Back from my holiday!

[JohnJearrard]

Spent a restful night in Doncaster and moved on to Harrogate for the RHS garden, Harlow Carr.
The RHS have been doing a lot of work since they took the garden over from the Northern Horticultural Society.




6, Harlow Carr 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr


The Alpine House and the planting around it are now complete. It's an impressive structure and it's important in a large garden to have somewhere to hide if it rains.
A cloudy morning - the forecast keeps promising that the cloud will 'burn off' but to start with it was very chilly. Fortunately the cafe in the garden opened at eleven
and I could get a cup of tea - I had skipped breakfast in Doncaster to get here early.




64, Harlow Carr 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr


The main herbaceous border concentrates on blue and purple and is planted exuberantly. A wide central lawn runs down the hill into the bottom of the valley flanked on either side by
a wide border.




62, Harlow Carr 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr


Some of the colour combinations are stunning. I saw this mix of Salvia and Eryngium a couple of years ago. It is full of brio. Full of onions. The two things don't always
go together.



16, Harlow Carr 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr


Something about being on holiday made this teapot of leaves funny. I like the fact that there is a person in charge making these things happen. I can't imagine this would have got past a committee.



Meconopsis P.C.Abildgaard, Harlow Carr 4 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr


I have come to see northern gardens - I want northern plants! The Meconopsis trial plants from Wisley have been relocated to Harlow Carr. Officially it is so the colours can be compared
in a more northerly garden. I suspect it was to save the embarrassment of the plants all dying in Surrey. Most of them had passed their best, but M. 'P.C.Abildgaard'
was still making a brave show.



Papaver pilosum 3, Harlow Carr 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr
I was stumped by this. I had worked out that it was Papaveraceae and had filed it away for later identification, but then found one with a label further on. Papaver pilosum.



28, Harlow Carr 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

And finally a bed of candelabra Primula. A noted seedsman sells 'Harlow Carr Hybrids' and I assume this is the bed the seed is collected from.
The sun came out by the time I left and the garden was heating up. Splendid place for a visit and retaining a lot of character. The RHS are 'tidying up' quite a lot but it probably needed it - parts of the garden were
slightly tired and now the whole place is lively.

[JohnJearrard]

Lunchtime at Harlow Carr, and the choice is to stay there for lunch and then move on, or to rush east towards Chester and hope for sandwiches en-route. No contest really. My stomach was determined to stop at the Sainsury's
in Harrogate but it seems they closed for the week of the Great Yorkshire Show, which was going on in the fields next door. Still, a good reason to keep driving and aim for Ness Botanic Gardens.




1, Ness Botanic Garden 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

It's a couple of hours driving but I wasd there by mid-afternoon and pleased to see the entrance. The garden lies on the west side of the Wirral Peninsula and is quite close to the coast
. It is probably quite mild.



Tillandsia 2, Ness Botanic Garden 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

That is not to suggest that this Tillandsia could stay outside all year. The garden has been going through a lot of changes recently to increase visitor numbers and boost income.
Even in the latter part of the afternoon there were a decent number of cars in the car park which is a good sign.



6, Ness Botanic Garden 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The greatest concentration of people were sitting on the benches surrounding the new Chicken Refuge. Well, if they want to pay to spend a warm afternoon watching a chicken sleep
I'm in no position to criticise. I spent the first part of the afternoon driving around Manchester.


46, Ness Botanic Garden 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

There are a great many simple and innovative features. This labyrinth mown into the turf leads to a modern white seat looking out to sea. Last time I saw the garden it was pouring with rain
and needed some work. This time it was sunny and the place was sparkling. I was really impressed, they have done an enormous amount of work.



Persicaria microcephala Red Dragon, Ness Botanic Garden 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr


A few exotic plants, this bank of Persicaria microphylla 'Red Dragon' should serve as a gentle warning. It is quite vigorous.


Cirsium rivulare Atropurpureum 1, Ness Botanic Garden 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

And some common plants in the fantastic light of early evening. Cirsium rivulare Atropurpureum is always a bit difficult in a border. The deep red flower heads are spread rather thinly
but they make a great show mixed with the fluffy white seed heads.


Trollius 1, Ness Botanic Garden 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Trollius chinensis with the light shining through it.


Arisaema jaquemontii 2, Ness Botanic Garden 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The best clump of Arisaema jaquemontii I have seen.


48, Ness Botanic Garden 110713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

A last view along one of the walks in the formal herbaceous garden. By this time I was looking forward to a warm shower in a cheap hotel so it was time to move on.

[charlie]

I am loving this lightening tours :)

[JohnJearrard]

It would be strange to come to Chester and not find time for the trip across north Wales to Crug Farm Plants. It's a lovely road in the summer, the sun shining on the sea at Colwyn Bay, mountains, moorlands,
great tunnels through the rock that carry the road and are home to mighty Trolls (I'm lying about the trolls).
Walking around the garden at Crug is an adventure in unfamiliar leaves. I imagine the experience is very different in spring when the woodland flora is in full growth.



4, Crug Farm Plants 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The green is punctuated by occasional flowers, but the wonder of the place is the strange promise of unfamiliar names on labels and unfamiliar plants above them.



Rodgersia podophylla Crug Colossus, Crug Farm Plants 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Rodgersia podophylla Crug Colossus is my favourite of the leafy things at present. The biggest of the forms I have seen, this plant was put in last year and has entirely occupied its space.



Phlomis atropurpurea BWJ 7922, Crug Farm Plants 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr


Phlomis purpurea growing in the sunniest part of the garden around the house. The name fits even though it isn't a very phlomis sort of a Phlomis.




9, Crug Farm Plants 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

I'm not generally a fan of garden structures which sometimes seem contrived (although I am addicted to shed building, so I don't practise what I preach) but this shade structure
has a simple charm and frames the garden beautifully.


Tigridia orthantha Red Hot Tiger 2, Crug Farm Plants 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr


Tigridia orthantha 'Red Hot Tiger' is the plant of the moment. I have killed mine, but I think that was stupidity rather than cold. This one was planted out last year and is
larger and lusher this year.



Codonopsis gracilis HWJK 2155 1, Crug Farm Plants 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr


This wonderful little blue flower is Codonopsis gracilis. I was very taken with it but if I had brought one back with me it would have been eaten by slugs already.



Schefflera taiwaniana RWJ 100126 1, Crug Farm Plants 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Nice big Schefflera taiwaniana (the big tree is close, the little house is far away).


Trevesia aff burkii BSWJ 12217 2, Crug Farm Plants 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

And finally the lovely leaves of Trevesia aff. burkii.
All in all a very fine way to spend a morning (and a few quid).

[AndyC]

Thanks for sharing your hols with us John. I share your delight in searching for labels at Crug. When I went the foliage was wet from recent showers, I got soaked while hunting for labels.

All in all a very fine way to spend a morning (and a few quid).

Only a few quid :o
Come on, spill the beans.

[Chrisg]

Loving the tour of gardens and nurseries in the Uk, Can we make recommendations for you to visit and review :lol:

Not made it to Crug yet, keep meaning to, but limited succulents so there are places higher up the list.

[charlie]

Chris, you ought to try and get down here for Trewidden nursery and also a guy called Colin Skelly who was one of the St Michael s mount gardeners but now runs a small succulent operation. (Can supply an email by PM if required)

You might if you were cunning be able to sell a visit to St Michaels mount and the Minack as a Nice holiday in Cornwall! :)

As for John just deeply impressed he has found someone brave enough to take on his watering while away :lol:

[JohnJearrard]

..when I say only a few quid Andy, I mean I still had some cash in my pocket when I drove away.
And if you are looking for an excuse, Chris, Chester Zoo has National Collections of Mammillaria and a couple of other Cactusy things as well as a lot of succulents, and is well worth a visit (but contact the horticultural team in advance so they show you round the back - they are very welcoming), and watering, what watering? I do it once a week when it's hot so I did it all the day I left and started again the moment I got back! As far as I can tell the only damage has been to a couple of Bomarea that have been scorched, but these things happen.
On the other hand I wish I had sprinklers in the car. The day after I picked up plants from Crug I had to leave it parked in the sun all day and came back to find Dahlia imperialis reduced to crispy leaves (but sprouting again now) some Aconitum
with crispy tips and some of the Crug Begonia are certainly not tolerant of heat - their response to cold has yet to be tested. Fortunately nothing was killed but the car smelt a bit strange from then onwards. It was only things in the Crug-post that had problems, plants in ordinary compost were undamaged.

[JohnJearrard]

Once the serious business of visiting Crug had been dealt with, time for a bit of fun - sandwiches from the Morrisons in Caernarfon - very convenient with views of the coast!
Back along the coast to Conwy and then a couple of miles south into the mountains and Aberconwy Nursery.


2, Aberconwy Nursery 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

It is a small nursery that concentrates on the most special alpines and some equally small shrubs. They don't do mail order, so you have to visit or see them at a show.
One of the good places to visit. It might not seem very "exotic" at first sight but there are some great things in the stock and all very reasonably priced
(at Crug you check the price before getting excited, at Aberconwy you can just get excited, it's a purer pleasure). Put everything I wanted in a basket and still didn't spend as much as I would have done on the
Lindera I didn't buy.


Rhodohypoxis Confusion, Aberconwy Nursery 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Among the traditional alpines, Rhodohypoxis 'Confusion' was new to me. Admittedly it is just another pink Rhodohypoxis, but I though it was rather nice and tidy in flower.


Scutellaria laeteviolacea, Aberconwy Nursery 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Scutellaria laeteviolacea looking good. I thought for a moment that it might do well planted out in the greenhouse, but it would be better outside.


6, Aberconwy Nursery 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The nursery is small, but immaculate (the blue flowers ara a Cyananthus).


Rhododendron nakaharae Mount Seven Stars, Aberconwy Nursery 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Among the small shrubs, Rhododendron nakaharae is a tiny Azalea which has become important because it flowers in July, long after the others have finished. This is a cultivar called 'Mount Seven Stars' which is very small
but the species is being used to produce late flowered azaleas for garden use. It may seem silly, but people visit gardens in summer so it is useful to have plants that will flower for them.


Calceolarias integrifolia Kentish Hero 2, Aberconwy Nursery 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Calceolaria integrifolia has been spectacular in flower in a number of gardens but the orange-red form 'Kentish Hero' was stunning. The stock plant was in full flower in the middle of the bench, conveniently surrounded
by a flock of little ones for sale. I was going to say like a chicken with its babies, but it was more like a chicken with a prolapse if I'm honest. Not such a lovely image is it. Sorry about that.



Celmisia hectorii, Aberconwy Nursery 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

And finally the amazing Celmisia hectori. Shining silver in a way that doesn't really show in the picture. Keep it well drained in full sun and pretend it's a baby Argyroxiphium!

[Chrisg]

I love alpine nurseries, they appeal to my idea that some of the best plants are those you easily walk past without noticing, but if you stop to look they are stunning. That Celmisia hectori is going straight on my wish list, looks like a hardy dudleya