Back from my holiday!

[JohnJearrard]

Aren't Dudleya hardy, Chris?




this D.farinosa has come through the last winters without problems (it is under cover to keep it dry).

[JohnJearrard]

It's early in the afternoon, I'm two or three miles down the road from Bodnant and it would be foolish not to visit.


134, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The house sits on the hillside looking down the valley of the River Conwy. The gardens wrap around the house and extend in a series a formal terraces down the hillside.


35, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The water lily pool stands in the middle terrace, the retaining wall behind it houses a range of tender shrubs and trees.


Schima argentea, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

This Schima argentea is clearly well established. My current score with Schima is: Bought 4; killed 3; unbridled optimism 1.


87, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Outside the formal gardens, the woodland is gardened very intensively. The river Hiraethlyn runs through the Dell garden. I have avoided Bodnant for a long time, I hadn't been impressed by the
reports I had heard, but I was entirely wrong. The place was enchanting. An enormous pot of money has been used to create a garden masterpiece. It's a little camp which is
no bad thing, and rather fuller of Rhododendrons than is entirely neccessary but that doesn't matter in July.


Meconopsis horridula 3, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The Mecomopsis are just managing to hang on. M.horridula was probably the best of them.


Meconopsis betonicifolia Alba, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Thought this white form of M.betonicifolia came a close second (but Meconopsis are like porn films, pointless it they aren't blue).


Mitraria coccinea 3, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Mitraria coccinea flying the flag for exotic plants. It was sprawling and flowering and it had green leaves and made mine look rather inadequate.


Quercus robur Atropurpurea 1, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

A lovely purple oak that must have been growing for years. Always interesting to see that even then people were grafting on top of a standard stem to get a fast result for sale.


Arbutus x andrachnoides 1, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

This Arbutus x andrachnoides had made a magnificent trunk in a century.


65, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The Pin Mill is a bit "Christmas Cake" which makes it look smaller than it is (it is huge).


7, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The Laburnum tunnel had finished, but it was strangely impressive. It is such an iconic part of the garden that I was worried about seeing it in real life, but now I want one.


Cardiocrinum giganteum 5, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Stunning woodland plants



94, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

and full of little details like these stepping stones that were quite delightful. I spent a little time walking back and forward over them. If B&Q sold rivers, I would buy one for the garden just to copy these stones.


31, Bodnant 120713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

So in summary, a wonderful garden that I wish I had visited earlier. The National Trust have been running it since 1949, and they are doing an excellent job.

[AndyC]

The National Trust have been running it since 1949, and they are doing an excellent job.

Agreed. The only sad note to the garden is the Victorian glasshouse attached to the main house which you can see in your first picture. It was semi-derelict when I saw it last year, a pity that it isn't part of the gardens owned by the NT. Thanks again, great pictures.

[Chrisg]

Aren't Dudleya hardy, Chris?

this D.farinosa has come through the last winters without problems (it is under cover to keep it dry).

Not really, they occasionally scrape through and some places in Cornwall manage, but I have lost all mine planted out unprotected. A rain cover may just be enough if your mins are not too bad.

[JohnJearrard]

After a week away from home I finally get to the reason for coming away. Chester Zoo is a great place for a family day out but the real interest for me is the greenhouse department.


25, Chester Zoo 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

They have a range of large greenhouses and poly-tunnels that are used to provide plants for display in the Zoo but they also hold several National Collections
and if you contact them in advance they are very happy to welcome people in to see them.


55, Chester Zoo 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

One of the greenhouses contains the collection of cacti and succulents, including National Collections of Matucana, Turbinicarpus ...


Copiapoa hypogaea ssp hypogaea, Chester Zoo 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

... and Copiapoa (in this case Copiapoa hypogaea ssp hypogaea). There is also a very large collection of Mammillaria.

The main reason for the visit was to see the National Collection of Nepenthes. The Zoo took over the collection last year from a grower in Cornwall. I knew the collectoin quite well previously,
and I wanted to see how it had settled in.


Nepenthes albomarginata var nigropurpurea 2012.0082 , Chester Zoo 3 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Nepenthes albomarginata var nigropurpurea.


Nepenthes ampullaria Cantley's Red 2012.0088 , Chester Zoo 2 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Nepenthes ampullaria 'Cantley's Red'.


Nepenthes inermis (Wistuba) 2012.0207 , Highland House, Chester Zoo 2 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Nepenthes inermis.


Nepenthes jamban, Bukit Barisan 2012.0218 , Highland House, Chester Zoo 2 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

And Nepenthes Jamban. If I had a warm greenhouse I would grow them, but I haven't so I visit them. There are lots of them, they are growing magnificently and it's a niche interest so I will move on.



62, Chester Zoo 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

To the Pleurothallidinae, a tribe of tiny orchids. Chester Zoo holds the National Collection and although high summer is not the best season to see them, there was plenty going on (if you like little orchids).


Pleurothallis scurula (Peru) , Chester Zoo 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Pleurothallis scurula. Very tiny but lovely.



Restrepia schizosepala (Ecuador) 2, Chester Zoo 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Restrepia schizosepala. Slightly larger, and almost spectacular as tiny orchids go.

I ended up spending the day in a steaming greenhouse with a lot of interesting tropical plants (and unfortunately the car turned into an oven and some of the Crug plants went a bit crispy
but everything is recovering). Marvellous place to visit.


28, Chester Zoo 130713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

[JohnJearrard]

I had originally planned to drive home after visiting Chester but couldn't resist the chance to stay overnight in Wales and visit the National Botanic Garden. It is a wonderful and very
new garden that is improving with every year.


9, National Botanic Garden of Wales 140713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The walled garden is home to the order beds, packed with unusual things and a serious rival to the attractions of the big greenhouse.



Acanthus sennii, National Botanic Garden of Wales 140713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Acanthus sennii is still growing strongly - it would be nice to think it has established. In many gardens the last few winters have killed it.



Aristolochia clematitis 3, National Botanic Garden of Wales 140713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Aristolochia clematitis which is a forgivable thug.


Cinnamomum camphora 1, National Botanic Garden of Wales 140713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Cinnamomum camphora which seemed to be established outside (I dont think it had just been planted from a big pot).




30, National Botanic Garden of Wales 140713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

The big greenhouse is an astonishing space to walk into, and filled with astonishing plants.



Protea aristata 3, National Botanic Garden of Wales 140713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Protea aristata, just one of a number of species growing.


Pelargonium tricolor, National Botanic Garden of Wales 140713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

And Pelargonium tricolor making a good display.

In the corner of the walled garden there is a Tropical House, full of steam and home to some of the lusher vegetation.


Musa laterita 4, National Botanic Garden of Wales 140713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

Musa laterita flowering.

It is currently one of my favourite gardens and the perfect way to end a weeks holiday. Relaxing drive home at the end of the day, unload the car, little bit of watering in the greenhouse
then a nice long sleep in my own bed.


Campanula lactiflora, National Botanic Garden of Wales 140713 by John Jearrard, on Flickr

[charlie]

I was impressed by the Welsh Botanic as well and that was a few years ago now, I thought it a lot more interesting than near by Aberglasney where I was more conscious of what they hadn't done than what they had!

Nice travel log, looking forward to your next?! :)

[JohnJearrard]

Nice travel log, looking forward to your next?! :)

Thank you. Aiming to have a nice rest now Charlie while I sort out the pictures (there are thousands of them) and get over the shock of the outside world!

(Camborne-Redruth Fuchsia Show this afternoon. 37 minutes. Sufficient. Cactus Society open garden this afternoon. Fabulous cake.)

[Chrisg]

Great pictures. I have always wondered about Zoos and how come they often have large greenhouses. I can understand the whole plants for displays, but National collections? Mind you if they are well looked after and you can visit that is all that matters.