This month, we were treated to an amusing talk by Graham Nicholls, about his experiences running an Alpine Nursery, plant hunting in America, and showing the specimens that he raised from seeds and cuttings at shows.

The foundations were laid in the 1980s, after Graham was made redundant and moved to a house with larger garden. The interest of a couple in the United States in his specimen of Calcecolaria Uniflora inspired his Laker Flight, and his first trip to find plants there.

After unsuccessful plant sales, Graham had decided to specialise in Alpines, and one of his first successes was with the attractive Clematis Manoraria, which has both male and female plants. The race was always on to propagate the new popular plant that other gardeners would want.

Graham showed us wonderful photographs of the range of plants he has owned – enchanting, exotic varieties of Clematis, Oxalis, Viola, Phlox and Campanula from America. In response to questions from the local gardeners, he shared the secrets of the mix he uses for planting his seeds and cuttings, and how he nurtures them.

Next month, on Wednesday, 11th October at 7.30 p.m. in Kilmersdon Village Hall, the speaker will be Emily Utgren, who will be talking to us about ‘Stourhead – Lost Features of the Landscape’. Visitors and new members will be made most welcome to enjoy the talk, a chat, refreshments and to take their chance in the raffle!

Trisha Jordan