• About

digwithdorris.com

digwithdorris.com

Tag Archives: Helleborus foetidus

Garden visit: Cambridge University Botanic Garden

28 Saturday Jan 2017

Posted by digwithdorris in Colour, Garden Visits

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

Acer grisium, Bergenia Bressingham Ruby, Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Cornus alba sibirica, Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire', garden visit, Helleborus foetidus, Rubus cockburnianus, stinking hellebore, weather report, white stemmed bramble, Winter garden

In the depths of Winter it can be hard to stay enthused about the garden yet if you know where to look there are some stunning examples of a Winter garden. One such place in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden and yesterday was the day I went to see for myself. I was not disappointed.

Winter Garden

Winter Garden

First the factual bits for those who like to know these things: the garden opened in 1846 and has been a focus and stimulus for science and research in the University. The gardens comprise forty acres of gardens and glasshouses which hold Grade II* heritage landscape. It was the vision of John Stevens Henslow who was a professor of botany at the University and mentor to Charles Darwin no less. Henslow’s new, perhaps ground breaking idea, was that the Botanic Garden should be for the experimental study of the plants rather than just a physic garden for the medical students. Today the garden holds over 8,000 plant species.

I did not see any where near 8,000 plants but those that I did see were very beautiful, just look at the Acer Grisium in the picture above, surrounded by the stunning bank of Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’

Acer grisium

Acer grisium

The Dogwoods were in good colour and I liked the use of the smaller leaf Bergenia Bressingham Ruby as ground cover, such a good form.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Cornus alba sibirica with Hellebore


OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Bergenia Bressingham Ruby

If you really only like white in the garden and find all the colour rather vulgar, the next combination is rather spectacular:White stemmed bramble underplanted with snowdrops

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Rubus Goldenvale

A vicious plant with long whippy thorny growth which needs an annual prune to encourage the new white stems for next year, gauntlets and chaps recommended.

After looking at the Winter garden on such a cold day it was necessary to warm up in the cafe. The food is very good and reasonably priced with a great selection of vegetarian dishes.

OLYMCAMERA

Stylish cafe area, note the trained Lime trees


Trailing hellebore, corten steel

Trailing hellebore, corten steel

A couple of things that I brought away from the visit is the idea of using Hellebore foetidus as a trailing plant and the cacti and succulents in the glass houses.  I will share those another time.

Anyway, if the weather is getting you down, don’t let it.  Grab your coat and hat and get out there to see some something beautiful,

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Maximum? no reading.

whatever the weather.

Enjoy your weekend.

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • More
  • Pocket

Like this:

Like Loading...

Blogs I Follow

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 307 other subscribers

No Instagram images were found.

in the press

  • 52 Week Photo Challenge
  • 52 week photo challenge
  • a week of flowers
  • Before and After
  • Christmas
  • Christmas decorations
  • Colour
  • End of month view
  • Garden Visits
  • in a vase on Monday
  • Plant Nurseries
  • press this: other blogs
  • Saturday smile
  • Silent Sunday
  • six on saturday
  • Thank goodness it's Friday
  • The nag list/ jobs to do
  • Top ten blooms
  • Tuesday View
  • Uncategorized
  • Wordless Wednesday

Instagram

No Instagram images were found.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Outer Isles Gardening

Gardening in a Gale

We are out in the garden ...

Living life in the countryside - growing flowers in Warwickshire

One Man And His Garden Trowel

There's always room for one more plant.

Nature Journeys

clover and ivy

County Gardening

Gardening in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada

Pádraig de Búrca - Grow Write Repeat

Glebe House Garden

My week to week gardening diary

Karen Pezzimenti Photography

Gardens at Coppertop

learning, growing, and learning more -- life on the Olympic Peninsula

Piglet in Portugal

A Creative Spirit in Portugal

Hairbells and Maples

Gardening, exploring, photography, Six on Saturday

  • Follow Following
    • digwithdorris.com
    • Join 307 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • digwithdorris.com
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d bloggers like this: