Horticulture by Ellis

21/08/2026

Upon inspecting the vines growing in our Tudor courtyard, we’ve discovered a fantastic crop of grapes! We train these vines using the double Guyot system, a form of grape pruning, but this year they’ve grown rather rampant. While pruning them back into shape, I stumbled across some pretty impressive bunches of grapes. With the weather we’ve had this year, it seems almost idyllic for a crop like this.

There’s actually a fascinating history to grape growing at Fulham Palace. Grapes have been grown here since at least the 16th century, when Bishop Edmund Grindal cultivated vines and sent grapes from Fulham Palace to Queen Elizabeth I. Growing them in our Tudor courtyard is a nod to this rather historic but interesting tradition! 🍇

19/08/2026

🙌🏼💜

09/08/2026

It was lovely to come back to work after a few days off and see this beauty in flower! 🌺

Hibiscus coccineus is native to the southeastern US, where it grows naturally in wet, swampy habitats (so perhaps not one for your drought-tolerant planting scheme!)

I’m not usually one for red flowers, but these large, scarlet blooms are a real showstopper. The plants can reach around 2–3 metres tall and will continue flowering throughout the summer. Its deeply divided foliage is also a real feature.

collected seed from this specimen last year and sowed it this spring, achieving a near 100% germination rate! 🌱

08/08/2026

Last week, a huge fire broke out, with around 10 metres of hedgerow going up in flames. By the time it was noticed, it had already taken hold, but after plenty of buckets of water and a lot of teamwork, we finally managed to get it under control. Soon after, the fire brigade arrived and drenched the area to make absolutely sure it was out.

With our summers becoming increasingly hotter and drier, we all need to take responsibility for how we dispose of things. I just can’t comprehend how someone can carelessly throw a cigarette out of a car window let alone one still lit. Wildfires are becoming an increasing risk across the UK and beyond, and the consequences for wildlife, habitats and people can be devastating.

And while we were busy bucketing water from the pond to tackle the flames, we had another job on our hands, rescuing the frogs! Thankfully, they were safely rehomed before becoming part of the barbecue 🐸🔥

05/08/2026

A much needed get away to North Devon 🌾

01/08/2026

29/07/2026

🥬🍒🌺

29/07/2026

Last weekend, the RBG Kew Youth Council held our quarterly meeting at Kew’s wild sister garden, Wakehurst. We had the privilege of staying at the Millennium Seed Bank – home to the world’s largest collection of wild plant seeds, safeguarding over 40,000 species and counting.

Over the past few months, we’ve been busy recruiting a new cohort of Youth Councillors. Once again, we were blown away by the number and quality of applications, and I was excited to be involved in the interview process. This was our first meeting with the full council, and I had the honour of chairing the group of 15!

Our first day included a tour of the Millennium Seed Bank, followed by a consultation with the Wakehurst team to explore how they can better engage younger audiences through programming and events. I also delivered both an organisational and Youth Council update before hearing presentations from our new councillors on their ambitions for the council and ideas for future projects. We also found time to explore the beautiful gardens before ending the day with some team bonding at Latehurst.

On day two, we focused on shaping the future of the Youth Council. Together we discussed concreting our mission, aims and priorities, discussed how we can support the Kew Leadership Forum in effectively consulting with young people, and shook up our working groups so we can begin turning ideas into meaningful action.

It was an intense but incredibly rewarding weekend. I’m so proud to chair such a talented and diverse group of young people, each bringing unique experiences, perspectives and ideas. We’ve laid the foundations for some exciting work ahead, and I can’t wait to see what we achieve together over the coming year.

A huge thank you to everyone involved for making it such a productive and inspiring weekend! 🌱💚

15/07/2026

I had the best day volunteering for Plant Heritage at the new RHS Badminton Flower Show! 🌿

It was great chatting to visitors about the charity and raising awareness of the important work Plant Heritage does to conserve plants.

As it was the final day, we dismantled the Missing Plant Collectors display and sold off the plants to their new homes. I couldn’t resist picking up a few myself!

Thank you, Plant Heritage, for another brilliant volunteering opportunity. I can’t wait for the next one!