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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....

Lilies in pots - "Muskadet"



Lily "Muskadet" growing in a pot on the patio. I have found that lilies do quite well in pots and they even bloom in shady locations. It is wise to select varieties that do not get too tall - "Muskadet" is only about 2 feet tall. I have had this one for years. I just put it in our unheated basement during the winter where it goes dormant. 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. I tried Agapanthus in a pot this spring and was so pleased that I plan to dig most of them and pot. Maybe I'll pot Lilies, too. I used to have Muscadet, need it again.

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  2. That's a beauty, and a wonderful photograph.

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  3. When you store the lilies for the winter, in order for them to go dormant, do you water them at all?

    Thanks for answer! ) Love your blog!

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  4. This is a cheerful colorful lily. Love the red spots.

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  5. Very pretty. Is it fragrant as well? I am surprised it even has to go in the basement, as there are quite a few lilies surviving in big containers here in our neighborhood that are out on the sidewalk year-round. Or is it just so the bare pot is out of sight in the winter?

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    Replies
    1. You are right, it would probably be okay left outside. The main reason I do it is to protect the pot. When I leave pots out, they tend to crack and break when we have icy weather.

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  6. Very nice. I think I now have a few new options for a few of the containers on my deck, thanks to you.
    Ray

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  7. What a beauty! I would never have thought of putting lilies in pots--thanks for the suggestion!

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  8. Beautiful! I like that it only grows to 2 feet.

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