Unwrapping my presents

Tuesday, 14 September 2010

Unwrapping my presents

Twice in one day! Came home last night to a huge box on the doorstep which could only mean more plants I'd ordered and then forgotten all about (I should probably point out at this juncture that I don't drink, I'm just very forgetful). And now that it's morning I can have a good look at them: Three Harlow Carr primula hybrids looking incredibly vigorous considering they'd been in the post for 5 days (and the Royal Mail get all arsey when anyone mentions the "P" word). Also in the candelabra group was the more petite but extemely beautiful Primula japonica "Apple Blossom". Also in there was Meconopsis betonicifolia, the legendary Himalayan blue poppy, and another, unlabeled meconopsis which I think is horridula, so named because of its spiny leaves and stems, not because it's horrible (I've only ever seen it in the wild, at about 3,500m in the Tsari valley in Tibet and it was a rather washed out purply-blue and right in the middle of a huge rose bush so it is quite horrible). Finally I was confused to unwrap a pot with the label "Aubretia Joy", knowing that being the snob I am I would never order something so common! In the daylight I realise it has "Lilium duchartrei" written on the other side. Result!

At the moment it looks like this

But one day should look like THIS!

A few more comparisons might be in order... From this...

Meconopsis betonicifolia

To something like this

And from these:

Candelabra primulas "Harlow Carr Hybrids" nd, on the right, Primula japonica "Apple Blossom"

To these:

In fact this image is from the catalogue of Slack Top Nursery, who sold me the plants, so I'm sure they won't mind me using their picture!

And this:

And the final little surprise, which I've never tried before, a tiny little pot with two very healthy (I couldn't resist a peek) corms of Fritillaria camschatcensis which, with tender love, care and a lot of luck, might one day look something like this:

So altogether kid-in-a-sweetshop stuff!

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My recommended suppliers for plants and seed

(And our only business connection is that I give them lots of money in exchange for high quality plants.) Rare Plants (http://rareplants.co.uk/). Paul Christian concentrates on the very choice and rare (and consequently expensive but not unfairly so. Mainly but not exclusively bulbs and a great stop for the hardcore Iris and Lily collector. Mail order. Growild A small operation on the West coast of Scotland dealing largely on eBay and not a garden centre or public nursery so it's a case of when they have it, they'll list it. So keep an eye out for the odd gem (I recently spent £80 on rare Lily species on eBay so it's the market that sets the prices. An esoteric range, best found on eBay Kevock Garden Nursery in Scotland (www.kevockgarden.co.uk/) specializing in unusual alpine, woodland, and bog plants, many of Asian origin. Think along the lines of Meconopsis and candelabra primulas. Online catalogue and mail order. Cayeux Irises Based in France, near Orléans, this lot deal almost exclusively in bearded Irises (550 varieties, many their own) with a few beardless and Day Lilies. Superb quality plants, sent out bare-root from Late June to mid-October (www.cayeux-irises.com).

SEEDS

Chiltern Seeds I have to start with the suppliers who first showed a spotty teenager that there's more to seed catalogues than Petunias and Sweet Peas (although they are in there too). They offer a huge range of genera and the species within. The catalogue (too comprehensive to illustrate, it would be the size of the Birmingham phone book) is witty and informative (or not, which is refreshingly honest on rare occasions when they doubt the provenance of an item, something usually reflected in the price). I've raised many an Iris, Meconopsis and Primula from them and portion sizes are generous. Germination instructions for the needy (seeds, not necessarily gardeners) care often stuck to the packet, otherwise just stick a pin in and have a go! (www.chilternseeds.co.uk/)

Chileflora.com Suppliers of an astonishing range of South American (mostly Chilean and Argentinian) seeds, especially the likes of Alstroemerias, Tropaeolums (the rare ones), Bomareas and a seemingly endless range of Rhodophialas and other bulb seeds. And remember, a lot of Chile is far colder than you think it is! Hundreds of seeds per packet so experimentation with sowing techniques is possible, if at first you don't succeed (you usually will). Many species yet to be named, eg Calandrinia sp. 1212 (mine have yet to germinate). An amazing website with thousands of stunning images taken by the proprietor, Mikhail Belov, and each entry comes with a wealth of habitat, hardiness and other info. He even rates them for ornamental value! (The aforementioned gets an A+).

Rareplants.de Offering many of the above (don't know if they have a reciprocal deal or something) but many, many more genera from all around the planet, seeds are broken down in to sections such as geophytes (bulbs, basically), climbers, hardiness and geographically. And you ALWAYS get a free packet of some Aeonium (Houseleek) species that I never sow. I must have a dozen. Also well illustrated and a HUGE range. Prices are in Euros (the .de domain name should have given that away so be aware of that minute's exchange rate when you order!

Secret Seeds A UK firm specialising in rare perennials (that's where I got my Impatiens namchabarwensis seeds, although at the time of writing they have a picture but no stock), they also deal in grasses, veg and herbs, should any of that float your dinghy. All seeds come in little packets, sometimes a bit on the stingy side but they do tell you how many are coming so fair's fair, with detailed cultivation instructions. Top stuff. (www.secretseeds.com)

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