Images taken during a recent visit to Leeds City Council Parks and Gardens – holders of 11 National Collections.
We were all stunned by the Solenostemon (Coleus) Collection in their greenhouses – in particular the Solenostemon ‘Kiwi Fern’ caught our eye. The gardeners Dean, Mark and Thomas gave us a tour around the gardens and the walled garden. I was so impressed with their knowledge, care and attention and the pride they take in looking after their particular Collection. Is there a sense of competitiveness – well there might be!
I was there to discuss details for a central feature in the Plant Heritage marquee at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Plans are to include some 250 different varieties of the Solenostemon NC into a display in the PH marquee at HCPFS, depicting the ‘gems of the scheme’ – celebrating 35 years of Plant Heritage. WOW!
I visited the gardens around Temple Newsam House, home to 5 of the 11 National Collections – Delphinium, Phlox, Aster, Chrysanthemum and Solenostemon. Leeds City Council has the second largest number of National Collections in a single area and some of the gardens, particularly the Rose Garden, date back to 1923.
Joanna
Plant Heritage 