09 April 14

[mark smyth]

I've had TV crews twice. You might remember a researcher wanted to feature my rookery. I had to stop filming many times due to people sitting / standing on plants and camera tripods getting poked in to plants. In one programme they said I couldn't talk about plants!

[Robert]

Ian and Maggi,

Your garden and the Erythroniums are an inspiration for all of us. Thanks for sharing this with all of us. And for so many years. It seems the garden just gets better very year.

P.S. Ripe Corydalis seed - my first post on the forum was a request for fresh seed. Maybe I can find someone in the U.S.A. that is willing to share or trade. Wishful thinking.

[David Nicholson]

I do have some liquid latex in my workshop, I use it in my art, but I am not sure there is enough to make a life cast

Wouldn't take all that much in your case Ian and just a soupcon more would do for both of you.   Lovely, lovely garden.

[Tim Ingram]

It's a huge inspiration to see all those erythroniums, especially because they are seeding a lot in our garden too and the prospect of a display like that in the future is wonderful. I don't know about TV programmes - very many years ago Fern Brittan presented a short film of our garden (before it became more weedy!) - and my memory of her and the team she was with is very positive. The right presenter (Carole Baxter is excellent isn't she?) with the knowledge and ability to really bring out the essence of a garden, and what the gardener has put into it, can produce a programme which is really the equal of the garden, and it could be so revealing to so many viewers. The big thing is taking time and researching something properly. There are huge opportunities for more interesting gardening/plant centred programmes of all sorts. What about the 'Great British Sewing Bee'? I've been watching this with my wife (who is pretty good at sewing when she gets the chance), and it has been hugely enjoyable and shown how skills can be shared and developed - even though competitive in some ways its clear how much everyone involved learnt from each other and shared disappointments. Hardly any celebrity there - straightforward artistry and skill (and quite a few mistakes which are not unusual). Sewing may not be gardening but the basic premise is the same - it is to do with really wanting to learn and constantly improve on what you do, and you can't do that in isolation - that's why this Forum is so brilliant! This is a long winded way of saying thank you to Ian and Maggi in particular.

[fixpix]

And I always thought Erythroniums are a single-leaf thing.
Definitely not doing too well where mine are planted
Gorgeous pictures!

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Utterly amazed, Maggi & Ian !
Must be back... sigh.. !

[Mavers]

I'm letting my 'specials' self seed & I also collect the seed of my attempts at cross pollinating.

Lots of trilliums coming on & erythroniums....................many years off of having a show like Ian & Maggi's garden though, but I'm slowly getting there.

As far as trilliums are concerned I think I'll be getting for my late 60's by the time they bloom.

[Matt T]

I'm like you Mavers. I have dozens of sowings of Trillium coming along in the hope that they might be close to flowering by the time we move to a mainland garden with a shady border or bit of woodland edge to suit them. Long-term planning

[Maggi Young]

It's a lovely day today and I think my cold is on the mend - so I thought I'd take a few photos in the garden to give you a slightly different "take" on it this week from my perspective.   Bit too sunny and breezy for good photos, I'm afraid.



These are needed to try to take my mind off the hideous huge wall built on part of our western  boundary


Camellia 'Anticipation'



Forsythia

[Maggi Young]

plants in the sun

[Maggi Young]

more

[Maggi Young]

and

[Maggi Young]

finally

[Margaret]

So many Rhododendrons flowering as well as the bulbs. Lovely. You must have a big garden, Maggi, to have so many plants?

[Maggi Young]

The whole plot, including the house, is  about two-thirds of an acre, Margaret. It's closely planted

There are literally hundreds of rhododendrons-  and I forget the names of more of them every year!