SRGC Discussion Weekend 2011- Dumfries 23rd to 25th September

[SusanS]

and finally the DNA garden.

[SusanS]

 Whilst we toured the garden Charles Jencks was kind enough to join us and explain the design and its significance to us.

[SusanS]

For those who didn't manage the trip to the garden, there was a very nice sculpture just outside the hotel.

[SusanS]

and finally, for those who asked, proof that not only did I bring my college homework with me to the discussion weekend, I actually did do it!  Well some of it anyway. 

[Stan da Prato]

some quick pictures of the show ably organised by Jennifer Watson and her fellow reivers. Light was  not great so some needed flash; hopefully others will add more  pictures and info.
Class A six small pots
Class 1 three pots and a trophy won by Harvey Shepherd's ferns
Two Scottish natives and one Australasian
Autumn foliage
Grey foliage
Plant with berries
Cushions
general view
conifer corner
ferns

[Stan da Prato]

next ten:

bulbous plants
Cyclamen
C cilicium
C graecum
C africanum - Lever trophy for best cyclamen to Sandy Leven
two C mirabile
heathers
gentians
more gentians
two of the shrubs

[Stan da Prato]

next batch:
Gentiana The Caley bred by Ian McNaughton and shown by Beryl took the Forrest
plants not otherwise in the schedule
Australasian pairs
Shrubs - all Coprosmas
more gentians
foliage Cyclamen
three foliage saxes
Asparagacae

[Stan da Prato]

Section 2 did not have  many entries but did have some nice plants
best in section-trophy for  Audrey Leach
Ann Sinclair's pine was best conifer in show
some other  section 2 plants
the photo competition with many excellent pictures -won by Peter Maguire

[angie]

Thanks Susan for posting the pictures of the garden. I tried to explain the garden to my husband but it was all to much for me to understand. Try explaining what a black hole in someone's garden looks like

Nice meeting everyone again. Really enjoyed this weekend. Great company, great food and off course fantastic talks. Oh forgot to mention all the lovely plants for sale, managed to buy a few but not as much as Susan and Darren did  speaking of plants I bought some lovely things from Ger but maybe this was a mistake as Ger gave us a lovely talk about tricky plants and he was very honest telling us how many he has not been able to keep alive, well if he struggles with some what chance have I  oh well they might live long enough to give me one or two flowers, can always have hope.
Thanks to the rest of the speakers and thanks to everyone that made it a very enjoyable weekend.

MAGGI I HOPE YOU HAVENT ATE ALL THAT CHOCOLATE 

Angie

[Brian Ellis]

Great to see your photos Sue, there are some new bits at the Garden of Cosmic Speculation that we had not seen in 2007.  It is a magnificent landscape.  I'm not surprised that you could not do it justice in description Angie, it's one of those things that you actually have to see.

[SusanS]

Hi Brian,

the area around the Black Hole terrace had changed as the sycamore that shaded the area died.  The tree was felled and sliced.  These slices were planted black and arranged next to the black hole and a curve of yews (?) planted.  The slices are now being colonised by fungi.

There are plans to develop the garden further. 

Susan

[Brian Ellis]

Hello Sue,

That explains it, I couldn't quite see what was different to begin with and had to refer to my old photos.  One or two nice sculptures added since we were there.  Was the lovely kinetic sculpture still by the house?  I thought it was so relaxing to watch it's gentle movement, but we all wondered whether it would withstand heavy wind!

[Darren]

As Susan said, we had a great weekend 

Angie is quite right, we did indulge in some horticultural retail therapy..... but all those different Daphne at such reasonable prices were just too tempting.

I just shifted all the purchases down to the garden before the builders obstruct the path again. There is also a digger from united utilities arrived to replace our water main. There is nothing like a peaceful day off work. And this is nothing like one

Delighted to report that my Eritrichium is still alive 48 hours after buying it, which must be some sort of record for me....

[angie]

Brian that kinetic sculpture was still next to the house. You could watch it for ages. He said it had been welded a couple of times because people just wanted to see if they could make it crash together.
Sorry it wasn't the type of garden that I liked but saying this it was worthwhile seeing and off course is completely different from anything else that I have seen.
Loved the gardener, nothing seemed to scare him. Removing a bit of lawn terrifies me.

Angie

[Brian Ellis]

Angie I don't think garden is the correct description for it, I prefer Landscape.  I think of it as a modern day Capability Brown construction