Today - "Australia Day" - started with lots of flags, an inflatable kangaroo and various unhealthy treats (kangaroo jerky, twisties, barbecue shapes, cherry ripe, and violet crumble) in the office.
We then found out at 8.00am that it was also 'India Republic Day' so two of my Indian colleagues put up a large 6ft by 6ft picture of an Indian Tiger and produced a tray of traditional Indian sweets too! Because of these two national days being important to various members of the team there was disagreement on what food should be ordered in for lunch! In the end everyone agreed to have Mexican food delivered!!
Fortunately for me I was finishing work today at 11.30am and rushing up to Euston Railway Station for the 11.54 to Leighton Buzzard. Myself and some other members of SRGC (and a couple of lurkers
) were lucky enough to be visiting one of the Galanthus National Plant Collections. We were all due to arrive at Steve Owen's house for 13.00.
Steve had prepared a warming lunch of soups and savouries (I am sure with some help from Mrs Owen
). We all sat down and chatted about snowdrops, while contentedly stuffing our faces and frustratedly watching the rain, possibly sleet, fall outside!..... Fortunately for us, Steve had arranged the weather perfectly and as the last morsel of food was consumed the clouds parted to reveal some blue sky. I swiftly found myself outside with my camera followed seconds later by the others.
We spent a most enjoyable hour or two wandering around Steve's front, back and side gardens (oh, how I wish I had more space at my place!). There were so many lovely snowdrops to keep us all nattering for hours more but unfortunately the temperature eventually sent us all indoors to warm up. We entered the kitchen to find a wonderful array of biscuits and cake (and warmth
But sadly at his point I had decided to head off for my train to London so that I could then try and get back down to Kent before the full London rush hour occurred. I am sure the rest of them are still sitting there now talking about gardens visited and plants seen....
Steve has many wonderful plants in his collection and I spotted some that have been on my wish list for a while and some new ones to add to the wish list!
I didn't take as many pictures as I would like - but here are a few from today:
Pic 1 - the group shot (Alan, KentGardener, Richard, Margaret, Steve)
Pic 2 - 'Bagpuize Greentips' - I've not seen this before but rather liked it.
Pic 3 - Another of those rather interesting green ones coming from Mainland Europe.
Pic 4 - 'Huttlestone' - with those lovely green leaves.
Pic 5 - 'Moses Basket' - I didn't realise that this can be quite variable year on year. It has been on my wish list for a few years and is still so even when it is mis-behaving like this!
Pic 6 - 'Kirtling Tower' - has been on my wish list even longer.
Pic 7 - The absolutely stunning 'Margaret Biddulph'.
Pic 8 - 'Sentinel' in the sunshine.
Pic 9 - Separate studying of plants
