Sissinghurst is one of those gardens that is truly ‘iconic’. Throughout the latter part of the 20th century Vita Sackville-West made a garden that inspired all who were to follow, and changed the face of modern horticulture.

As a young, devoted enthusiast I was completely in thrall to the style of Sissinghurst. It seemed gloriously ‘natural’; the planting deeply subtle and seemingly careless, although I knew it was highly maintained by experts, both professional and voluntary. And now, looking at it afresh from the perspective of the 21st century, over 50 years since Vita’s death, I can see anomalies. The orchard garden, in particular exhibits a very 20th century style.

Vita planted thousands of narcissi in an attempt to make them appear artless, simple: as if they had just arisen spontaneously. She wrote that when it came to choosing which varieties to plant, she had one rule-of-thumb: to reject the temptation to plant up cheap sacks of mixed bulbs. They would have been much better value, it’s true, but the result would have been crowds of flowers, some of which were in bud, some in flower, and some faded. The eye would have registered a mess.

In 21st century gardens the fashion for sowing meadows and growing wild flowers has taken a grip on our imaginations. If Vita were gardening today I feel sure she would have planted the entire orchard with clouds of our native ‘Lent Lilies’: “hosts of golden daffodils”. And today’s gardeners would have picked up the poetic association.

So, gradually, Sissinghurst is becoming an ‘icon’ of 20th century gardening. It remains true to its roots, and true to the vision of its creator. Troy Scott-Smith is surely standing on the shoulders of genius.

Sally Gregson
March 2019
http://www.millcottageplants.co.uk

From: Yvonne Thompson
Sent: 19 February 2019 10:28
Subject: BBC GARDENERS’ WORLD

Hello there

I am one of the researchers on the BBC’s long running gardening series.

I am trying to find a garden with a collection of crocus, preferably a smaller garden with an expert gardener, but even a larger garden would suffice if they had different varieties. Do any spring to mind at all?

The flowering season of this genus is fleeting, so the other option is to find a garden with a good range of early flowering bulbs and herbaceous plants, including perhaps some species tulips. Again – any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Many thanks and best wishes – Yvonne

Yvonne Thompson
Horticultural Researcher

BBC Gardeners’ World
BBC Studios, Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR
07884 466 205 / 0117 974 6706

Please use the form below to send Yvonne a message

Saturday 16th February – 11.00am

Nick Wray – ‘Microclimates’

Nick is the Curator of the recently re-established Bristol University Botanic Garden and has been awarded the RHS Associate of Honour.  In this lecture, he will show us how to identify garden microclimates and describe how these can be manipulated to create better growing conditions for a wider and more diverse range of plants.  If you’ve ever wondered how botanical gardens manage to successfully grow plants from all over the world, this is your chance to find out!

Our presence at the East Lambrook Plant fair on March 23rd needs some extra help please

• Gate from 12:30 to 14:00 – 2 people needed
• Packing up 3:30 – 4:30 – 2 people needed

If you can help please reply by email, thanks, Jane & Sally.

Snowdrop Time again! Mine are surviving the real stuff, and the winds, with their usual courage, and some are in quite good quantity. As I hope to move house, I need homes for  surplus bulbs of some of the best stalwarts – not top rarities but classics like ‘Augustus’. I could sell bulbs to members for a good cut less than normal catalogue prices (ie £2.50-£5). If interested, contact me using the form below and I’ll tell you what’s on offer. Bulbs could be lifted in April, or ‘in the green’ if it warms up a bit. 

Moving House! Not definite yet, but I need to plan new homes for plenty of nice plants, lots of good cutting material (shrubs and Salvias especially), and seeds of my interesting self-seeders. Prices will be token only if you can come to dig your own! Contact me using the form below to hear what’s on offer, or arrange a visit to poke round. 

Ro FitzGerald

Make contact with Ro using this form please

Due to the depth of snow Elworthy Cottage won’t be able to open on Sunday 3rd.

Other gardens may be open – please check in advance if necessary.

Very many years ago when I lived in Kent I joined the Steering Committee of the Hardy Plant Society for the new Kent Group. Our chairman held a festive lunch for the committee at Christmas and on the table she had placed a small jug of flowers and foliage. Committee members to a man and woman immediately pressed around to identify the twigs, of which there was a surprising number for December.

Of course we had no difficulty with the obvious winter lovelies, but there was one sprig that had all of us completely foxed. We each had suggestions, far off the mark. But among those ten plantsmen and women, not one could identify Pseudowintera colorata.

It is a stunning little shrub that gets even more colourful in winter. Related to Pittosporumit has typical black, twiggy stems and evergreen leaves with white reverses. But the surface colour is a unique shade of green-yellow, verging on light khaki. In winter the leaves develop coral-red margins and in the selection P. colorata ‘Red Leopard’, vermilion spots appear on the most exposed leaves.

It is small, borderline hardy, and perfect for a pot in a sheltered place in the winter sun.

Sally Gregson