Kari's Garden
@karisgarden.bsky.social
I'm here, for plants, gardens, and bit of art, history, books and nature. I give talks about plants with a past and gardening with scented plants.
Hair Ice - I've seen this on the socials before but never in reality. This morning on a frost-dead heliotrope - apparently a fungus creates the conditions for the ice to form as fine hair-like strands.
November 21, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Hair Ice - I've seen this on the socials before but never in reality. This morning on a frost-dead heliotrope - apparently a fungus creates the conditions for the ice to form as fine hair-like strands.
Flowering late as usual, a hugely big fuchsia floof - I think it is 'Phénoménal' bred by Victor Lemoine in the 19thCentury,
(labels got muddled so could be Baron de Ketteler which to my untrained eye looks similar)
(labels got muddled so could be Baron de Ketteler which to my untrained eye looks similar)
October 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Flowering late as usual, a hugely big fuchsia floof - I think it is 'Phénoménal' bred by Victor Lemoine in the 19thCentury,
(labels got muddled so could be Baron de Ketteler which to my untrained eye looks similar)
(labels got muddled so could be Baron de Ketteler which to my untrained eye looks similar)
Hardy autumn flowering camellia bred by William Ackerman in the US, 'Snow Flurry', said to be scented but I can't detect much if any scent - perhaps it needs more warmth than here in the UK.
October 20, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Hardy autumn flowering camellia bred by William Ackerman in the US, 'Snow Flurry', said to be scented but I can't detect much if any scent - perhaps it needs more warmth than here in the UK.
Still enjoying the exotica outside as we make our way coolly and rainily further into autumn, this lovely abutilon will be moved into an unheated greenhouse in a few weeks. Ipomoea 'Flying Saucers' is at peak flowering. Fuchsia 'Lady Bacon' putting on a good show after the heat, is hardy here.
September 14, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still enjoying the exotica outside as we make our way coolly and rainily further into autumn, this lovely abutilon will be moved into an unheated greenhouse in a few weeks. Ipomoea 'Flying Saucers' is at peak flowering. Fuchsia 'Lady Bacon' putting on a good show after the heat, is hardy here.
🌱 Worra a lot of grasses - as you might expect at Knoll Gardens near Bournemouth. First visit. Loved it.
August 24, 2025 at 1:50 PM
🌱 Worra a lot of grasses - as you might expect at Knoll Gardens near Bournemouth. First visit. Loved it.
🌱A wet Keith Wiley's Wildside garden yesterday in Devon. Dartmoor and surrounds was under a big black cloud. Picnic in the car. All sunny at home.
August 8, 2025 at 10:15 AM
🌱A wet Keith Wiley's Wildside garden yesterday in Devon. Dartmoor and surrounds was under a big black cloud. Picnic in the car. All sunny at home.
Possibly a Gatekeeper image from @savebutterflies.bsky.social
butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/...
butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/...
July 26, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Possibly a Gatekeeper image from @savebutterflies.bsky.social
butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/...
butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/...
🌱 Tall Verbena bonariensis is very popular with the butterflies and flowers for ages. In winter I have seen goldfinches eating the seeds. The Veronicastrum works and the blue eryngiums good for bees too - names in the alt text
July 16, 2025 at 2:28 PM
🌱 Tall Verbena bonariensis is very popular with the butterflies and flowers for ages. In winter I have seen goldfinches eating the seeds. The Veronicastrum works and the blue eryngiums good for bees too - names in the alt text
🌱 Lilium lankongense fragrant and delicate - a Green Veined White butterfly taking full advantage
July 8, 2025 at 2:47 PM
🌱 Lilium lankongense fragrant and delicate - a Green Veined White butterfly taking full advantage
🌱 Totally agree. I have had this old dianthus 'Bridal Veil' (admittedly not seed grown) on and off for years, she may not linger long in my garden, but as you say - an old friend
July 5, 2025 at 1:47 PM
🌱 Totally agree. I have had this old dianthus 'Bridal Veil' (admittedly not seed grown) on and off for years, she may not linger long in my garden, but as you say - an old friend
Moth's abounding - we are not experts in identification! Favourites are hawkmoths including this jazzy Elephant Hawk Moth, the biggest from last night's haul was Privet Hawkmoth, jagged winged Poplar Hawkmoth and fuzzy faced buff tip
July 1, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Moth's abounding - we are not experts in identification! Favourites are hawkmoths including this jazzy Elephant Hawk Moth, the biggest from last night's haul was Privet Hawkmoth, jagged winged Poplar Hawkmoth and fuzzy faced buff tip
Rather hoping these wee beasties will stop cavorting with the lily and her seemingly delicious charms and get on with the blackfly backlog on the dahlias 🌱
June 16, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Rather hoping these wee beasties will stop cavorting with the lily and her seemingly delicious charms and get on with the blackfly backlog on the dahlias 🌱
Rather lovely - I think it features a little flower I am following through history, the blue Convolvulus tricolor
June 12, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Rather lovely - I think it features a little flower I am following through history, the blue Convolvulus tricolor
🌱 Peony Madame Lemoine a classic peony from 1899
June 7, 2025 at 8:17 AM
🌱 Peony Madame Lemoine a classic peony from 1899
Yesterday spent an immersive afternoon at a NGS open day at Serge Hill, home to garden designer Tom Stuart Smith. Loved the airiness of the fireweed (Stahl Rose?) against the formalish lumpy bumpy hedging. In a few months the 'meadow' will be waving with towering silphiums, and eryngiums, big change
June 2, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Yesterday spent an immersive afternoon at a NGS open day at Serge Hill, home to garden designer Tom Stuart Smith. Loved the airiness of the fireweed (Stahl Rose?) against the formalish lumpy bumpy hedging. In a few months the 'meadow' will be waving with towering silphiums, and eryngiums, big change
🌱I love 'Young Lycidas' fabulous scent - same issue
May 29, 2025 at 8:50 AM
🌱I love 'Young Lycidas' fabulous scent - same issue
I see we have similar cat pests - currently ours is out but will be in soon demanding cat treats
May 17, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I see we have similar cat pests - currently ours is out but will be in soon demanding cat treats
Totally agree - the hawthorn and chestnut trees seem to have held onto their blossom for ages and the wisteria too - pyracantha not so much a favourite! 🌱
May 17, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Totally agree - the hawthorn and chestnut trees seem to have held onto their blossom for ages and the wisteria too - pyracantha not so much a favourite! 🌱
Latterly polite convention? Before 1882 in England women on marrying became their husband's property as did anything they owned. Many French roses are Madame [husband's name] [husband's surname]. 'Lady Mary Fitzwilliam' [1882] bucks the trend - I'll have to look out for others now
May 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Latterly polite convention? Before 1882 in England women on marrying became their husband's property as did anything they owned. Many French roses are Madame [husband's name] [husband's surname]. 'Lady Mary Fitzwilliam' [1882] bucks the trend - I'll have to look out for others now
Epimedium 'King Prawn', and I think the very different yellow is Epimedium ecalcaratum, reminds me of lemon peel, don't know why.
April 26, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Epimedium 'King Prawn', and I think the very different yellow is Epimedium ecalcaratum, reminds me of lemon peel, don't know why.
My favourite tulip this and most years is 'Dom Pedro' an old boy from around 1911. The colour gets more rusty/coppery as the flower ages. Second favourite 'Silver Cloud' new to me this spring. Has dark stems which give it an added something.
April 26, 2025 at 10:04 AM
My favourite tulip this and most years is 'Dom Pedro' an old boy from around 1911. The colour gets more rusty/coppery as the flower ages. Second favourite 'Silver Cloud' new to me this spring. Has dark stems which give it an added something.
A gang of old narcissus cultivars. The double is Sulphur Phoenix / Codlins and Cream the oldest in this medley
April 6, 2025 at 8:52 AM
A gang of old narcissus cultivars. The double is Sulphur Phoenix / Codlins and Cream the oldest in this medley
🌱 A perky little Cyclamen repandum (darker IRL), violet scented, less hardy than C coum but seeds around (has taken lower than -5C but maybe more vulnerable now it's in full leaf and flower).
March 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
🌱 A perky little Cyclamen repandum (darker IRL), violet scented, less hardy than C coum but seeds around (has taken lower than -5C but maybe more vulnerable now it's in full leaf and flower).
🌱 #RoseWednesday 'Rambling Rector' (1912), scented, once flowering, vigorous climber. He and I don't have a good relationship. He once dominated an old holly, last spring the tree started to uproot in a high wind, both cut to stumps. Up he came again. I've just had a scratchy pruning battle with him
March 12, 2025 at 10:11 AM
🌱 #RoseWednesday 'Rambling Rector' (1912), scented, once flowering, vigorous climber. He and I don't have a good relationship. He once dominated an old holly, last spring the tree started to uproot in a high wind, both cut to stumps. Up he came again. I've just had a scratchy pruning battle with him
Although some do sneakily puncture long tubed flowers at the base - there is a small hole midway along the flowers of Salvia 'Phyllis' Fancy' - many flowers had similar holes and I watched bees taking advantage
March 7, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Although some do sneakily puncture long tubed flowers at the base - there is a small hole midway along the flowers of Salvia 'Phyllis' Fancy' - many flowers had similar holes and I watched bees taking advantage