Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh

With two full days left in my trip, I was ready to pack in as much as I could in Edinburgh. 

I had a chance to walk around Edinburgh Botanic Garden for about an hour after I visited Cyril's garden and got small taste of what I would be in for the next 2 days. I was pretty excited after seeing a glimpse of the garden and alpine house. I met with John Mitchell and Elspeth to make a plan for the following two days and went back to Ian and Carole's home to yet another delicious Scottish home cooked meal.

Rock wall, original alpine house and new alpine house

Outside tufa bed blending into the covered tufa wall

I liked the interpretation around the alpine house, Simple yet scientific

The next morning I met up with John Mitchell, Alpine Supervisor, and we talked a great deal about how he built the tufa wall at Edinburgh. John showed me many pictures of the work that was done to build the house. Although the Edinburgh alpine house will be different to ours, there were great comments made by John on how to work with tufa. A great suggestion he had was to cut large tufa boulders with a diamond tip saw so that you can double your supply. Cleaning the boulders with a pressure washer is also a great technique to getting the tufa clean before plancing. Many of the tufa boulders we are getting have soil and grass growing in them so it will be a big project once they arrive to get them clean. Another great thing I learned was that the holes that Edinburgh drilled to get plants into were drilled with a diamond core bit. The holes are roughly the same size and drilled downwards to hold soil and plants better. Many of the holes reach the irrigated sand behind the boulders. Larger boulders where holes don't go all the way through tend to be a little drier as well.

A planting hole in the tufa. Boulders are also secured by stainless steel nails and a hypertufa cement

I also explained how our house would be built and John made some great comments on the design and to take my time when building it. "Planting may take up to a year but it will be worth it" said John. The more we talked, the more confident I became in not worrying too much about instant appeal and to first learn how our new alpine house works after a year of experimenting.

I was then handed off to Elspeth, Alpine House and nursery Senior Horticulturist. Elspeth showed me around the nursery and talked about growing and managing many of the plants. She even let me near her cherished Dionysia afghanica, which may be the only one in cultivation right now. We then picked out a few plants that are grown specifically for the tufa wall in small 1-2" pots. The reason for the smaller grown plants in the tufa wall is that they 1. fit into the drilled holes. 2. They establish quicker and healthier.

Elspeth explaining the reason of smaller grown plants for the tufa wall 

After lunch we gathered the plants and tools and headed over to the alpine house. After a quick demonstration from Graham on how to plant, I gave it a shot. I have to say the first 1 or 2 were quite difficult and intimidating but after a little while I started to get the hang of it and really enjoyed it. We will see how they fair over the next few weeks...

Graham filling in the hole with the compost mix using a plastic pipe and stick to tap and jam the soil in. 

Me pretending to know what I am doing. So much fun

Happy cushion plants of the tufa wall

After a great day at The Botanics, I had a chance to walk around Edinburgh and see some sights such as the castle.

And I even watched a sunset from the top of the a dry ski slope. (scariest skiing in my life)

The next day I went in early with John and walked around RBGE. The size of RBGE is pretty large considering how many planting beds and different areas encompass the grounds, The conservatory is also massive. I particularly liked the fern house and seeing a few Victoria waterlilies being grown for the summer.

I then met up with Robert, Senior Horticulturist of the Rock Garden and Woodland areas. Robert took me on an extensive tour of both areas as well as some history. The Rock Garden was originally built in 1870 but then redone during WW1. Like a few other gardens I visited, beds are separated geographically. Robert is also responsible for most of the interpretation around the garden and he showed me a great way of attaching signs to rocks using velcro.
The woodland garden is also quite interesting although most of the plants were just starting to come up. I really enjoyed the stumpery areas and the Scandinavian peat blocks. Rhododendrons were also coming into full glory and a few were original collections from the wild that date back many years.

Stumpery

Robert talking to one of his gardeners on methods of keeping children out of the beds 

Easy to replace and blends nicely with the rock garden beds

There was also a unique bed that was dedicated to rare or endangered plants of Scotland from the coast up to the high peaks. The labels even had the common name in Gaelic.

If you have read this far, thank you for taking the time. RBGE was such an important part of my trip and I can't thank John, Elspeth, Robert and the rest of the staff for taking me under their wing for 2 days.

I will  be writing one more wrap up of my trip in the next day or 2. Stay tuned. 

Cyril Lafong's Mansions

The next day Ian and I traveled to Cyril Lafong's home in Fife which is just across the Firth of Fourth bridge to Edinburgh.

For those who don't know who Cyril Lafong is; please allow me to enlighten you. Cyril is an accomplished grower of some of the best alpine plants in the world and on Saturday he won his 50th Best In Show for a Trillium (possibly a record?)

The weather was excellent as we stepped into Cyril's backyard. I had seen pictures from Panayoti Kelaidis when he visited a few years ago but it was only a glimpse into how extensive his private collection is. We spent some time walking around the patio crevice garden or as Ian likes to call it, Crockery. As we made our way around the garden, Daphne and Corydalis were flowering everywhere as well as Trillium and Erythronium. 

the Crockery

Erythronium tuolumnense

Over 60 years combined knowledge right here

Ian and Cyril have been friends for over 30 years and have been sharing plants, seed, and cuttings since they met. This friendship has produced some incredible crosses of Daphne, Galanthus, and Trillium to name a few. This sharing has also introduced many plants into cultivation that are difficult or require a certain knowledge to grow.

Viola volcanica. Case in point. 

One of the several growing mansions filled with pots of choice alpines

Pot to pot full of choice alpines. Some of which he will bring to shows

Every time I asked Cyril if a certain plant was hard to grow, he often replied "not too hard". I am not sure if there isn't something Cyril can't grow though. It was both inspiring and overwhelming to hear this from him and made me want to try growing more unusual things.

 Many cushion plants and unusual gems fill the cracks of Cyril's 2nd Crevice bed

Forgot to write the name of this down. Some you plant geeks might know it

The rectangular beds grow many plants Cyril tests outside or do better in the ground

Propagation area that Cyril shared some great tips about with me 

I am really glad that I had the time to see Cyril's garden and private collections. It's amazing how someone with a small backyard could have a collection to that of a botanic garden. Thank you to Cyril and his family for hosting me for the afternoon.

Final Stop: Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh

Ian Christie's Nursery & exploring Glen Doll

It has been a busy couple of days for me since Saturday and I have seen and learned so much about Scotland's people and plants.

I am picking up from the show on Saturday where I met up with Ian Christie, a successful alpine nursery man, who I traveled with to his home in the most fertile land in Scotland in a town called Kirremuir.

We passed thousands of acres of potato fields, strawberry high tunnels, and rolling hills before we reached his home on Saturday night. Ian's wife, Ann, who is an absolutely amazing cook and avid rock gardener, greeted us to a tasty meal. Through out the night Ian shared his knowledge on botanists and explorers such as Thomas Drummond and George Don, both fellow Scotsmen who first described many alpine plant such as Dryas octopetala var. dummondii. Ian also showed me some of his great rock garden projects that he had been a part of which was just down the road. 

We made a plan to see his nursery and gardens the next day and hike Glen Doll, a favorite of Ian and Ann. 

Ian brought me the next morning to the the a garden he helped design and build in a public area in Forfar. The garden is a tribute to the Botanists of Forfar and features plants they described as well as a stone wall that looks like Nessie done by a famous stone wall builder.

Ian volunteers his time each week to weeding and maintaining the garden

A spore and seed to represent the botanists contributions

We went back and had a quick lunch before we headed off to hike Glen Doll.

As we neared the trail head, I had a really good feeling that I was going to see some snow and mountains I had never seen before. This got me pretty excited.

A few miles in and we hit the basin of Glen Fee and the views were incredible. In the distance there was a raging waterfall and cornices that hung over the ridges. It almost felt like the Rockies for a minute.

I raced up to a good view point and looked back on the beautiful country of Scotland and felt so incredibly fortunate to be here.

Ian also showed me his nursery and gardens at home which features a million snow drops, Trilliums, and a large variety of alpines that he has cultivated and breed. His passion for plants is undoubtedly, as he would say, "Mad".

On of his cherished Snowdrop cultivars 'Elizabeth Harris"

Part of the backyard garden 

Daphne 'Hans Bauer'

Ian cares so much about passing on knowledge and inspiration that during my time I spent with him I left feeling like I had become a little wiser and more confident in growing new plants.

Next stop: Lafong Mansions

SRGC Alpine Show

After a scenic train ride up the coast to Edinburgh, I was picked up by Ian Bainbridge and brought to his warm home just outside the city where it's quiet. Ian & Carole cooked a delicious meal of wild pigeon, vegetables, and a warm crumble for dessert. After great discussions on a variety of subjects to do with plants and people, I crashed into bed and slept like a rock.

The next morning we headed for Kincardine, Stirling for the Scottish Rock Garden Club Alpine Flower Show. Shows are something Americans don't do too often and I had to see one for myself after seeing pictures of them in journals.

Judging

Another perfect Dionysia

This Trillium grown by Cyril Lafong won best in show

Well, perfect plants were on display. A wide collection of spring bulbs, flowering Rhododendrons, Saxifraga, and a trillium grown to perfection were just a few categories in the competition. I finally met Julia Corden who is responsible for getting the word to Nicola for me to apply to the Diana Aitchison Fund. Julia and I went around to the various categories and took down info on who got 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Judging these flower shows is serious business as no one is allowed to be near them or in the room when their judging. I kept my distance and watched from afar as they discussed each plant carefully.

Julia Corden 

After Judging I was then asked to attend a Joint Rock Committee meeting. In a small room I sat next to some of the smartest people in Alpine horticulture. I was thrilled to meet people I had read about or have their books on my shelf at home. They discussed plants and new introductions to the show and voted on whether it gets a recommendation or dismissed.

Important decisions on plants are made at the Committee meetings

After the meeting I was then asked to go on Beechgrove Garden BBC TV to talk about who I am and why I am visiting the UK. Hopefully it came out alright and I didn't mess up too many sentences.

It was really great to see so many people participate in growing alpine plants and take their Saturday to bring them to a show. Although it was a smaller show, I was really impressed to see so many great plants and meet many great people.

RHS Harlow Carr

After visiting Cambridge I headed north to York for the night. York is an amazing city full of history, old buildings, and ghost tours. Yes, I went on one and it was awesome. I learned a lot about the history of York and capped the night with a pint at Guy Fawkes Pub which is where he was born. (V for Vendetta)

The next morning I watched the eclipse and got on a 30 minute train ride for the city of Harrogate which is where RHS Harlow Carr is located.

The weather was absolutely beautiful when I arrived at Harlow Carr. I met up with Garden Manager, Alison Goding and we headed straight for the Alpine House. There was a bunch of children streaming in and out of the alpine house learning about the alpines which was really great to see. Alison gave me some details of the house including venting and shading. I then tagged along with two trainees who showed me around the nursery and inside of the alpine houses and answered some other questions I had. Both of the alpine house gardeners are on maternity leave and everyone did their best to answer my questions.

Trainee'st talking about the management of the house

the landscaped beds blended well with the display pot areas. The bench is where I had lunch. 

A stacked tufa wall 

Stacked crevice garden

I walked around most of Harlow Carr and had a chance to see their winter garden which is spectacular. A bed of Heathers was in full glory buzzing with bees right next to the main entrance.

Winter Garden

And of course I went to Betty's for lunch but got had it to go so I could enjoy it in the alpine house look at the design a little more. I really like what Harlow Carr has done with their house and I had some new idea's that may work for Betty Ford Alpine Gardens house.

Next stop: Edinburgh, Scotland for the SRGC Stirling Show

Cambridge Botanic Gardens

Early Thursday morning I boarded the train to the beautiful countryside of northern England.

I arrived at Cambridge Botanic Garden around 10:00 am where I was greeted with a most welcome smile from Helen Seal. Helen and I had been in communication for a few months as she was planning a trip to visit Colorado as well. To my surprise, Helen told me that she was retiring next week but planning to still volunteer at the gardens. 

I got a brief tour of the gardens before making our way over to the Alpine House and Rock Garden. When we arrived outside of the alpine house, Helen had so many factual information about how it was built that I struggled to keep up with my notes. This alpine house has charm and style. Teak framing and custom slat shades (which apparently look nice but are a lot of work)

There was a ID class going on on in the alpine house so we waited to go in and walked over to the rock garden. 

Part of the the north american section of rock garden. There is even a large Pinus aristata (bristlecone pine) up there

The limestone boulders are unique and old which give the feel that this rock garden naturally occurred right where it lays. The North American section was being redone due to an infestation of horsetail and I was surprised to see a bristle cone pine at the top. 

Helen then led me to the nursery where she showed me the various collections of plants being grown for the alpine house. Things were neat and organized by species, growing conditions, as well as alphabetically. I also learned that Cambridge boasts 9 national collections including Saxifraga. 

We spoke about soil mixes and fertilizers, Helen only uses Seaweed extract for everything and no peat is used in their potting mixes. Kudos to that. 

We then met up with Simon to tour the inside of the alpine house. Simon and Helen shared so much information on how the house is managed, what grows best in tufa, and how to engage visitors in groups of plants. For example, Helen and Simon only water the tufa rock, not the plants. This keeps plants like Dionysia and other finicky plants from rotting. Plants are also arranged by species and growing conditions, similar to the nursery. They both explained that drilling large holes in tufa to plant things does not work well and things will tend to fall out if the hole is not tight enough. 

Dionysia tapetodes growing happy in a tufa boulder. 

I really liked their choices of dwarf woodies such as this Ullmus partvifolia 'Hokkaido'

Despite my time being cut short to catch a train up to York, I left Cambridge with so many great ideas and suggestions from Helen and Simon. It was also refreshing to see a smaller garden do so much with their collections.Thank you to both Helen and Simon taking their time to show me around and answering my questions. 

Next stop: York and RHS Harlow Carr.