What to do on a wet, Sunday in Wales?
Well … Go to a plant hunters Fair of course!
Thanks to Anna (Green Tapestry), who told me that a plant hunters fair was on at Bodnant Gardens to-day.
Dobby and I decided that to visit it, was an absolute necessity.
I was very good, before we went I had made a list of things that I wanted, so that my impulse buys were kept to an absolute minimum.
My list consisted of the following:-
And Miscanthus, possibly Morning Light, or Ferner Osten
So After battling over the mountains, Dobby and I arrived in a rather muddy field at Bodnant Gardens
I think when we arrived, we were both a little disappointed in the number of stands as there were maybe 10 – 12, but we needn’t have worried.
There was more than enough choice of wonderful plants to make walking around every stand, 2 or 3 times an absolute joy.
I like plant hunters fairs, as usually the stall holders have a passion for the plants that they bring to these events and I enjoy talking to them
Also it is great to see plants, that are perhaps a little less mainstream than those found in the average garden center.
After a delightful hour or so, we had managed to fill the back of Dobby’s car with our treasures.
Dobby got some great plants for her damp / shade garden including something rather wonderful that neither of us can remember the name of!
A Lobelia Cardinalis with the most stunning pink flower, a couple of Cyperus type plants, and Heucherra ‘Marmalade’
And this is what I bought:-
Aster lateriflorus ‘Lady in Black’
2 hardy fuchsia (that don’t look like fuchsia)
1 big and blowsy fuchsia – but this doesn’t count as I was buying it for a customer
Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica Red Barron)
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Kleine Fontaine’
Can you see any similarity with the list I went with?
No ….. I didn’t think so!
There is also one other plant I bought, I still cannot believe that I actually parted with money for a yellow flower
Gail (Clay and Limestone) is being held completely responsible for this purchase, and every time I see my new Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var deamii) in the garden,
I shall think of Gail and her “Susans”
I have to say, that against the grey that was today – this plant really lit up the world.
To end – Apologies for my lack of responses to your comments, all of which have been appreciated and enjoyed – but the bug that struck me down last month has re-appeared – so boring. Hopefully antibiotics will knock it on the head in the next few days.
How wonderful… a plant hunter’s fair! And the notion of creating a list before hand….. might I borrow some of your willpower? I am afraid I would have had to sell the car to the highest bidder and then hoof it home on foot. Looks like you brought home some wonderful treasures.
teza´s last blog ..Frolic… Oops, I Did it Again…. A Slow Sunday Sojourn
Teza, I promise you I have absolutely no will power at all – I would have sold the car, but it wasn’t mine to sell
K
What a wonderful place to be and what a great variety of new plants you took home! You will have a wonderful time planting them. And yes, Rudbeckia makes us all think of Gail.
I was very close to Wales about 5 years ago (England/Scotland) and I’ve always regretted not being able to visit your country!
Shady Gardener´s last blog ..Hurrah! I’m Posting Tonight!
Well Shady – next time you are in the UK come and visit us in Wales
In fact just come to Wales and forget about England and Scotland.
K
Oh, images of Wales to lure me across the pond. Even wet and grey Bodnant is at the top of my list of must-sees.
I never tire of Japanese Blood Grass, I do think you’ll love it! Crocosmia Solfatare is one of my most treasured plants, but the fuchsias sound really intriguing!!
Alice
aka BayAreaTendrils
Alice Joyce´s last blog ..Hardy Hibiscus! Rose of Sharon Varieties from Proven Winners Color Choice
Alice – yes I love Japanese Blood Grass – but my last clump of it got swamped by other plants
so this is a replacement.
I am interested to know that C. Solfatare is one of your most treasured plants. It will definitely be on my next shopping list.
K
What a great day and I love Bodnant Gardens. I’m like teza, I make lists but can never keep to them!
Phillip´s last blog ..Brobury House and Gardens
Hi Phillip – I am afraid that we didn’t go around the gardens on this occasion, it was just to wet, and to full of summer visitors, but as we live only about an hour away – we shall go back in the Autumn when it is slightly quieter.
K
The top photo – with the stalls and hills – made me want to be there.
Hope you feel better soon.
Funny how bright colours can either lift or overwhelm the spirits.
Esther
Esther Montgomery´s last blog ..WEDNESDAY WORD and HOUSEHOLD NOTES – ON A THURSDAY
Well – if you ever find yourself in Wales, you know where I am, and thank you – I am feeling a lot better than I have for a while.
K
I go to Malvern spring show with a list every year and rarely come home with what was on the list! I have one of those Rudbeckias which I bought this time last year and it has just come into flower, lovely.
Hopefully the weather will be better next week and you will be feeling better!
Helen´s last blog ..Cortusa – what a little gem!
Helen, I know that I may have said this before, but you and I do like so many of the same plants. I am not too worried about the weather for this week – but I hope it will be glorious when you come up this way
K
Is that urchin grass I see before me? It seeds absolutely everywhere and I now have it growing out of every crack between my paving (well perhaps not quite every one). It is easy enough to pull up the excess ones though and rather attractive I think.
Arabella Sock´s last blog ..Be afraid…
Arabella – I have absolutely no idea what urchin grass is? Is that what it is called – or is that a friendly name for it.
K
I bought that Rudbeckia last year and I’m very pleased with it (though I put it in the wrong place – typical!)
I used to take a plant list out with me but as soon as I see plants for sale my brain gets all feverish and I forget about the list. This probably explains why I rarely buy anything off it
Hi Easygardener, glad to know that you are pleased with this Rudbeckia too. Well I only managed to buy one thing of my list, and it wasnt because the other list items were not available it is because I was seduced
easygardener´s last blog ..Ladybirds – well I have never seen that before!
Oh come on, what’s not to love about a happy encouraging little face of a rudbeckia. I love them.
Never in my life have I heard of a Plant Hunters fair, sounds wonderful. Some times nurseries can be so depressing and have such little variety and never anything new and exciting. Enjoy your new purchases and get well soon xx
Thank you Carrie – I do feel better.
While I agree that the Rudbeckia is a happy plant, this one also happens to be yellow which is not a colour I plant very often!
K
Carrie´s last blog ..Thank you
Making a list – now there’s willpower but relieved to hear that you did not stick to it
Glad to hear that you got there and enjoyed yourselves. Did you see the programme on Bodnant tonight on BBC2 ? First in a series apparently. I will soon have seeds of knautia macedonica if you would like some.
Anna – I would love seeds of the knautia, please let me know if there are any seeds you would like in return. I missed the Bodnant programme, I will look out for it next week.
K
Anna´s last blog ..A Happy Carrot Moment!
What a neat idea, and so much more interesting than going to a store. I wish we had something like that.
Hi Sandy, it really is so much nicer than going to a store, and (thankfully) this fair was quite small, imagine my bank balance if I had been let loose at a bigger one!
K
Sandy´s last blog ..flowers from my garden
And somehow I didn’t know! Aaargh. I would have been there and spending. I love Bodnant and love plant hunters’ fairs and how come I spent the day sewing?
Still I suppose it saved me some money, but still so envious of your lovely haul. I do lists too but tend to come home with everything on my list plus a bit, or a lot if I am honest.
lol Sorry Elizabeth – next time there is a plant hunters fair there that I know of, I will make sure you know. There are plant hunters fair at Tweedmill near you aren’t there – have you been to one of those?
K
elizabethm´s last blog ..The pleasure of a glut
I have to congratulate Karen on her willpower yesterday. Admitedly she didn’t stick to her list, but she showed great restraint. If my garden was bigger, less damp and sunnier, I think we would have had to hire a huge lorry to bring everything home that I fell for! Oh yes, she forgot to say that she encouraged me to buy a couple of plants that she will be able to take cuttings off! Clever or what? Thanks for a great day out Karen.
Yes I did think it was a cunning plan to suggest that you buy plants that would look very nice here as well
Thanks for sharing a nice day out Dobby, it was fun, in spite of the rain and my ears hurting.
That is one of my favorite gardens of all time! Those massive mixed shrub borders against those massive stone walls. Too much to handle!
compostinmyshoe´s last blog ..Sweet Smelling August
A lovely way to spend a Sunday! The one similarity between your list and what you came home with is its relative brevity. At least you didn’t end up with two dozen plants but only space for three! I look forward to seeing the new arrivals integrated into your garden space. (I saw the black aster on my own trip my local nursery. What a stunning plant that is.)
lostlandscape(James)´s last blog ..on the road: cornerstone sonoma (more)
Karen, Thank for the sweet link love. I am thrilled to be able to convert you and take full responsibility if we find your garden filled with yellow! Which may happen…R fulgida does like to settle in! I’ll be collecting seeds of two other rudbeckias…Shall I send them to you now that you are clearly in the yellow camp! gail
Gail´s last blog ..Stealth Chompers!