Cobaea Scandens

Beautiful Flowers

Last year I discovered The Cobaea Scandens plant. These images will show you just what a delightful plant it is - it reminds me of all those lovely 'flower fairy' paintings. I saw it in full flower at Petersham Nurseries but was unable to find a plant anywhere. I sent for some seeds online from Chiltern Seeds, and gave some to two friends. Their seeds grew and flowered beautifully but mine did not. I planted it in the conservatory and it grew about eight feet tall but sadly no flowers at all. Their plants grew outside and totally outshone the original that I saw the year before and were covered in stunning blue flowers.

I told this story to my lovely grand-daughter and she found the plant online and painted me a beautiful painting for my birthday of this delightful plant. It is a stunning likeness and I so love it. Isn't she clever?







Cobaea Scandens by Poppy

This year my lovely friend, (thanks H), bought me some plugs from Sarah Raven. Today I am going to plant them in the garden by the pergola and hope for some beautiful flowers very soon. They are white, (the original was blue), and I am so looking forward to them.

Planted in sunny spot near base of the pergola

A better view

An even better view!

I shall keep you, (boringly), updated as to their progress!

Petersham Nurseries

Favourite Trendy Garden Centre

The very rustic Petersham Nurseries

London is surrounded by garden centres, restaurants and cafes but this is the trendiest one I know. It is full of celebrities and the super rich of London and lots of foreign tourists. I love it too but am surprised by its success.

The lovely overpriced plants

The tables and chairs and garden wares are all old, mismatched and rusty, most of the furniture has seen better days and realistically belongs at the tip, the greenhouses are old and tumbled down and the plants and food are all overpriced.  BUT ... and this is a BIG BUT ... the restaurant has a Michelin Star and needs to be booked months in advance, the cafe serves the most delicious snacks and cakes and superb coffees and teas, and the plants are amazing, and the whole experience is full of delight and character.

Beautiful settings for beautiful plants - I want this orchid £40!

Rustic garden wares

Petersham is nestled alongside The Thames about two miles outside central Richmond town, and almost opposite the wide open spaces of Richmond Park. It is surprisingly rural given that it is so close to central London and is surrounded by watermeadows and fields full of cattle and horses. The walk from Richmond to Petersham is delightful - especially with Petersham Nurseries to visit at the end of it. Come with me and take a look  ...

The walk begins at the car park at Richmond Upon Thames riverside

A view to the right to a river crossing

A view to the left to Richmond town bridge

It is still fairly quiet but will get very busy later

The birds are noisy especially the ducks

It was nice to see a crane

The pleasure boat waiting for customers

Now the water meadows begin

You can just see the tips of boats on the river

It is hard to believe we are so close to London

Lovely rural footpath to the nurseries

The building behind the horses is the Royal Star And Garter Home
where all the poppies have been made for years by disabled service personal

And here we are at the nursery

Some cycled from town but we walked the two miles from the car

First stop the cafe

The cakes are tempting me

The jams and preserves are all amazing

The snack menu looks tempting

And the lunch menu looks interesting

Even the drinks menu looks good

After dithering we settle on coffee and cake for me and just coffee for him

We collect some iced water

Admire the scenery

Coffee and carrot, chocolate, and coconut cake which he mostly ate!

And this is where we sat in the sun

And this was the view

This is the entrance to the Michelin Star restaurant

Another view of the restaurant

Old clay pots in the shop

Isn't it just amazing?

Another view of cafe seating

This really is a nursery - but it is so much more

Before I finish this post I want to explain that blogger is really playing up and I just cannot get it to post my photos in a consecutive order - they are just going where they choose and so have given up. I know there are already plenty of pics but some of the better ones just will not post! Hope you enjoy this rather badly organised post anyway. It really was a lovely walk in the sun followed by a lovely walk back and a delicious lunch in Richmond.

In A Puddle At Petersham Nurseries

Today was wet, wet, wet. We decided to visit Petersham Nurseries in Richmond, South London ... (it's warm ... and it's mostly inside, isn't it?). No. No. No!!

It's Dry Inside!

It's Wet Outside!

Me In My Silly Sandals!

Luckily The Plants Were Beautiful

They Even Looked Good In The Rain

Though We Soon Scurried Out Of The Rain

Into The Greenhouses

Shall We Have A Coffee?

Yes Please!

And Some Cake?

Definitely! ... Chocolate Rum And Nut Torte ... Skye Gyngell Is A Food Wizard!

Lots Of Goodies In The Shop

Trendy Stock

Even More Trendy Stock

Out Again Into The Rain

Say Goodbye To The Cows In The Field Outside

Petersham Nurseries is really a delightful place to visit. It has a wonderful array of plants and gardening equipment ... and best of all a cafe and tea house with sumptuous cakes and pastries ... and a wonderful restaurant too. The restaurant is so busy at lunchtime that it must be booked at least a month in advance, but is said to be one of the best places to eat in this area of South London, and the chef (Skye Gyngell), is praised by all and sundry. Do pay a visit if you are in the area. Take your wellies with you!