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....
Phillip,
ReplyDeleteWow on that Magnoliaflora, to me it looks like a slight peachy white not pink.
Hate your new word verification...
Taylor's Perfection is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI think it is facinating how the last camellia has multi colors. The bees must have been busy around this shrub.
ReplyDeleteSimilar story here with our camellias. Just a minor set back to what has been a beautiful season.
ReplyDeleteWe have similar tastes, it seems. Absolutely love Taylor's Perfection! I have "Mrs. Charles Cobb" in Atlanta, and it is also much more like yours, and decidedly not red. (And she's living in Cobb County, so I figure that has to account for something!)
ReplyDeleteMy star magnolia's have started blooming again, thought the frost had gotten them. Daffodils going wild.
ReplyDeleteMary
Seeing your camellias I am sorry I only have one! I have another question. When is the master gardener's plant sale this yr?
ReplyDeleteHi Philip... I'm so sorry to hear what happened with the magnolias but your camellias are spectacular. I'm curious as to whether your magnolias were earlier than normal this year. This is a huge concern for me this mild winter, but so far we are mostly below freezing at night and daytime temps in mid to high 30's so the ground really hasn't thawed out as of yet... it could end up being a touchy situation... Larry
ReplyDeleteI just bought a Taylors Perfection today. By chance. It really looks like a rose.
ReplyDeleteI just love camellias! My neighborhood here in Atlanta is filled with them. My power walks have turned into garden strolls since I stop so often to admire.
ReplyDeleteSo Beautiful to see, Phillip!
ReplyDeletegerri XXX
Have always enjoyed Camellias.
ReplyDeleteRandy, I agree, it is more peachy. I don't have word verification turned on so I'm not sure what is going on with that.
ReplyDeleteLarry, yes the magnolias were early! So far, everything is early. We are having very mild temperatures this winter. It worries me too.