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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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Rhododendron 'PJM'



For me, Rhododendron 'PJM' is one of the main plants that signal the beginning of Spring. Nevermind that it is rather pedestrian, dotted everywhere around town and often residing on properties where it is obvious that gardeners do not live within. The reason for this is that, when it comes to rhododendrons, it is very cold hardy and one of the easiest to grow.

The story behind it is an interesting one. It was developed by Edmund Mezitt, the son of Peter J. Mezzit, an emigrant who fled the Russian czar and came to America in 1911. He and his wife Olga founded Weston Nurseries in 1923 in Connecticut. Their son, Edmund, had a passion for rhododendrons but was discouraged by the selection of offerings in the New England region. In 1939, he crossed Rhododendron carolinianum, a plant native to the Carolinas and Tennessee with Rhododendron dauricum var. sempervirens, an extremely cold-hardy plant gifted to his father by Russian missionaries. The result, Rhododendron 'PJM', named after his father's initials, took the country by storm and made their nursery famous.

I see 'PJM' growing in a variety of conditions - full sun, part sun, shade - it all seems to work but I would recommend a partly shady spot with preferably morning sun. It grows about 3 - 5 ft. in height and is upright. Today there are other varieties including 'PJM Elite' which has slightly brighter color and suppose to be more compact.



Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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  1. AnonymousApril 16, 2023 at 5:52 PM

    That's a good story. We often don't know how plants ended up for sale in our local nurseries or on line. Millions growing around the world that were once a single seedling.

    That intense color sure wakes up the eyes in a grey spring!

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  2. Kris PetersonApril 16, 2023 at 7:03 PM

    It's pretty and cheerful - just what you want to kick off spring!

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  3. Lisa at GreenbowApril 17, 2023 at 2:55 AM

    I agree it is an interesting story. It is a beauty too. Happy Spring.

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  4. AnonymousApril 17, 2023 at 7:49 AM

    I planted PJM Rhododendrum a few years ago. Very little direct sun made it grow leggy branches, it lost the lovely bronze-colored leafs it had when I punched it, and it produced 5 blooms this year. I'm rather discouraged.
    Chavli

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    1. Phillip OliverApril 17, 2023 at 7:52 AM

      Actually mine is not very dense. I wonder if pruning would help?

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  5. tz_gardenApril 17, 2023 at 9:25 AM

    So commanding with the bright color. I know rhododendrons are common, but I miss them (grew up in Portland, OR now in CA).

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  6. AnonymousApril 17, 2023 at 6:45 PM

    What a great story! Thank you for that! I know they are common, but damn - there is a reason for that. I love that dark foliage contrasted with that nearly fluorescent purple. If I had room, I would totally plant one.
    Anna K

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