Indoor Meeting: Talk by Andrew Ward "Plants that Excite"
Saturday, 14th March 2020
Dr Andrew Ward, Norwell Nurseries & Gardens (www.norwellnurseries.co.uk) spoke to our group on “Plants that Excite!” although he said the title should probably be “Plants that Excite Me!” The talk was educational and entertaining coupled with wonderful anecdotes and touching reminiscences. Andrew had helpfully handed out a list of plants he would be talking about, most of which are available through his nursery, so note-taking was a pleasure – the full list is below but here are some notes of just a few:-
Corydalis elata – coral stems with lime green foliage. It has a scent – like a freshly creosoted fence!
Codonopsis clematidea – A real beauty, take a look inside the flowers, like a kaleidoscope.
Meconopsis punicea – 4” red petals like crinkled silk. Six weeks of exquisiteness.
Ribes speciosum – arching canes of red flowers which came through the winter of 2010. No scent. Come September/October it loses its foliage but by November it is completely re-clothed.
Lobelia ‘Red Compliment’ - silvery hairy stems deter moluscs. Red flowered plants tend to be pollinated by birds.
Geum ‘Rubin’ - flowers double/triple those of ‘Mrs Bradshaw’.
Potentilla ‘William Rollinson’ - flamboyant, not often seen.
Hemorocallis ‘Frans Hals’ - suffered no-ill effects from standing in water during recent winter flooding.
Geranium aristatum – been 20 years in the same position in his garden. A bit flouncy, swept back petals. Regency colours. Andrew thinks it should be of the aristocracy.
Geranium renardii – textured, beautiful leaf. Front of sunny border. Parent of G. ‘Phillippe Vapelle’.
Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ - result of 10 year breeding programme by Rev. Oliver Folkard and named after his wife. Grow in through Artemisia ‘Powys Castle’.
Corydalis ‘George Baker’ - great planted with Lysimachia ‘Fire Cracker’
Narcissus bulbocodium ‘Golden Bells’ - don’t bother with straight bulbocodium, go for named varieties.
Andrew concluded his talk by saying we ought to appreciate the stalwarts of our gardens. It is wonderful to go into the garden every day and notice new start, new hope and excitement.
He circulated a hand-out of plants he would be talking about, most of which are sold by his nursery:-
Delphinium Bell. “Volkerfrieden”
Salvia “Caradonna”
Veronica “Kapitan”
Corydalis flexuosa
Corydalis elata
Phlox “Chattahoochee”
Codonopsis clematidea
Meconopsis “Lingholm”
Meconopsis punicea
Embothiium cocc. “Norquinco”
Ribes speciosum
Loblia “Red Compliment”
Lobelia tupa
Achillea “Red Velvet”
Geum “Rubin”
Potentilla “Etna”
Potentilla thurberi “Monarchs Velvet”
Potentilla tonguei
Potentilla “William Rollinson”
Crocosmia “Lucifer”
Crocosmia “Jackanapes”
Iris sibirica “Blauweismotte”
Iris “Frans Hals”
Hemereocallis “Frans Hals”
Hemerocallis “Corky”
Hemerocallis “Catherine Woodberry”
Hemerocallis “Mauna Loa”
Hemerocallis “Night Beacon”
Geranium phaeum “Langhorns Blue”
Geranium phaeum album
Geranium phaeum “Rose Madder”
Geranium phaeum “Samobor”
Geranium aristatum
Geranium “Mrs Kendall Clarke”
Geranium pratense “Roseum”
Geranium renardii
Geranium “Phillippe Vapelle”
Geranium “Anne Folkard”
Geranium lambertii
Leucanthemum “Phyllis Smith”
Agapanthus “Margery Fish”
Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Dactylorhiza foliosa
Hedychium gardnerianum
Corydalis “George Baker”
Primula sibthorpii
Narcissus “Golden Bells”
Leucojum “Gravetye Giant”
Lathyrus vernus “Alboroseus”
Erythronium “White Beauty”
Erythronium revolutum
Erythronium “Pagoda”
Muscari paradoxum
Adenophora tashiroi
