Jim is happy to lecture to Gardening Clubs, Groups affiliated to the AGS and the SRGC throughout the UK.
Please enquire for current lecture fees and suggested travel expenses.
Current lectures
Some reliable and exciting plants for the woodland garden
There is no doubt that the demand for woodland and shade-loving plants is on the increase! Identifying the correct conditions for cultivating these plants can be challenging, indeed creating such a garden from scratch even more so. However, once the right habitat has been created, what a wonderful range of plants can be grown in such a feature, including the famous Himalayan Blue Poppies. The lecture will conclude with a few of Jim’s favorite Japanese woodlanders.
Branklyn Garden – a legacy to Mr and Mrs Renton
Serving as a National Trust for Scotland Head Gardener is a huge privilege and, in Jim’s case, enabled him and his team to endeavor to preserve the legacy of the original owners. Here is a very personal appreciation of this famous garden and some of the treasures, including their legendary Blue Poppies, planted out by the Rentons.
Cultivating Galanthus and spring-flowering bulbs
There is no doubt that Snowdrops have become a real favourite of many gardeners leading to the term Galanthophilia for those of us becoming addicts! Early Spring in the garden is hardly the same without a planting of Snowdrops and diverse Bulbs. Many of these plants are both easy and widely-grown, while others can be expensive and scarce for their availability. Jim will discuss some of the very best as well as discussing their cultivation.
European Alpine plants in nature – a new look
Many keen Alpinists have trekked throughout some of the exciting ranges in Europe. Each season may vary from year to year and from late Spring to the Autumn there are exciting species to be found. Identifying the exact surroundings these plants enjoy in their native habitat allows us, as gardeners, to endeavor to reenact these conditions at low altitudes.
A look at some of Japan’s finest Alpine and woodland plants
The two main islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan provide a magnificent location for holiday-makers and botanists alike. Jim was privileged to take part in a Botanical expedition to these islands in the Autumn of 1988. He shows pictures from this visit as well as slides given to him of Japanese endemics, both Alpine and Woodland species to augment the range of pictures in his talk.
Growing Alpine plants in true character
Once we have studied the natural conditions and habitats of many popular Alpine plants in nature, we have a grasp of how they look in their true home. As growers, we may rise to the challenge of growing these plants in an Alpine house to give them their best sporting chance! However, we may wish to try and enact their true conditions in the open garden and rise to the challenge of growing them according to their true character. Is it possible?
Inshriach – home to Jack Drake’s nursery and a host of famous Alpine plants
Jack Drake’s Nursery formerly of Inshriach, by Aviemore was one of the World’s leading Alpine plant nurseries. Many of the plants offered became legendary for keen gardeners and inspired many to grow such delights as, Meconopsis, Himalayan Primulas and Lewisias. Jim spent a year in 1976 as an apprentice at the nursery and recalls many of the exciting plants raised there and offers tips on how to grow them.
The challenge of growing European Alpine plants
With the European Alps so accessible to many tourists, the choice of favourite venues is endless! However many attendees at gardening talks appreciate the travelogue pictures but yearn for a few words of advice as to how they can grow some of these nursery-grown plants. Jim has led many tours and private treks to these mountains and will offer personal advice as to how many of these plants can be grown in lowland gardens.
The challenge of growing Himalayan Alpine plants
Many gardeners have found Alpine plants, native to the Himalaya challenging to grow, most notably in warmer and drier climates. Clearly these plants favour cooler and moist conditions and Jim will pass on some of his experience as to how to grow these exciting plants, including the Himalayan Blue Poppies, Autumn Gentians and Primulas.
The Dolomites and Eastern Europe– a Gardener’s Paradise
So many visitors and hikers venturing to the Dolomites and the Eastern Alps to enjoy the Alpine flowers ask if they could succeed with some of these plants in their own gardens. The answer is, of course in many cases, Yes. However it is useful to understand how these Alpines survive in nature, what sort of conditions and the chosen soil type. Sometimes it is best simply to enjoy the plants at their best in nature and accept that it will be too challenging to succeed with them in our gardens!
The Bernese Oberland – a jewel in the European Alps
Switzerland and its glorious Alpine scenery has always been one of the most popular European countries to visit. The Bernese Oberland provides some of the most exciting scenery, with the Eiger and Jungfrau with the mountains so well accessed by rail. The Flora can match the scenery and Jim takes viewers on a memorable tour.