Blog Posts
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Gentiana ‘Alex Duguid’ syn. G. farreri ‘Duguid’s Form
As this is a time of the year to begin promoting these marvellous gentians, I felt it would be useful to recommend one to contrast with my “plant of the month”, G. ‘Shot Silk’. Since it is now very challenging to source the true species, Gentian farreri which is one of the few members of […]
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Wine of the month – July
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico DOC This is a white Italian grape variety that I have recently become familiar with and have been consistently pleased with. It is a variety, primarily grown in the Marche region of Central Italy. I am recommending a DOC wine (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi […]
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Plant of the Month – July
Erigeron ‘Canary Bird’ Here is an alpine plant, so well known in specialist alpine circles, that it may need little in way of an introduction, but I suspect few readers will know the true story of this plant’s introduction. We have to go back to the year 1960 and that great “emporium” of alpine plants, […]
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Classical Music Choice – July
Rachmaninov, Symphony No. 2 in E minor The composer finished this work and conducted its premiere in 1908. The symphony earned him the Glinka Award ten months later. Reflecting for a moment – it seems extraordinary that the great composer had little confidence in his own ability as a symphonist when he approached the composition […]
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Cyclamen purpurascens
One of the thrills of botanising in the limestone ranges of Europe is to find the sweetly scented Cyclamen purpurascens. It can be found in, both deciduous and mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland flowering over a lengthy period from June through to August. I recall finding it, in fine form in coniferous woods on the […]
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My Wine Choice – June
I will recommend two contrasting wines that can be enjoyed as an apperitif or to accompany a meal. My first choice is a fresh and smooth Rose wine from the Languedoc Region of France: La Serre Syrah Rose 2009, Vin de Pays d’Oc. 12.5% Alc This is a superb value dry Rose with hints of […]
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Plant of the Month – June
Plant of the Month – June Primula bulleyana is one of the finest and most rewarding members of the Candelabra Balf. section of primula. It is native to North–west Yunnan in China and, although readily available as the true species, hybridises so readily in the garden that it can rapidly lose its identity. While I […]
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My Classical Music – June
Franz Lehar, Die Lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow), lyrics by Victor Leon and Leo Stein. Pontevedro in Paris or, “how much reality does an operetta need?” 1905 was the year of two great premieres, both focussing attention on women of exotic origins and real fascination. Richard Strauss’s Salome and Franz Lehar’s Lustige Witwe. They proceeded […]
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Campanula raineri
Campanula raineri will rank as one of the finest of all the truly alpine campanulas, native to Europe. It is native to the upper limestones of the Bergamask mountains near the Italian lakes. Although this species is an absolute lime lover in nature, it is easy of culture in the garden. It is best positioned […]
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Plant of the Month, May
Gentiana angustifolia ‘Frei’ For generations, keen gardeners have sought to grow and successfully flower the alpine gentian, Gentiana acaulis. This traditional name just about encapsulates all dwarf, “trumpet” gentians. In reality the true G. acaulis is probably the acid-loving Gentiana kochiana, commonly found in alpine turf throughout the Alps. It is a wholly unsatisfactory garden […]