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Pictures by Colin Pusey

As the weather is so gloomy just now I thought that a backward glance at some sunnier moments might bring some warmer thoughts . These are photographs taken on a visit to Sicily of some of the ancients ruins still standing amongst the landscape and the abundance of flowers around them.

photographs by John Metcalf

It is with great sadness that we report that Bill died on 14th November 2014
There will be a service of Thanksgiving at Bergh Apton church (St.Peter and St Paul) on Friday 5th December at 2.30pm.
No flowers please. Donations to Parkinson's UK, may be sent to R. B. Copping Independent Funeral Services

Bill was a founder member of the Norfolk and Suffolk HPS Group. There will be a detailed tribute
to his horticultural life in the Spring issue of the Group Newsletter.

Clematis 'Henryi' was one of the early hybrids created as part of an attempt to get the largest possible flowers on clematis.  In 1855 Isaac Anderson-Henry of Edinburgh crossed C. Patens and C. Lanuginosa and obtained the white-flowered 'Henryi'.
It is early-summer flowering with a second crop later in the year.  It doesn't grow too tall - about 3-4m, depending on how hard it is pruned.  The main attraction is the flower which is 15 to 18cm across with 8 sepals that barely overlap.  What adds to its interest is the contrast of brown-tipped stamens against the pure white of the flower.  Each sepal has elegant veining from tip to base.
In his book on clematis Christopher Lloyd states that it is a 'difficult' plant and he does not like it.  However, he does admit that it never grew for him.

photo by Pamela Clark