Last one first. Ok then, Galanthus 'Starling' is not a traditional beauty. Indeed I struggled to take a photograph of different flowers to show off its consistent characteristic. It owes its breeding to 'Hill Poe' I think, from the Avon stables and is named after a star not the bird that flies in huge murmurations over our house when the fancy takes them. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though and as its face is always turned outward and upwards its inner beauty, that most true perfection and one which I'm sure I possess in abundance, is clear for all to see. (I'll take a snap of 'Hill Poe' tomorrow, come to think.)
Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty' is an incredibly vigorous climber. Glancing up my neighbour's side entrance the other day I was amazed to see just how far our plant has advanced into their garden, suffocating some of their shrubs. I noticed one specialist grower of the clematis recommends no pruning. Sorry but .... It will have to be tamed. It is one of my wife's favourites however and gazing up towards a welcome blue sky one can see why. No scent however. Vigorously beautiful perhaps.
And neither is Daphne bholua Jacqueline Postill a film star stunner in the looks stakes, no magnolia or climbing rose. Then, from New Year's Day onwards, she comes into her own, a sophisticated beauty and her priceless quality, scent to die for, all over the garden, night and day. A head turner. She makes you feel wonderful. Our favourite plant in the whole garden. It oozes quality. Buy one. My London based daughter posted a photograph of one she's seen evidently for the first time at Kew. The grass is always greener ....
To conclude, may I offer a snap of Hamamelis Intermedia 'Diane', another for the connoisseur. I'm not sure this is the best shot ever as the auto-focus got confused but I like it, with the red haze of all the hundreds of flowers lightening up the winter garden. Beauties of winter!
Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty' is an incredibly vigorous climber. Glancing up my neighbour's side entrance the other day I was amazed to see just how far our plant has advanced into their garden, suffocating some of their shrubs. I noticed one specialist grower of the clematis recommends no pruning. Sorry but .... It will have to be tamed. It is one of my wife's favourites however and gazing up towards a welcome blue sky one can see why. No scent however. Vigorously beautiful perhaps.
And neither is Daphne bholua Jacqueline Postill a film star stunner in the looks stakes, no magnolia or climbing rose. Then, from New Year's Day onwards, she comes into her own, a sophisticated beauty and her priceless quality, scent to die for, all over the garden, night and day. A head turner. She makes you feel wonderful. Our favourite plant in the whole garden. It oozes quality. Buy one. My London based daughter posted a photograph of one she's seen evidently for the first time at Kew. The grass is always greener ....
To conclude, may I offer a snap of Hamamelis Intermedia 'Diane', another for the connoisseur. I'm not sure this is the best shot ever as the auto-focus got confused but I like it, with the red haze of all the hundreds of flowers lightening up the winter garden. Beauties of winter!
Some plants are near impossible to photograph, epimedium is another. There is just too much detail for the camera to take in. I resort to a macro, almost a single bloom, but that then takes away from how covered in flowers these plants often are. Neither do they show off their beauty from afar. The blooms are often too small to show up I find. I really need to learn how to use manual focus. But that needs a time commitment which is beyond me at the moment!
ReplyDeleteLove clematis ‘Winter Beauty’. To have something that vigorous at this time of year is amazing.
I've decided the auto setting is best for me. However I do have a better camera (Sony A6300) and have a new lens for it. I used it yesterday, results to be posted soon.
DeleteI bought a Clematis urophylla 'Winter Beauty' and I have it in the greenhouse because I thought it wasn't hardy. Lovely to see yours so happy outside. In my opinion Jacqueline Postill is the queen of the winter garden. But I do love Witch Hazels too. Starling is new to me, lovely.
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