The Plant Company is an independent nursery in West Sussex with a great selection of high quality plants. They actively search out and trial new varieties to check that they are garden worthy. Definitely worth adding to your list of online nurseries.
Last weekend Marchants Hardy Plants (Independent Nursery of the Month in June) hosted its annual event combining fine plants with fine crafts. Graham Gough has developed some superb strains of Agapanthus, especially the inapertus strains which have elegant nodding flowers, some of which I now have in my garden (see ‘Looking Good in the Garden’). I was sorely tempted (resisting for the moment due to lack of space) by the new and intensely royal blue cultivars ‘Quink Drops’ and ‘Marchants Cobalt Cracker’. Despite near drought conditions the garden looked wonderful. A clump of Eucomis comosa was the best I have ever seen.
Heuchera Marmalade
Special Plants, near Bath is a mecca for gardeners looking for unusual plants. They sell an amazing range of hardy herbaceous and rockery plants as well as many tender perennials for terrace and conservatory. The adjoining garden (well worth a visit) is open on Wednesdays in July, August and September. Owner, Derry Watkins, has introduced many new plants from her plant collecting trips to South Africa and elsewhere. She also teaches one-day gardening courses at the nursery.
Special Plants © Charles Hawes
Entrance to the adjoining garden, which really is a must, is £2.75.
Nurseries don’t come much better than Marchant’s Hardy Plants at Laughton, near Lewes in East Sussex. It is an enticing place to visit, set against the backdrop of the South Downs, and the selection of herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses is a distillation of all the best forms available. Graham Gough is the presiding genius. He sings as he works and grows a fine plant. This year the nursery is open until Saturday 23rd October Wednesday – Saturday from 9.30am – 5.30pm. Definitely worth a pilgrimage, especially as there is no mail order. www.marchantshardyplants.co.uk
