We were pleased to welcome Colin Ward to our May meeting. Colin is the owner of Swines Meadow Farm Nursery at Market Deeping. The nursery is open to the public and specialises in rare plants and shrubs. There is an excellent website detailing all the plants available and a mail order service is provided for those people who are unable to visit. However, having listened to Colins’s fascinating talk and realising that here is someone with an in-depth knowledge and passion for unusual plants I am sure there will be many BGA members beating a path to his nursery door.
Colin showed a series of excellent photographs of his favourite plants and shrubs. He told us that he is a particular fan of plants with green flowers and showed many examples of these. He described in detail the characteristics of his favourite plants, highlighting the unusual and those with odd features, He was able to tell us, not only, the Latin names but the more colloquial names which stem from the plant’s use, its shape and form, where it is found etc. To give an example, Euonymous Cornutus is also known as the jester plant as its pinkish-purple fruits are characterised by five slender horn-like extensions with the appearance of a jester’s cap. Colin gave us a wealth of useful information on plants for all the different seasons, those plants which were good for pollinators and information on their care and propagation. Colin described flowers, fruits, scents, foliage, form and bark but it is clear that his main love is foliage.
It was pleasing that Colin spent some time describing plants that do well in dry shade, plants that give good ground cover, plants for woodland areas and plants to attract the pollinators – all the things that we gardeners want to know. The number and variety of plants Colin described is far too numerous to mention here but I would certainly recommend his website as an excellent source of information. It is clear that gardening is for all the year round and there is something for every season. Many thanks to Colin for an excellent talk which provoked a lot of questions and interest from members.
Please join us next month on 15th June when Adam Pascoe will be giving us advice on how to “Grow the Best Glorious Plants”. Details can be found on our website. As usual this meeting will be open to all members and visitors.
Linda Truscott
New members and visitors are always welcome. For more information contact:
Linda Truscott on 01234 270747
Hello, I am secretary at Houghton Conquest Garden Club, and am trying to arrange the programme for next year. I wonder if you could recommend any speakers who you have had. I should add who are not too expensive. Thank you.