BULB LOG TRAVELS TO KENT AND SUSSEX

[Ian Y]

Here are a few pictures that I took on my lecture trip to the deep south.


I had a good walk around the gardens at Wakehurst where they have some magnificient trees.


The tree on the right has been hung with Christmas lights making it the largest christmas tree in the UK.


I was amazed at how many camellias were in flower.




All the Holly trees I saw were thick with berries, a bumper crop this year.


A more exotic planting that I also liked.


This plant must be wild and dangerous to be kept in a cage.


It is of course the 200 million year old living fossil Wollemia nobilis.


A visit to the seed bank was very interesting, this is there seed sorting area with all the sieves stored on the shelves.

[Paul T]

Ian,

They've been kept in cages (The Wollomi Pines) for years here too.  I think there was somewhat of a threat of theft as it was a new an unusual plant.  At the rate they're putting them out in nurseries here now there won't be much of a need for stolen plants..... then again at the prices they're selling them for THEY'RE the ones doing the stealing, not the general public!!    Still, monies go to plant conservation so that is a good thing.

[Maggi Young]

Just been looking at an advert for the wollemi pines in the UK... £97 for one in a 3 litre pot, they have sold out of the 65cm ones in 5 litre pots for £300 !! The price is inclusive of Value Added Tax, you'll be pleased to hear... but then there's £6 shipping to add! Quite an expensive purchase... interesting how these trees have so captured the public imagination that they can sustain this marketing campaign. I wonder if I could generate a similar enthusiasm for the myriad cotoneaster seedlings I have in the garden... I feel a retirement in the Bahamas coming on!

[ichristie]

Hi Ian Y, glad you managed the trip and are back safe and well, I was looking to see if any banana trees were growing down in Kent everything looks so green and fresh. We have wonderful red holly berries on almost every holly tree here this year as well. I don't  suppose they will last long as we have has some good frosts this week. cheers Ian. C.

[Ian Y]

I did see a bananna Ian some one had grown it in their garden and brought it into a meeting to show us.

Part 2 Kew.



The spooky looking Kew Palace and yes it is that colour.



The magnificient plam house is full of tropical plants.


Steady now.


One fantastic seed!!!!


Oh and one of these.



It was dusk when we left.

[Ian Y]

I saw the, cutting edge, New Kew  Alpine house.

It is a beautiful structure but I am not sure if it was value for money as far as alpines are concerned.



Inside was a rather old style rock garden that did not fit in with the cutting edge technology of the air cooled structure.








A few bulbs were on display including Ipheion sessile.


Narcissus panizzianus


Iris planifolia

[mark smyth]

looks like you had an excellent time. Next year I hope to get to Kew and Wisley

[Lesley Cox]

A most interesting trip Ian, thanks for the pictures. It looks as if Kew's new alpine house is more of the same really, inside at least. I wonder what Tony Hall thinks of it.

I'm surprised how small the Wollemi pine is, given that it is 200 million years old. I would have expected something a bit taller.

Here is a picture of my own bananas. Of course I can't actually PROVE that I grew them.....

[Lesley Cox]

I also meant to comment that the "more exotic planting" above, could have come directly from Dunedin or Christchurch Botanic Gardens or any of 100 or more public areas in NZ.

Did you take any more pics of the lovely juno irises Ian? Please?

[Maggi Young]

Now, Lesley, you must know that for the first part of life we grow, then as we get older we start shrinking... so it obviously is with the Wollemi pine!! Just think, when was the last time you saw a ninety year old person who stood at six foot eight?
Ian had a lovely visit with Tony, so he could tell you what the great Iris Man thinks of the new house!! Actually, at the Discussion Weekend in October, Tony told us all what he thought of it... I'll paraphrase... "not a lot"

I am prepared to believe they are your bananas for two reasons, first, I don't think you'd steal 'em, so they would be "yours" and secondly, there is no sign of any of those little stickers you get on bought ones!!


"exotic" plantings... these ARE exotic to us, Lesley, you're a long way away!!

I think only the Iris planifolias were out... the rest just fat buds waiting to grow!
Cheers,
M

[DaveM]

Ian, seems like you enjoyed your trip deep south. The new alpine house is a wonderful design, no doubt it's won some award; great pity about the inside though...... maybe I ought to use a picture from this to illustrate how not to use sandstone in my rocks and landscape talk, thus displacing RHS Wisley .........

[Paul T]

Great pics!!  That new alpine house is rather impressive!!  I can see what you mean about the planting not exactly "fitting" the structure, but I guess there are limitations to what they can do planting-wise?

[Maggi Young]

That sounds about right, Dave! We use a pic of the limestone rocks sitting on islands in ponds at Warwick University for just such a purpose!! Shades of Trinny and Susannah and 'What not to Wear'!


Paul, the glasshouse is very spectacular, but it looks like the rocks were just piled up for storage and then were planted as they sat, by accident! I would defy anyone to make a planting with that layout of rocks look really good. Sad case of missed opportunity here, I reckon.
My apologies if I am offending the poor devil who dreamed up the scheme but I must be honest about how I see it.

[t00lie]

If i can put on my landscaping hat for a moment or two and make a comment on the Alpine House.

Part of the problem lies with the contrast between the rock and the supporting walls,(back and side).If these supporting walls were coloured and textured the same as the rock there would be a better visual 'fit' so to speak.
Even allowing for your comment above Maggi ,on the rock layout ,no matter what rock or style of placement is used ,the plantings will always stand out because of this contrast.

To my eye the only 'restful' scene is Ians second pic ,(first rock garden shot),-i suspect on account of it being taken up close and a fair percentage of the rock clothed in plants.

Cheers Dave
 

[Ian Y]

The last series of pictures were all taken at Wisley home of the RHS.



the rock garden at Wisley.





Not much was in flower but it is well constructed and maintained.



The behind the scenes bulb house is a massive structure with a fully opening roof. I was well impressed with the range of the bulb collection and look forward to seeing it in flower one day.
Thanks to everyone for making my visit so enjoyable.