Our Staff Bloggers
Category Archives: National Collections
“When in doubt….
….plant a geranium” Words attributed to Margery Fish because of the versatility of this genus. Geranium Rozanne was voted as Plant of the Century at Chelsea this year, so obviously a lot of gardeners agree with her. I’ve had a few … Continue reading
Trustee trip
One of the roles of the Trustees, who oversee Plant Heritage, is to act as a key contact for the various groups, ensuring the views of the local members are heard at Board level. As a result, one of the … Continue reading
A taste of New Zealand
My colleagues had warned me about the notouriously bad weather of Yorkshire….but this is the view I was greeted with in late April. Not that bad, right? For my first trip up there, I attended the Annual Meeting of the … Continue reading
Bark and berries
Two weeks ago, I had the chance to give a talk to Friends of Kew at Wakehurst Place, Kew’s sister garden in Sussex, in the beautiful setting of the 16th century Mansion. The talk was part of a monthly event … Continue reading
Mount Edgcumbe
A few miles from Antony and across the foot passenger ferry from Portsmouth to Cremyll is another National Collection of Camellia at Mount Edgcumbe. On our recent walking trip in the area the route took us through the grounds of … Continue reading
Planting the seed for orchid conservation
Initiated in 2007, the OSSSU project (osssu.org) was designed to promote seed collecting, storage and research in Latin America and Asia. 25 countries all over the world are now taking part in the project, but despite the existence of a … Continue reading
Posted in National Collections
Tagged conservation, National Collection Holders, orchids, osssu, Seeds
Antony
Just into Cornwall, across the chain ferry from Plymouth, lies the National Trust property Antony, home of the Carew Pole family. It is also home to two National Plant Collections: Hemerocallis in the summer borders of the house garden and … Continue reading
Croconuts
If people who love snowdrops are called Galanthophiles, then fans of Crocus are called Croconuts, or so said Roger Holland during the talk he gave to the Surrey group of Plant Heritage. Roger is the guardian of the National Collection of … Continue reading
Posted in National Collections
Tagged crocus, galanthus, Myddleton House, National Plant Collection, Roger Holland, snowdrop, Surrey Plant Heritage
Abigail’s garden
Heathers, along with the Three Day Week, loons and Demis Roussos, are redolent of the late 60s and 70s, and like Dahlias and grasses before them, are due a revival. A visit to the National Collections of Heathers at RHS Wisley could provide … Continue reading
Posted in National Collections
Tagged Alys Fowler, Calluna, Daboecia, Erica, Heather, National Collection, National Plant Collection, RHS Wisley
Splitters and lumpers
Taxonomically a ‘splitter’ creates new categories based on the differences between plants whereas a ‘lumper’ groups plants by their similarities assuming them to be more important than the differences. Mike Byford, National Collection Holder of Helleborus species is on the side … Continue reading
Posted in National Collections
Tagged hellebores, Helleborus, Mike Byford, National Collection, National Plant Collection
gillians
mercym
Plant Heritage
TPP Kalani
TPP Sophie
