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Special Plants Nursery (Chippenham, England)

Our third day was a busy one as we left our first hotel in Bath and traveled to Wells. There were several stops along the way, the first being Special Plants Nursery in Chippenham, England. It was a warm day. The nursery is owned by former Oregonian Derry Watkins, who moved to England decades ago when she married an Englishman. She is a plant collector and has traveled all over the world, her favorite place being South Africa.  That is Derry in the above photos talking to our group. The house and garden are located on a steep hill with idyllic countryside surrounding it. She says the garden was designed by her architect husband and she has filled it with her favorite plants, mostly tender perennials that she has collected from her plant-hunting expeditions. Most of the beds are terraced and many plants are grown in gravel. The garden is also enhanced with some striking ornaments - Lower island beds proceed downhill - A bog garden - At the bottom of the property is a woodland walk....
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Winter beauties

Greetings on this first day of winter! Today is stormy and wet after a rather mild day yesterday. I took a few photos in the garden. There is great beauty to behold in the winter garden if you just look for it. And even some flowers! 

Camellia "Mine No Yuki" (Snow on the Mountain) - Do you see the ladybug?
 
Camellia 'Debutante'







The camellias are expected but I was surprised to see this Creeping Bellflower
(Campanula rapunculoides) blooming. Very odd!
Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. UnknownDecember 22, 2011 at 1:22 PM

    Now that is much appreciated. Fantastic pics and wish I had even one bloom still here. Thank you for sharing!!

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  2. FairegardenDecember 22, 2011 at 2:44 PM

    Beautiful flowers and gorgeous captures, Phillip! I did see the little ladybug. The weather has been bizarre.

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  3. scottweberpdxDecember 22, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    What a great surprise...especially that Campanula!

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  4. LarryDecember 22, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    How I wish we could grow camelias... exquisite... Larry

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  5. AnonymousDecember 22, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    I need to go and check my camelias. I haven't walked around and checked thing out since knee surgery. I did go into the greenhouse to water the shrubs I bought on close out and the field mice are chewing the limbs off. I gave the something else to eat and put another one down a couple of days later as the first one was eaten. I need to get rid of them before spring. Two years ago they ate the seeds that I was starting out of the containers and I'm not having that occur again next spring.

    Have a Merry Christmas Phillip and Michael.

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  6. GailDecember 22, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    happy Christmas Phillip and Michael, I hope the season is filled with goodness for you both, gail PS pretty flowers.

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  7. Anne BoykinDecember 22, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    Happy Holidays! Thanks for your great gardening posts, always enjoy them. Anne

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  8. CarolDecember 23, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Merry Christmas Phillip! Lovely to see your beautiful blooms! Sigh!
    Peace.
    Carol

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  9. LesDecember 23, 2011 at 7:15 PM

    Our Camellias are look good here also. I hope they don't all pop open too soon though. Merry Christmas to you both.

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  10. DavidDecember 23, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    Wishing you and Michael a "Very Merry Christmas" and a "Happy New Year".

    Cynthia & David

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  11. sweetbayDecember 23, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Those Bellflowers are exquisite. Exquisite image of the pink camellia too. Just lovely.

    Merry Christmas!

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  12. ConnorDecember 24, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    So lucky! I would do anything to be able to grow Camellia here! When i lived in ATL we had so many. Nothing in Nashville winter blooms!
    Great photos as usual!

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  13. DDecember 24, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    Beautiful blossoms still! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Phillip. May 2012 be kind to us all and bring continued well-being.

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  14. Gardener on Sherlock StreetDecember 24, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    Flowers on the first day of winter. What a wonderful find!

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  15. Becca's DirtDecember 24, 2011 at 7:01 PM

    Merry Christmas Phillip.

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