(For slide-show please click on the picture at the bottom of this post)
This time last week – rather than sitting in front of my computer in a very damp and soggy welsh wales
I was sitting with 12 other gardeners in the home of Derry Watkins on the second day of a course.
I have been buying seeds from Derry for a few years now -
It seemed to be one of the best ways to fill this garden with the more unusual varieties that I like to grow.
As more of my customers are showing an interest in buying plants from me -
I thought that one of her courses would give me some insight into “Growing Plants to Sell”
Which is why 13 of us were sitting around her table for two glorious days in October.
Derry is an enthusiastic and generous teacher and I loved every minute of the two days.
The other “students” had a variety of horticultural knowledge and skills and were delightful company.
The nursery was lovely – Derry’s teaching was fun and informative
AND
I was totally and utterly besotted with the garden!
My “gardening student” hat went out of the window as soon as I stepped into her garden.
I didn’t care what the plants were.
I forgot to make notes of stunning planting combinations.
But immersed myself in the colour, texture and form of Derry’s October Garden.
The Artist came out to play and also came home with three Salvias!
Which might well be my next plant love affair.
(Hmmm - Saliva’s + wet wales, possibly an unlikely combination!
Although we do have glorious Autumns – so if I can just get them through our wet summers -
Watch this space!)
When I got home Shedman asked what I had learnt.
“I don’t know” was my reply because I was so full of information and ideas that I needed time for it to all percolate down,
Which it has done over the past few days.
I know that I don’t have the right location to open a nursery here.
I know that I am about 20 years to old to start schlepping around with a van load of plants -
But thanks to Derry I have some new ideas about how to expand my plant selling, as well as a much better idea of what to do when.
I would enjoy going on another course at Special Plants.
I will certainly visit her garden and nursery again – it was a very special two days.
James has taken a beautiful image of the hedges and “shapes in the landscape” that Derry’s architect husband Peter created.
I have made a small slide show of the plants that caught my eye.
Please click the image below and the slide-show will open in a new window.
Some gorgeous plant combinations there, Karen. Your enthusiasm really came across
.-= HappyMouffetard´s last blog ..From marsh to English landscape =-.
Thanks Happy M – Yes I really feel enthusiastic about the learning and the plants I saw.
K
Love love love the purple and red together. Luscious!
.-= Debi´s last blog ..Scenic Sunday =-.
I am with you on that Debi – A combination to remember I think!
K
I think beautiful image is a bit generous seeing as it was taken at dusk, in the rain with my iPhone!
Yours is much better even with all those people cluttering up the view.
Seeing your pictures makes me even crosser that i got there so very late.
Ah well, next time.
Well – I like the fact that it was dusk – which made the sky a moody colour and the fact that you had no people in your picture – so the shapes in the landscape were stronger. Thanks for stopping by James
K
Beautiful Garden!
Glad to hear that you had fun, wish you the best for your business, I am sure you will apply well all you learned.
.-= ~fer´s last blog ..New flowers in my little garden in japan =-.
Thank you -fer, and thanks for taking time to leave a comment much appreciated.
K
Oh dear it does sound like I need to go on that course – just at a bad time of year for me workwise
.-= Helen´s last blog ..A weekend’s gardening – good for the soul =-.
I think you would find it very interesting Helen, and I will fill you in with more detail when we next catch up.
K
I’m sure there’s tons more you’ve learned which will come pouring out as soon as you start to apply it
Thank goodness you went last week, I think the weekend’s frosts will have laid things a bit low there judging by how the asters were faring at The Botanic Nursery yesterday. Threadspider and I both bought a fantastic aster (A. ‘Professor Anton Kippenburg’) which can be split into 4 at least, plus as I suspected there was plenty of Euphorbia ‘Silver Swan’ up for grabs too.
.-= VP´s last blog ..Yesterday in Bristol =-.
E. Silver swan is a lovely thing, I shall have to look up the Aster you bought – not one I know.
No frosts here yet
(Thats done it, we will probably get one tonight!)
K
That indeed is the very course that I contemplated over doing a few years ago, when I was selling plants regularly albeit on a small scale. It sounds as if I missed a gem! What a stunning setting and the nursery looks most tempting too
.-= Anna´s last blog ..Reach For The Stars =-.
Anna – if you and Himself are down that way – do visit you would love the gardens and they are open quite often. The details are on Derry’s website.
Just leave your money behind – it is very tempting
K
It sounds fantastic. I might have to add it to my list of absolutely necessary things to do and places to go to! Oddly enough I have fallen for salvias this summer. I have been taking cuttings of the two I bought earlier this year and keep seeing more I really like. Not sure whether they will survive up here but they do like the summers!
.-= elizabethm´s last blog ..It’s really autumn now =-.
Yep – Add it to your “must go to” list- it is funny how a plant group that you haven’t noticed for gadzillions of years suddenly catches your eye isn’t it?
It is going to be interesting to see if we can get the more tender salvias to grow – you will be allright with your ground being quite free draining dont you think?
K
Those plants were amazing this time of the year, not so cold there, as it is my garden! May be a gardener would help. please email your email address thanks
lol, well you sacked your last one
I will e-mail you my address (sorry I forgot)
K
Stunning garden. I wish my garden was bigger and I had more time. Oh well, perhaps I’ll win the lottery and can move to a bigger plot and give up work!
Can see why you got your mojo back. The break obviously did you a power of good. I shall expect a whole new range of plants to choose from next year….
It was very lovely Dobby – and had SO MANY plants,
It was a good break
K
It’s a lovely garden, isn’t it? I went there when we were on holiday last year (R sat on a bench in the nursery and read his book – philistine!). I was surprised to find I rather liked the shapes in the landscape and even the sculpture (not usually my sort of thing) – but I really fell for her orange poppies (Papaver rupifragum) and that after eight dahlia in one of your photos – and for the fantastic view! I posted a couple of pictures at the time, but haven’t got round to sorting most of mine yet – must get on with it.
I’m glad the course was so helpful – and enjoyable – for you as well.
.-= Juliet´s last blog ..Hot Hot Hot =-.
Umm – I think after your comments Juliet it is a garden that can hold attention whatever time of year you visit – I would like to see those poppies – I will have to make another trip there in the summer.
I agree with you about the shapes in the landscape, not usually my sort of thing either – but they worked well in that particular location.
Thanks for taking time to leave a comment, much appreciated.
K
Amazing. I’ve ordered seeds from her this year too (including some salvias
and it’s on my must-visit-when-passing list after a recommendation. Your pictures look stunning. I really like those blue and white salvias (looks like Phyllis Fancy) after seeing them at Wisley in similar drift plantings last week – and the After Eight dahlia caught my eye there too – ho hum more things for my planting wishlist. The garden just isn’t big enough for all my dreams!
Sara
.-= Sara´s last blog ..Sloe Gin =-.
Sara – Dont visit when you are passing – go straight to the garden, do not pass go and give yourself plenty of time
I so know what you mean about the garden not being big enough for your dreams!
Thank you for visiting and taking time to leave a comment, much appreciated.
K
The slideshow is a treat. I love the vistas out over the hills that open up from this beautiful garden.
.-= Laurrie´s last blog ..Dahlias in Pots =-.
Thank you Laurrie – I am glad that you enjoyed the slideshow – the view is wonderful – although I do wonder what it is like in the winter ….. probably still beautiful.
K
Wonderfully grown salvias, a pleasure to see!
.-= Denise´s last blog ..The Highline in Autumn =-.
Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for taking us on a tour! How amazing that I can visit a garden in England without ever leaving my home! I’m sure it was even more stunning in person than in picture! What is the variety of pink salvia in the very last picture??? I already have just about every other plant shown in your pictures in my garden and they are all show-stopping workhorses!!! Salvias are very happy in the heat and drought of a Texas summer
I’d love to add that pink one to my garden!!
Such an inspiring post – words and photos.
Lucy