The Frustrated Gardener

The life and loves of a time-poor plantsman

‘Cherry’ Ingram: The Englishman who saved Japan’s Blossoms

March 27, 2019.Reading time 10 minutes.

If you’ve been reading the newspapers or listening to BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week programme recently, you will already be acquainted with one of Britain’s most interesting but perhaps least well-known plant collectors, Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram (30 October 1880 – 19 May 1981). Following a genteel and somewhat quirky Edwardian upbringing in Westgate-on-Sea, […]

Ol’ Blue Eyes Is Back

April 20, 2016.Reading time 2 minutes.

The star turns in our London garden are performed by those plants that can survive with their heads in semi-shade and their roots in dense, damp, unctuous clay. Some plants give stardom a shot, only to find the going tough after a season: these one-hit wonders fade away and are quickly forgotten. But a few […]