FLETCHER MOSS GARDENS, DIDSBURY, MANCHESTER. 4th May 2009

[ranunculus]

A cool, drizzly and overcast Bank Holiday Monday and the Bookers decide to spend a couple of hours at Fletcher Moss Gardens in Didsbury, Manchester. We had visited twice before, twenty plus years ago, but had forgotten what these lovely gardens were like. There is an alpine house (unfortunately locked due to vandalism and theft of plants) that is currently being restored to former glories by a band of volunteers; a large pond and a well-established rock garden that had some super plants and evidence (in the form of plastic bottles, crisp packets and the like) of a few recent picnics and/or evening gatherings. Such a shame in such a splendid setting.  The poor maintenance staff must despair because the rest of the garden is kept in immaculate condition and the rock garden must tempt local office workers at lunchtime, some of whom leave evidence of their culinary delights!
The weather worsened after the first hour, but I was amazed that my total of sixty five digital exposures resulted in at least fifty images worthy of posting on these pages (well, I hope so anyway) ... twenty to start the ball rolling this evening.
All in all a smashing place to visit ... but take our advice and choose a dry, sunny day.   

[ranunculus]

Batch Two from Fletcher Moss ...

Click images to enlarge ...

More to follow tomorrow ...

[ranunculus]

A few more from Fletcher Moss Gardens in Didsbury, Manchester.

More later ...

[David Nicholson]

Very nice indeed Cliff, always nice to see a hidden treasure. Some of the non-funded gardens must really struggle to keep going these days.

[ranunculus]

Thanks David.

Fletcher Moss Park - Wilmslow Road, Manchester, Greater manchester M20 2RZ
This 8.50 hectare (21 acres) park was acquired as a gift from Alderman Fletcher Moss in 1914. Renowned for their botanical beauty, the gardens contain many antiquated and unusual plants and flowers. The park has retained many of its original features such as the rock and heather gardens, and the orchid houses situated in the Parsonage Gardens adjacent to Fletcher Moss. Together they form a picturesque, tranquil haven for visitors.

The last of my images ...

[ranunculus]

Final ten from Fletcher Moss ...

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thank you Cliff !  Some smashing pictures once more !
I'm sure the staff of the garden would be proud of both their and your wordk ! 

[gote]

This 8.50 hectare (21 acres) park was acquired as a gift from Alderman Fletcher Moss in 1914.

I was just starting to wonder why you had no pictures of bryophyta  . I once visited the Moss Temple garden in Kyoto. They had mosses.

This must be a super place to visit ,judging from so many excellent pictures. Good work!

Göte

[ichristie]

Hi Cliff, a rare treasure indeed with so many superb plants, why dont some people  waken up to where they are and leave only footprints,  cheers Ian the Christie kind.

[johnw]

Cliff - Marvellous photos. Can you tell me which rhododendron that is in FM25, the brilliant clear red?  And what camera you use to capture red so perfectly?  I cannot get good reds with the Coolpix 8700.

johnw - the night of the big rare plant sale here. Two trucks loaded to go.

[Maggi Young]

johnw - the night of the big rare plant sale here. Two trucks loaded to go.

 Have fun at the sale.... try not to go with two trucks and come home with four!! 

[Lvandelft]

Lovely place to visit Cliff. You even managed to make a more or less ugly tulip (nr.12) looking nice with your
photographic art.
And I like it very much that you make pictures too of a very normal path with Populus. 
Something we see very often here in our landscape, but rarely use a camera then.

[ranunculus]

Thanks everyone for the very kind comments.

John, I'm afraid I am even less knowledgeable about rhododendrons than I am about debilitating skin diseases of the fresh water shrimps of Madagascar or the now lost, but once unique, silhouette collection of one-legged French and Russian ballet dancers amassed by Dame Louisa d' Angello of Minsk.
The plant was not labelled (Maggi will SURELY intervene with a suggestion or two - please) and the image was taken in very deep shade (under a canopy of other rhodo's) with my 'trusty' Nikon D80.  It was truly a sumptuous red and a sizable plant.  Hope the big rare plant sale went well (is there a great demand for 'big' rare plants in Canada - we make do with average ones)?   
Greetings from a damp and pretty dismal East Lancashire.
Presenting a digital lecture to Whitworth Historical (NOT hysterical) Society in Whitworth Museum this evening, it will be the first time that I won't be the oldest thing at a venue!!!

[Maggi Young]

Can you tell me which rhododendron that is in FM25, the brilliant clear red?

The plant was not labelled (Maggi will SURELY intervene with a suggestion or two - please)

yes, here I am.... I can suggest 'Markeetas Prize' as a likely candidate.... very popular GOOD big red..... right flowering time ....seems possible...... nice upturned stamens, good colour, no calyx   

[johnw]

Markeeta's Prize and Markeeta's Flame I can never keep them straight and have always bought the wrong one - the pink one.

Thanks Maggi.

Cliff - I guess one can rule out a host of dry, itchy, flaking disorders for those Madagascar shrimp?

johnw