Tag: peony

The Gatehouse

Well used to opening in the summer to raise money for the local hospice, this year Ruth and Matthew opened their garden ‘The Gatehouse‘ for the National Garden Scheme in the spring. Ruth said she bought ‘something like’ 2,000 bulbs, not surprising in a garden of this size!

Described in the NGS Handbook as ‘one of London’s largest private gardens’, the grounds were originally part of Eltham Palace and are presided over by a hugely imposing copper beech. The great wall surrounding the garden and the mature trees lend the garden an immediate air of gravitas.

Narcissus 'Thalia' and tulips at The Gatehouse, April 2026
Narcissus ‘Thalia’ and pink & white tulips
A brilliant red and purple which might not have worked together but looked stunning. The Gatehouse, April 2026
A brilliant red and purple which might not have worked together but looked stunning
A deep purple tulip working well with the Persicaria, at The Gatehouse April 2026
A deep purple tulip working well with the Persicaria
Orange Ballerina tulips, looking beautiful against a shrub with its spring buds and Osteopspermum in the foreground picking up the colour. The Gatehouse, April 2026
Orange Ballerina tulips and Osteopspermum in the foreground picking up the colour
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June 2025: Gardeners Question Time

This is now a regular and popular event in which our panel answer questions sent through in advance from members, some with illustrations or examples sent in plastic bags. The panel this year consisted of our very own CABAHS committee member and all-round plant guru Pat K, our President Sir Nicolas Bevan and horticulturalist and teacher Joe Woodcock. Sir Nicolas invited advice and contributions from the audience too, saying that in a room full of gardeners, the panel did not “have the monopoly on wisdom”. We did our best!

Our 'Amateur Gardeners' Question Time' panel, June 2025
Our esteemed panel: Pat, Nicolas and Joe

Last year we were all overwhelmed by slugs and snails, this year’s scourge is aphids! The first question related to a particularly damaging infestation on Buddleja, which seemed to have caused a virus. Several people, including Joe, have experienced the same this year. He was able to tell us that it is likely to be a specific species, the Melon-cotton aphid, which the RHS are monitoring (you can report cases to the RHS here).

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