, vintage China and cats
If this sounds like your thing come say hi 🤗🌱
I'm a professional gardener who loves sharing my day, cut flowers, veg, vintage China and cats
If this sounds like your thing come say hi 🤗🌱
So who felt the earthquake!?!
December 4, 2025 at 7:18 AM
So who felt the earthquake!?!
Reposted by Lou Nicholls
Snowdrop advent calendar day 3
An ever popular classic 'Diggory'
Named after the son of the finder, Rosie Steele, a distinct cultivar of Galanthus plicatus
Its flowers are large & balloon shaped with a wonderful pleated effect like seersucker cloth
#galanthus #snowdrop #gardenadventcalendar
An ever popular classic 'Diggory'
Named after the son of the finder, Rosie Steele, a distinct cultivar of Galanthus plicatus
Its flowers are large & balloon shaped with a wonderful pleated effect like seersucker cloth
#galanthus #snowdrop #gardenadventcalendar
December 3, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Snowdrop advent calendar day 3
An ever popular classic 'Diggory'
Named after the son of the finder, Rosie Steele, a distinct cultivar of Galanthus plicatus
Its flowers are large & balloon shaped with a wonderful pleated effect like seersucker cloth
#galanthus #snowdrop #gardenadventcalendar
An ever popular classic 'Diggory'
Named after the son of the finder, Rosie Steele, a distinct cultivar of Galanthus plicatus
Its flowers are large & balloon shaped with a wonderful pleated effect like seersucker cloth
#galanthus #snowdrop #gardenadventcalendar
Good morning
Heres some sunshine for a potentially grey day, more work on improving the borders, splitting, dividing etc
Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun'
A result of crossing Mahonia japonica & Mahonia lomariifolia in the 1950s. Released in 1966, swiftly became a popular plant
Have an awesome day 🌱
Heres some sunshine for a potentially grey day, more work on improving the borders, splitting, dividing etc
Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun'
A result of crossing Mahonia japonica & Mahonia lomariifolia in the 1950s. Released in 1966, swiftly became a popular plant
Have an awesome day 🌱
December 4, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Good morning
Heres some sunshine for a potentially grey day, more work on improving the borders, splitting, dividing etc
Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun'
A result of crossing Mahonia japonica & Mahonia lomariifolia in the 1950s. Released in 1966, swiftly became a popular plant
Have an awesome day 🌱
Heres some sunshine for a potentially grey day, more work on improving the borders, splitting, dividing etc
Mahonia x media 'Winter Sun'
A result of crossing Mahonia japonica & Mahonia lomariifolia in the 1950s. Released in 1966, swiftly became a popular plant
Have an awesome day 🌱
Reposted by Lou Nicholls
EARLY CAT: What that?
HUMAN: A fish. You can eat them.
EARLY CAT: Mine now. I need it. I need the fish. Without fish I die. Gimmie fish.
HUMAN: But you're from the desert. How can you possibly-
EARLY CAT: WOE. WOE FOR KITTY. HUMAN INFLICTS A THOUSAND WOES ON-
HUMAN: God. Fine. Have it.
HUMAN: A fish. You can eat them.
EARLY CAT: Mine now. I need it. I need the fish. Without fish I die. Gimmie fish.
HUMAN: But you're from the desert. How can you possibly-
EARLY CAT: WOE. WOE FOR KITTY. HUMAN INFLICTS A THOUSAND WOES ON-
HUMAN: God. Fine. Have it.
December 3, 2025 at 9:57 AM
EARLY CAT: What that?
HUMAN: A fish. You can eat them.
EARLY CAT: Mine now. I need it. I need the fish. Without fish I die. Gimmie fish.
HUMAN: But you're from the desert. How can you possibly-
EARLY CAT: WOE. WOE FOR KITTY. HUMAN INFLICTS A THOUSAND WOES ON-
HUMAN: God. Fine. Have it.
HUMAN: A fish. You can eat them.
EARLY CAT: Mine now. I need it. I need the fish. Without fish I die. Gimmie fish.
HUMAN: But you're from the desert. How can you possibly-
EARLY CAT: WOE. WOE FOR KITTY. HUMAN INFLICTS A THOUSAND WOES ON-
HUMAN: God. Fine. Have it.
Snowdrop advent calendar day 3
An ever popular classic 'Diggory'
Named after the son of the finder, Rosie Steele, a distinct cultivar of Galanthus plicatus
Its flowers are large & balloon shaped with a wonderful pleated effect like seersucker cloth
#galanthus #snowdrop #gardenadventcalendar
An ever popular classic 'Diggory'
Named after the son of the finder, Rosie Steele, a distinct cultivar of Galanthus plicatus
Its flowers are large & balloon shaped with a wonderful pleated effect like seersucker cloth
#galanthus #snowdrop #gardenadventcalendar
December 3, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Snowdrop advent calendar day 3
An ever popular classic 'Diggory'
Named after the son of the finder, Rosie Steele, a distinct cultivar of Galanthus plicatus
Its flowers are large & balloon shaped with a wonderful pleated effect like seersucker cloth
#galanthus #snowdrop #gardenadventcalendar
An ever popular classic 'Diggory'
Named after the son of the finder, Rosie Steele, a distinct cultivar of Galanthus plicatus
Its flowers are large & balloon shaped with a wonderful pleated effect like seersucker cloth
#galanthus #snowdrop #gardenadventcalendar
Good morning
Great day yesterday we got 2 borders almost finished, still a bit to do but hopefully it will stay dry for us
Todays plant
Lonicera fragrantissima
Winter-flowering honeysuckle
Introduced to the UK 1845 from China
The flowers are highly scented of lemon & vanilla
Have a brilliant day 🌱
Great day yesterday we got 2 borders almost finished, still a bit to do but hopefully it will stay dry for us
Todays plant
Lonicera fragrantissima
Winter-flowering honeysuckle
Introduced to the UK 1845 from China
The flowers are highly scented of lemon & vanilla
Have a brilliant day 🌱
December 3, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Good morning
Great day yesterday we got 2 borders almost finished, still a bit to do but hopefully it will stay dry for us
Todays plant
Lonicera fragrantissima
Winter-flowering honeysuckle
Introduced to the UK 1845 from China
The flowers are highly scented of lemon & vanilla
Have a brilliant day 🌱
Great day yesterday we got 2 borders almost finished, still a bit to do but hopefully it will stay dry for us
Todays plant
Lonicera fragrantissima
Winter-flowering honeysuckle
Introduced to the UK 1845 from China
The flowers are highly scented of lemon & vanilla
Have a brilliant day 🌱
Snowdrop advent calendar day 2
Galanthus 'Alans treat'
Originally found in Normandy in 2003 by the late Alan Street its a beautiful poculiform with virescent outer tepals
Its considered bad form to name a plant after yourself
So a clever play on words was employed to sidestep this rule 😂
Galanthus 'Alans treat'
Originally found in Normandy in 2003 by the late Alan Street its a beautiful poculiform with virescent outer tepals
Its considered bad form to name a plant after yourself
So a clever play on words was employed to sidestep this rule 😂
December 2, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Snowdrop advent calendar day 2
Galanthus 'Alans treat'
Originally found in Normandy in 2003 by the late Alan Street its a beautiful poculiform with virescent outer tepals
Its considered bad form to name a plant after yourself
So a clever play on words was employed to sidestep this rule 😂
Galanthus 'Alans treat'
Originally found in Normandy in 2003 by the late Alan Street its a beautiful poculiform with virescent outer tepals
Its considered bad form to name a plant after yourself
So a clever play on words was employed to sidestep this rule 😂
Snowdrop advent calendar day 1
(Delayed)
This little shining beauty is 'Madeleine'
Found at Joe Sharman's nursery Monksilver and named for his niece
It has plicatus in its ancestry but is definitely a hybrid.
The yellow colour can be very variable according to light levels and soil conditions
(Delayed)
This little shining beauty is 'Madeleine'
Found at Joe Sharman's nursery Monksilver and named for his niece
It has plicatus in its ancestry but is definitely a hybrid.
The yellow colour can be very variable according to light levels and soil conditions
December 2, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Snowdrop advent calendar day 1
(Delayed)
This little shining beauty is 'Madeleine'
Found at Joe Sharman's nursery Monksilver and named for his niece
It has plicatus in its ancestry but is definitely a hybrid.
The yellow colour can be very variable according to light levels and soil conditions
(Delayed)
This little shining beauty is 'Madeleine'
Found at Joe Sharman's nursery Monksilver and named for his niece
It has plicatus in its ancestry but is definitely a hybrid.
The yellow colour can be very variable according to light levels and soil conditions
Good morning
A much brighter day today so back onto the borders giving them the love they deserve
Today's plant is
Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
introduced by Robert Fortune in 1844 or 1858 dependingon sources, verdun, France
Aka windflower
Have a brilliant day 🌱
A much brighter day today so back onto the borders giving them the love they deserve
Today's plant is
Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
introduced by Robert Fortune in 1844 or 1858 dependingon sources, verdun, France
Aka windflower
Have a brilliant day 🌱
December 2, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Good morning
A much brighter day today so back onto the borders giving them the love they deserve
Today's plant is
Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
introduced by Robert Fortune in 1844 or 1858 dependingon sources, verdun, France
Aka windflower
Have a brilliant day 🌱
A much brighter day today so back onto the borders giving them the love they deserve
Today's plant is
Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
introduced by Robert Fortune in 1844 or 1858 dependingon sources, verdun, France
Aka windflower
Have a brilliant day 🌱
Good morning
Looks like a very wet week ahead but thats ok, we have lots of dahlias to clean & Chrysanthemums to pot up
Today's plant is
Petasites pyrenaicus
Aka winter heliotrope, introduced to the uk in 1806 from the Mediterranean
There are ONLY male plants in the uk
Have an awesome day 🌱
Looks like a very wet week ahead but thats ok, we have lots of dahlias to clean & Chrysanthemums to pot up
Today's plant is
Petasites pyrenaicus
Aka winter heliotrope, introduced to the uk in 1806 from the Mediterranean
There are ONLY male plants in the uk
Have an awesome day 🌱
December 1, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Good morning
Looks like a very wet week ahead but thats ok, we have lots of dahlias to clean & Chrysanthemums to pot up
Today's plant is
Petasites pyrenaicus
Aka winter heliotrope, introduced to the uk in 1806 from the Mediterranean
There are ONLY male plants in the uk
Have an awesome day 🌱
Looks like a very wet week ahead but thats ok, we have lots of dahlias to clean & Chrysanthemums to pot up
Today's plant is
Petasites pyrenaicus
Aka winter heliotrope, introduced to the uk in 1806 from the Mediterranean
There are ONLY male plants in the uk
Have an awesome day 🌱
Good morning!
Its Friday again!
Its been a really good week, we got all of the tulips in, all the dahlia, chrysanthemum and cannas lifted and 2 borders done really thoroughly
Paraserianthes lophantha, Cape wattle, Crested wattle, Brush wattle or plume albizia
Have an amazing day 🌱
Its Friday again!
Its been a really good week, we got all of the tulips in, all the dahlia, chrysanthemum and cannas lifted and 2 borders done really thoroughly
Paraserianthes lophantha, Cape wattle, Crested wattle, Brush wattle or plume albizia
Have an amazing day 🌱
November 28, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Good morning!
Its Friday again!
Its been a really good week, we got all of the tulips in, all the dahlia, chrysanthemum and cannas lifted and 2 borders done really thoroughly
Paraserianthes lophantha, Cape wattle, Crested wattle, Brush wattle or plume albizia
Have an amazing day 🌱
Its Friday again!
Its been a really good week, we got all of the tulips in, all the dahlia, chrysanthemum and cannas lifted and 2 borders done really thoroughly
Paraserianthes lophantha, Cape wattle, Crested wattle, Brush wattle or plume albizia
Have an amazing day 🌱
Reposted by Lou Nicholls
Jar with Spiral Designs, Northwest China, Neolithic period, Majiayao culture, Majiayao phase, 3300-2650 BCE, earthenware with slip-painted decoration, diameter: 39.1 cm, overall: 45.2 cm, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
November 26, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Jar with Spiral Designs, Northwest China, Neolithic period, Majiayao culture, Majiayao phase, 3300-2650 BCE, earthenware with slip-painted decoration, diameter: 39.1 cm, overall: 45.2 cm, Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Reposted by Lou Nicholls
Municipal trees lead a sad sort of life - branches over-pruned, roots constrained by concrete, the iron guards used as handy rubbish bins and, lest we forget, peed on endlessly by passing dogs. Still, nothing says
#NationalTreeWeek like a London park with a few spindly trees thrown in…
#linocut
#NationalTreeWeek like a London park with a few spindly trees thrown in…
#linocut
November 26, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Municipal trees lead a sad sort of life - branches over-pruned, roots constrained by concrete, the iron guards used as handy rubbish bins and, lest we forget, peed on endlessly by passing dogs. Still, nothing says
#NationalTreeWeek like a London park with a few spindly trees thrown in…
#linocut
#NationalTreeWeek like a London park with a few spindly trees thrown in…
#linocut
Reposted by Lou Nicholls
Gardener with a Wheelbarrow - 1884
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/13363
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/13363
November 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Gardener with a Wheelbarrow - 1884
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/13363
https://botfrens.com/collections/46/contents/13363
Reposted by Lou Nicholls
Rhodanthe Athens design jug c 1934 by UK ceramics designer Clarice Cliff #WomensArt
November 27, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Rhodanthe Athens design jug c 1934 by UK ceramics designer Clarice Cliff #WomensArt
And the berries are absolutely delicious but will send you more mental than an espresso martini and a can of monster 😂
#plants #history #botany #art 🌱
Coffea arabica - Coffee Plant
Source of the stimulant Caffeine (and you'd be surprised how many medications contain it). Isolated by Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, c1819.
The long, colourful history of coffee - goats, kings, popes...
www.aboutcoffee.org/origins/hist...
Coffea arabica - Coffee Plant
Source of the stimulant Caffeine (and you'd be surprised how many medications contain it). Isolated by Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, c1819.
The long, colourful history of coffee - goats, kings, popes...
www.aboutcoffee.org/origins/hist...
November 27, 2025 at 6:46 AM
And the berries are absolutely delicious but will send you more mental than an espresso martini and a can of monster 😂
Good morning!
Yesterday was an opportunity for some really beautiful frosty photos with a start of -4.5
It was really lovely!
A much warmer cloudier day ahead as we cut down and weed the herbacous borders
Hopefully staying dry
Have a wonderful day 🌱
Yesterday was an opportunity for some really beautiful frosty photos with a start of -4.5
It was really lovely!
A much warmer cloudier day ahead as we cut down and weed the herbacous borders
Hopefully staying dry
Have a wonderful day 🌱
November 27, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Good morning!
Yesterday was an opportunity for some really beautiful frosty photos with a start of -4.5
It was really lovely!
A much warmer cloudier day ahead as we cut down and weed the herbacous borders
Hopefully staying dry
Have a wonderful day 🌱
Yesterday was an opportunity for some really beautiful frosty photos with a start of -4.5
It was really lovely!
A much warmer cloudier day ahead as we cut down and weed the herbacous borders
Hopefully staying dry
Have a wonderful day 🌱
Good morning
A tired start today but i finally feel I'm starting to recover from that awful virus!
Todays beauty is
Eranthis hyemalis, or winter aconite
Introduced to the UK in the 1500s from France, Italy, & the Balkans, has since become widely naturalised
Have a fantastic day 🌱
A tired start today but i finally feel I'm starting to recover from that awful virus!
Todays beauty is
Eranthis hyemalis, or winter aconite
Introduced to the UK in the 1500s from France, Italy, & the Balkans, has since become widely naturalised
Have a fantastic day 🌱
November 26, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Good morning
A tired start today but i finally feel I'm starting to recover from that awful virus!
Todays beauty is
Eranthis hyemalis, or winter aconite
Introduced to the UK in the 1500s from France, Italy, & the Balkans, has since become widely naturalised
Have a fantastic day 🌱
A tired start today but i finally feel I'm starting to recover from that awful virus!
Todays beauty is
Eranthis hyemalis, or winter aconite
Introduced to the UK in the 1500s from France, Italy, & the Balkans, has since become widely naturalised
Have a fantastic day 🌱
Good morning
Hopefully a dry day ahead as were finishing up on planting the tulips, last 1000 to go!
Iris unguicularis, the Algerian iris, a winter flowering, scented plant thats native to Algeria, Greece, Turkey, Western Syria, and Tunisia.
Have an awesome day! 🌱
Hopefully a dry day ahead as were finishing up on planting the tulips, last 1000 to go!
Iris unguicularis, the Algerian iris, a winter flowering, scented plant thats native to Algeria, Greece, Turkey, Western Syria, and Tunisia.
Have an awesome day! 🌱
November 25, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Good morning
Hopefully a dry day ahead as were finishing up on planting the tulips, last 1000 to go!
Iris unguicularis, the Algerian iris, a winter flowering, scented plant thats native to Algeria, Greece, Turkey, Western Syria, and Tunisia.
Have an awesome day! 🌱
Hopefully a dry day ahead as were finishing up on planting the tulips, last 1000 to go!
Iris unguicularis, the Algerian iris, a winter flowering, scented plant thats native to Algeria, Greece, Turkey, Western Syria, and Tunisia.
Have an awesome day! 🌱
Reposted by Lou Nicholls
Simon Palmer.
'Pennine Railway'
Watercolour, ink & gouache, 1993.
'Pennine Railway'
Watercolour, ink & gouache, 1993.
November 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Simon Palmer.
'Pennine Railway'
Watercolour, ink & gouache, 1993.
'Pennine Railway'
Watercolour, ink & gouache, 1993.
Reposted by Lou Nicholls
November 23, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Good morning
We are fully into snowdrop season
I have peter gatehouse & 3 ships in flower at home
This is Dryad Gold Sovereign
Saw a list of snowdrop prices that were based in fantasy yesterday
Careful of buying from disreputable sellers. Contact a snowdrop grower for advice
Have a great day 🌱
We are fully into snowdrop season
I have peter gatehouse & 3 ships in flower at home
This is Dryad Gold Sovereign
Saw a list of snowdrop prices that were based in fantasy yesterday
Careful of buying from disreputable sellers. Contact a snowdrop grower for advice
Have a great day 🌱
November 24, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Good morning
We are fully into snowdrop season
I have peter gatehouse & 3 ships in flower at home
This is Dryad Gold Sovereign
Saw a list of snowdrop prices that were based in fantasy yesterday
Careful of buying from disreputable sellers. Contact a snowdrop grower for advice
Have a great day 🌱
We are fully into snowdrop season
I have peter gatehouse & 3 ships in flower at home
This is Dryad Gold Sovereign
Saw a list of snowdrop prices that were based in fantasy yesterday
Careful of buying from disreputable sellers. Contact a snowdrop grower for advice
Have a great day 🌱
I have come home early as im feely a bit rough still and i want my own bed but im absolutely delighted to have been awarded the Clifford Crook cup
Thank you @alpinegardensoc.bsky.social
Thank you @alpinegardensoc.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I have come home early as im feely a bit rough still and i want my own bed but im absolutely delighted to have been awarded the Clifford Crook cup
Thank you @alpinegardensoc.bsky.social
Thank you @alpinegardensoc.bsky.social
Photos from yesterday!!
Lots of lovely garden people and xmas at the savoy!
Lots of lovely garden people and xmas at the savoy!
November 22, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Photos from yesterday!!
Lots of lovely garden people and xmas at the savoy!
Lots of lovely garden people and xmas at the savoy!
Good morning!
Yesterday was wonderful and im really looking forward to today too!
Off to the alpine garden societies AGM with the associated lectures
Lots of fantastic things to learn and lovely people to see ❤️
Have a great day! 🌱
Yesterday was wonderful and im really looking forward to today too!
Off to the alpine garden societies AGM with the associated lectures
Lots of fantastic things to learn and lovely people to see ❤️
Have a great day! 🌱
November 22, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Good morning!
Yesterday was wonderful and im really looking forward to today too!
Off to the alpine garden societies AGM with the associated lectures
Lots of fantastic things to learn and lovely people to see ❤️
Have a great day! 🌱
Yesterday was wonderful and im really looking forward to today too!
Off to the alpine garden societies AGM with the associated lectures
Lots of fantastic things to learn and lovely people to see ❤️
Have a great day! 🌱