Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: David Nicholson on March 26, 2009, 01:06:33 PM

Title: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: David Nicholson on March 26, 2009, 01:06:33 PM: Early this week we re-visited Oxford University Botanical Garden and there are a few pics below. We also visited Waterperry Garden to see what it is like in spring and also to see the National Kabschia Saxifraga collection. Unfortunately the camera batteries gave out, and of course I didn't have spares with me so no pictures.

The University Botanical Garden is not a particularly good spring garden and most of the Helleborus hybrids were way past their best, as were the Galanthus. There were drifts of Chionodoxa and Scilla to give some spring colour but the pics I had were not too good and gave no real impression of the planting scheme. The pics I have are mainly from the small Alpine House and the Tropical House and just a few of the plants that took my eye in the garden.

Fritillaria bucharica
Fritillaria sibthorpiana and a selection of other plants in the same view
Tulipa humilis
Clivia miniata- two plants
Bartlettena sordida- a new one on me
Strelitzia reginae
Primula sonchifolia
Primula vulgaris ssp sibthorpii
Magnolia denudata

....click the pix to enlarge......
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Paddy Tobin on March 26, 2009, 01:18:32 PM: Ah, I don't know. What should I say? It will certainly have to be conceded that this report on the Nicholson's Wednesday Outing is not really up to the standard of previous editions. Granted the photographs posted are of the usual high standard but to hear that dead batteries have deprived us of our normal service is indeed a disappointment.

I can only hope that the cakes lacked cream and that the tea/coffee was cold.

Paddy(in jest)
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: David Nicholson on March 26, 2009, 01:25:52 PM: Coffe hot,soup best described as aired! ;D
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Paddy Tobin on March 26, 2009, 01:55:30 PM: I feel come consolation in that.

Paddy
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 26, 2009, 02:46:32 PM: Quote from: David Nicholson on March 26, 2009, 01:06:33 PM
Unfortunately the camera batteries gave out, and of course I didn't have spares with me so no pictures.
/quote]

>:( >:( >:( >:( >:( :'( :'( :'(
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: David Nicholson on March 26, 2009, 03:02:56 PM: Sorry Luc.
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Maggi Young on March 26, 2009, 03:32:58 PM: David, these men are harsh in their judgement of you ...... though frankly, yes, we do expect better.... no spare indeed! ::)

I can't think right now what that yellow Primula IS, but it is NOT P. sonchifolia.... which is a rosette forming blue flowered petiolarid type.
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Lvandelft on March 26, 2009, 03:59:55 PM: So I am the only one (till now), who is satisfied with your report David!
You showed at least a very new plant, Bartlettena sordida, to me.
I presume it was not in the alpine house??

About your dead batteries, these young moaning men should take it
as a lesson, like I did. ::) ::) ::) ;)
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: mark smyth on March 26, 2009, 06:51:53 PM: Unfortunately the camera batteries gave out, and of course I didn't have spares with me so no pictures.

That's why I take 10, yes 10, spares with me no matter where I go wether it is round the corner or another country. My copy Canon spares cost £1.99 each from Ebay compared to £20+ originals.

I dont think Tulips humilis is right. It looks very like 'Lilac Wonder'
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: David Nicholson on March 26, 2009, 07:13:20 PM: Quote from: Maggi Young on March 26, 2009, 03:32:58 PM

I can't think right now what that yellow Primula IS, but it is NOT P. sonchifolia.... which is a rosette forming blue flowered petiolarid type.

The Botanical Garden doesn't appear to have covered itself in glory as far as correct plant naming is concerned. First the Primula, then Mark thinks the Tulip isn't humilis and I had already told one of the gardeners that their Ipheion was now a Tristagma. I could see the look in her eye when I was talking to her "Who is this smart ar++" good job I didn't know about the others at the time.

Luit, Maureen christened the Bartlettena sordida "The Ken Dodd plant" He is a long standing English comedian who uses a feather duster in his act.

Mark, when you reach the age of 66 you will seek to travel as lightly laden as possible batteries or no batteries! ;D
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Onion on March 26, 2009, 08:19:48 PM: I agree with Mark. The T. humilis look like 'Lilac Wonder'.
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Maggi Young on March 26, 2009, 09:14:19 PM: I agree about the Tulipa.
I've been looking hard at that yellow primula, labelled P. sonchifolia..... it is tough to see great details, but I think it is Primula elatior...... the Oxslip, or perhaps a hybrid.
I did wonder at first if it might have been Primula sikkimensis, but now I don't think so.
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Michael J Campbell on March 26, 2009, 09:23:09 PM: Maggi,there is another label peeping over the plant on the left,so that may not be the label intended for that particular plant.
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Maggi Young on March 26, 2009, 09:32:49 PM: Quote from: Michael J Campbell on March 26, 2009, 09:23:09 PM
Maggi,there is another label peeping over the plant on the left,so that may not be the label intended for that particular plant.

Ah, yes, facing the other way? Yes, Michael, you may be right.
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Roma on March 26, 2009, 11:11:28 PM: Nice pictures ,David . Pity about the batteries!
I agree with Maggi. The Primula sonchifolia is most likely the hybrid false oxlip. I have a few of them grown from seed as Primula alpicola alpicola.
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: mark smyth on March 26, 2009, 11:55:22 PM: There are way too many flowers on each head for it to be an ox or cowslip
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 27, 2009, 08:10:02 AM: David,
I hope all these comments will not keep you from taking pix on the next "Nicholson's wednesday outing".... as long as it's not headed for shoe stores... ;D ;D ;D

By the way, I quite enjoyed the pix taken when your batteries were still operational... ;) Thanks for sharing !
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Maggi Young on March 27, 2009, 12:40:40 PM: Quote from: mark smyth on March 26, 2009, 11:55:22 PM
There are way too many flowers on each head for it to be an ox or cowslip

Which is why I said a poss. hybrid... we have these with many many flowers.
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Lvandelft on March 27, 2009, 01:37:51 PM: Quote
as long as it's not headed for shoe stores...

But that would a picture I am waiting for.
Would love to see David waiting and (hopefully) sitting in a shoe store,
between a raised bed of (empty) shoe boxes.
Only "she" would have to take the picture 8)
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on March 27, 2009, 01:44:49 PM: ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Lvandelft on March 27, 2009, 01:46:57 PM: Somehow it does only move when clicking on the picture.
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: David Nicholson on March 27, 2009, 02:22:35 PM: Thank you Luit, we've been married 39 years this year and I reckon that 75% of those years have been spent sitting in shoe shops (the other 25% in handbag shops). One of these days 'She' will find a pair that fits. ;D
Title: Re: University of Oxford Botanical Garden
Post by: Lvandelft on March 27, 2009, 03:39:43 PM: ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D