Ever since I wrote about year round scent a few weeks ago, I’ve had it in mind to look our for some Iris unguicularis at this week’s show. ‘Mary Barnard’ is a tallish variety, up to 12inches in height and spread, and comes with a gentle scent too. I’ve planted these at the bottom of a south-facing wall as they like sun and poor, well-drained soil, and right by the back door so as they clump up over the years, I’ll have this cheerful sight and delicate perfume at the beginning of each year.
I saw these Irises along with the sumptuous and uplifting display of Snowdrops on the Avon bulbs stand.
Helpful as ever and always supplying quality bulbs which return year after year, I also caught sight of the exquisite Crocus tommasianus and have written a note to self to order these in the autumn for a lush pink carpet in our community front garden come next spring.
Ashwood Nurseries always delight and I particularly liked the gorgeous simplicity of this Hellebore ‘Anna’s Red’,
shown en masse on their stand this year. Hellebores, Crocus tommasianus and snowdrops are also great for pollinators who will be on the hunt for food early on in the year so doubly worth planting.
Further back in the hall was Sea Spring Seeds, supplying a tempting selection of veg seeds which have been put through their paces in their own market garden. I picked up some interesting Japanese leaves, such as Red Knight Mizuna, Golden Streak Mustard leaf and Tatsoi Yukina Savoy and also got chatting about their comprehensive selection of Chili seeds. Chili seeds can be sown indoors now and into March and grown on indoors in a greenhouse or sunny windowsill. I also wanted to know if Sea Spring seeds supplied any varieties that could be grown on outdoors. Joy Michaud recommended ‘Super Chile’ as it’s such a fast grower and hopefully it will ripen out-of-doors if given the sunniest of spots. Worth trying as part of our community veg growing project this year for some neighbours who like it hot.
Further travels around the show revealed the creative use of recycled objects and pots on the D’Arcy and Everest alpine stand,
and I did purchase a few Sempervivum to try out some recycling of domestic objects at home too.
And finally, couldn’t resist buying a Rubus lineatus on the Crug Farm Nursery stand for its crinkly yet soft palmate leaves. Rubus is such a great family of plants including the Japanese wineberry, Rubus phoenicolasius, Blackberries, Rubus fruticosus and I did spot a rather intriguing plant,
Rubus ulmifolius bellidiflorus, wild, but with amazing pink pompom flowers, at the Hampton Court Flower Show last summer. Can feel an obsession coming on.
Out of my shed 
Some great things there. I love the leaves on that Rubus, very unusual. I love the colander packed with sempervirens. I may have to try something like that this year. Looks like you had a great day. Will make a note of the dates and see if I can get to it next year. Have a good weekend.
Hi WW, Just spent a couple of hours at the show, but because it’s so compact, indeed rather petite compared to Chelsea and Hampton Court, it’s really easy and very enjoyable, just roaming around and chatting to all the nursery owners. Always see something new and exciting.There’s another show coming up in April, 10th &11th I think, which will have similar nurseries, but more spring bulbs and plants. There is a design element to this show, but it seems to be a wasted opportunity with another complete hall with just a scattering of stands selling garden sculptures and a couple of design colleges around the edges. Dismal compared to the plant nurseries who put on such a great show!
We also enjoyed the show, and came home with quite a few things. Added a bunch of pics onto FB: – https://www.facebook.com/AlternativeEden1 if you fancy a look 🙂
Came back with several helebores and a couple of Crug plants too!
Hi Gaz, look liked you really enjoyed your day too. Always tempted by Crug Farm, loved the Shortia too and last year bought a Schefflera Hoi for a client. Just wish I had more space in my garden for more plants. The Anna’s Red Hellebore caught my eye too, but again, no room left in the garden for more! Thanks for dropping by. V.best Naomi
What a lovely scented iris and how useful for the base of a dry wall. And love the displays for the sempervirens. I’ll try and make it in April.
Hi Sue, yes, always some great inspiration at this smaller show. Do let me know if you decide to go in April. Be good to meet up. Naomi
Hi there! Sorry I missed it. That hellebore is quite extraordinary. Thanks for the update. Great post.
Hi Petra, Many thanks for RT. Yes, amazing hellebore, but sadly no more room in the garden, plus saw a squirrel happily pulling off and munching away at my loveliest of dark Hellebore flowers yesterday. GRrrr….N x
Looking forward to the pink crocuses in the community garden! I really like the recycled containers too – very inspiring for us junk-lovers. And I can see why you are very taken with the pompoms.
Hi Nicolette, always come away inspired from these small shows. Hunting through my junk for planting the Semervivums in this afternoon. N x
The Iris is stunning and the sempervirens are adorable… now where did I put that colander?? x
Hi PJ Girl,Yes, Iris gave much pleasure when planted and looking forward to seeing how it grows next year too. V.best Naomi
Hello there. Great blog. Love rubus too. We were the daylily exhibit next to the rubus stand at Hampton Court.
Hi Pollie, have been meaning to look at more Daylillies ever since I read about Daylily fritters in Mark Diacono’s ‘taste of the unexpected’. Very much into stunning edible flowers for our community front garden. Will you be showing at the London RHS April show too? V.best Naomi
I bet there are quite a few people looking around for an old colander after reading this! I know I am. It’s also given me another nudge to try some hellebores as those red ones are stunning. 🙂
Hi E & L, just revisited a wonderful garden in Mull called Lip an Cloiche https://outofmyshed.co.uk/2011/05/02/isle-of-mull/, which is full of wonderful recycled and found objects.Colanders and much more.Will write a new post about these great found objects by the end of next week.It’s such an inspiring garden for both objects and plants!
[…] ‘Mary Barnard’ has started to flower. I bought this plant last February at the RHS early spring show and am very pleased to see it bloom so early as Hellebores and snowdrops are yet to flower […]