Linda

@lindacdolan

Worked at RHS Wisley, now retired and a happy and proud volunteer there. Passionate about Wisley, plants and gardens. Also a quilter, embroiderer and beader. Proud to be Woke. 'Woke just means you give a damn about other people’ Jane Fonda 2025

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Linda@lindacdolan· 28d

🌱 #thicktrunkTuesday One of Wisley’s huge Hornbeams at the edge of the Hilltop site. I see it every Sunday but don’t often take time to appreciate it. It’s a pleasantly cool morning so I should be able to spend some time in my tiny garden.

A huge tree (Carpinus betulis) standing on a lawn that has turned brown in the heat and drought. In the foreground is a clump of orange and yellow Red Hot Poker flowers (Kniphofia).

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 13

🌱 Good morning on a #BlueSkyMonday. There is a gentle breeze blowing keeping the temperature lovely and cool but I don’t think it will last.

A bright yellow sunflower against a blue sky with a few fluffy white clouds.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 12

🌱 #SundayYellow I’m off to do my volunteering shift at Wisley’s Hilltop and am not looking forward to being there in the heat! Although I’m sure the garden team will be doing their best to keep everything watered, I think I will see signs of stress. No rain predicted for days unfortunately.

A yellow Rudbeckia flower with narrow petals hanging down below a prominent brown “cone”.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 11

🌱 #sixonSaturday from my tiny garden. Full description in Alt text. I’m surprised but very grateful that my garden (apart from the lawn) seems to be surviving the heat and drought. From next Friday we have a hosepipe ban. Oh joy!! Perhaps that will encourage the rain.

A collage of six photos from my tiny garden. The large picture is from my perennial Sweetpea. The small pictures are a bicoloured Dahlia with pink and white flowers. It was a gift from a fellow volunteer. Below are the bright pink flowers of Lagerstroemia or Crepe Myrtle. The bottom row Clematis Lydia, white Cosmos and yellow toadflax or Linaria vulgaris.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 10

🌱 #flowersonFriday The Exotic garden at Wisley is looking superb. This is just one of the beautiful flowers, the Glory Lily (Gloriosa). Another hot day with the temperature predicted to rise to 33 degrees. I would prefer it to be 20!

An exotic looking flower with red petals curved back surrounding curved and protruding stamens.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 9

🌱 #insectThursday On each of the pictures below there is the tiniest critter. Can you spot them? Another day at home sheltering from the heat. I can be in my tiny garden until about 9 when the sun reaches it. Then I am back in it at about 7pm when it is all in shade.

An open, cup shaped, white flower with a fluffy, yellow centre. On one of the petals is a tiny black ant.

A spiky Teasel flower. Hidden amongst the pale purple flowers is a tiny black beetle.

A bright orange Calla lily flower. On the edge is a tiny black ant.

A white Waterlily with a fluffy yellow centre. On one of the white petals is a tiny black black fly.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 8

🌱 #roseWednesday It’s going to be another hot day so I will be sheltering at home. Meanwhile, these beautiful roses don’t seem to mind. Yesterday’s BreadlineAfrica.org event was inspirational. London was looking amazing. I had a chance to visit Finsbury Circus Garden, a very well used City space.

A cluster of pink roses, paler at the edge and darker in the middle. It’s a David Austin variety called ‘Olivia’.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 7

Jealous!

A weather forecast showing temperatures in the 30s

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 7

🌱 #thicktrunkTuesday Not a tree today but a climber, Campsis Madame Galen. The plant label tells me it was planted at Wisley before I started working there in 1990! Isn’t it beautiful? I’m off to London this morning for a donor event for BreadlineAfrica.org, a charity I have supported for years.

A thick, twisted and twining stem of a climber growing against a brick wall.

A cluster of reddish orange trumpet shaped flowers of Campsis radicans Madame Galen.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 6

🌱 #BlueSkyMonday It’s the start of another hot week where, apart from tomorrow, I will be sheltering at home. Meanwhile this is a picture of an Albizia julibrissen or the Persian Silk Tree growing in Wisley’s Exotic Garden.

Clear blue sky behind a tree with feathery leaves and tufts of pink and white flowers

Close up of the pink and white flowers. The narrow petals form upright tufts and there are masses of buds waiting to open.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 5

🌱 #SundayYellow Spotted in Wisley’s Hilltop World Food Garden last Sunday and the sign of good things to come. Sadly the water droplets weren’t from rain but conscientious garden staff watering. I wonder what I will spot today while volunteering.

A large, bright yellow courgette flower with tiny drops of water on the petals.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 4

🌱 #sixonSaturday from my tiny garden. I plan to be out in it for much of today, potting up Dahlia cuttings, emptying some pots and generally tidying up before the heat returns next week.

A collage of six photos from my tiny garden this week. Clockwise:
1. A spike of white flowers with tiny pink markings of Francoa sonchifolia.
2. a small vase of dark red sweet pea flowers.
3. Brilliant white perennial sweet peas
4. Pink and yellow Lantana flowers
5. Dark maroon cone shaped flowers of Allium sphaerocephalum
6. A tall spike of white Acanthus flowers

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 3

I think you have identified the one I spotted at Wisley’s Hilltop on Sunday.

A dragonfly with transparent wings and a greenish grey body and head.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 3

🌱 #flowersonFriday It’s definitely the beginning of sunflower season. This beauty is growing in Wisley’s Hilltop World Food Garden. I’m off to Wisley this morning to lead a tour. There is so much to see I will struggle to keep it to an hour!

An unusual Sunflower which has petals that are reddish brown in colour. The centre is a darker brown with yellow speckles.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 2

#insectThursday On the 14th July the RHS is hosting a very important event at Wisley, Bees’ Needs Science Festival 2026. I have included the event details below.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 2

🌱 #insectThursday This stunning dragonfly was on the mat outside the staff entrance as we left Wisley’s Hilltop last Sunday. After I had taken a picture, my colleague tried to lift it gently but it flew off!

A large dragonfly on a dirty mat. The transparent wings are spread out at right angles to the body which has a green tinge.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 1

Well done. At Wisley this year they are growing lots!

A round black sign with white writing saying: Lettuce Extravaganza! This year we are growing over 80 cultivars of lettuce. Have a look in the World Food Garden and see what you can spot!

Linda@lindacdolan· Jul 1

🌱 #roseWednesday Rosa ‘White Star’ for you today. I am so enjoying the cooler weather and not being trapped in my house. Today is a London day with lots of socialising. I hope the trains behave themselves!

Two white roses with fluffy yellow centres against a background of dark green foliage.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 30

🌱 #thicktrunkTuesday Have you heard of “Summer Branch Drop”? It is a phenomenon where established trees suddenly drop big branches during hot weather. It is the reason why Wisley closed off huge areas during the heat wave. Our Duty Manager, Sam, took this picture on Battleston Hill.

An established tree which has shed a huge branch leaving a clearly visible wound on the trunk and a big branch lying on the ground.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 29

🌱 #magentaMonday It’s the start of a new week with temperatures more normal so I will be able to behave more normally. Today I intend to spend much time in my tiny garden. I have the new Ann Cleave book from BorrowBox so that will keep me entertained.

A perfectly round Allium head. The tiny flowers are mainly purple with the odd white one adding interest.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 28

#wildflowerhour Rosebay willow herb growing in front of a dead tree that has been taken over by insects in Wisley’s Hilltop Wildlife Garden. The nectar rich flowers are useful for pollinators. A traditional tea can be made from the fermented leaves and is said to promote relaxation.

A spike of pink flowers in front of the grey trunk of a dead tree full of of holes made by insects. The botanical name is Chamaernerion angustifolium.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 28

🌱 #SundayYellow It was a great relief to wake up to more normal weather this morning particularly as it is my morning to volunteer but it is with my favourite team of volunteers.

A bright yellow Gazania flower which has yellow petals and a dark central band.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 27

While it has been so hot and I have been indoors at home, I have watched a lot of YouTube including the wonderful WildEarth This week we were introduced to a cheetah with two cubs looking remarkably like honey badgers. So cute! #caturday

A cheetah lying on a dirt road. Behind her are two cubs.

A tender moment between mother and cub. It looks as though they are kissing.

A baby cheetah cub with a white, fluffy back and head, spotted legs and dark lines on the face.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 27

🌱 #sixonSaturday My poor tiny garden has really struggled in the heat. I water special plants like the Hydrangeas but the rest has to take its chance. Hopefully today will be the last of the extreme heat and it will feel more normal tomorrow. I shall be sheltering indoors again.

A collage of six photos from my tiny garden this week. Clockwise the first large picture is my one and only Penstemon. The top two small pictures are a blue and pink Hydrangea. The large picture at the bottom is a Clematis. Then there is a white Hydrangea and the last is my first Dahlia.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 26

🌱 #flowersonFriday Remember in the olden days when water fell from the sky and we used to call it rain? It was such a long time ago that I needed a pictorial memory. Another hot day today but thankfully I don’t need to go out so can shelter in front of a fan with my feet in water.

A red Nasturtium flower with a yellow centre. The petals are covered with raindrops. Behind the flower, the leaves are light green and round.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 25

🌱 #clematisThursday Green and white is such a perfect combination. This is one of the Clematis varieties growing in my tiny garden. It is Clematis viticella Alba Luxurians. It is going to be another hot day and I am off to Wisley for a meeting but it is in the air conditioned library.

An unusual Clematis flower which is mainly white but has splashes of lime green on the petals.

The back of the white, bell shaped flower with splashes of lime green on the petals.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 24

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 24

🌱 #roseWednesday My Rosa ‘Biddulph Grange’ seems to be enjoying the heat much more than I am. I shall be safely in my house in front of a fan today. There was supposed to be a staff and volunteer barbecue this evening but it has been postponed. Stay safe and hydrated if it is hot where you are!

A cluster of bright red roses each with a white centre and fluffy yellow stamens.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 23

🌱 #thicktrunkTuesday Trees are such a precious resource, particularly during heat waves. At Wisley they are prized and nothing goes to waste. When they are pruned, the logs are put into piles and become a rich habitat for insects and fungi. If you visit, look out for the log piles.

A pile of logs following the curve in the road. Behind there are some tall trees growing and in the distance is a Glasshouse.

Linda@lindacdolan· Jun 22

🌱 #BlueSkyMonday #magentaMonday The flower of Rhus typhina or the Stagshorn Sumac against blue sky. It’s going to be another hot one today. I will be making a quick trip to Wisley to hear from the Curator about future plans and then back home to stay cool.