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Summer 2009

It's late June and I'm told that the Met office has just declared a "heat wave warning" for the next week or two, so this seems like a jolly good moment to hide in the office...the potting and stock taking is finished and I can turn my attention to updating the website and sorting out order confirmations. I also ran out of paper catalogues a few weeks ago - apologies to those of you waiting! A flush of spring mentions in the Telegraph culminated in us running out much sooner than we had calculated. Potting was the priority at the time, and I’m afraid the catalogue had to stand in line. But here it is, and I hope you’ll agree that it was worth the wait. It's always quite a job putting it together, but this year the most exciting section for me has been the Magnolia pages. We now have over 250 in our collection, and a goodly selection available this autumn. As usual the website, now that I've updated it, has many more plants listed (than the paper catalogue) becasue I am mindful of a need to be sensible with the scale of the latter, so this is the place to look for the new, the few and the downright difficult! I’ve given it a small revamp as I’ve updated it, mainly by indexing the larger genera. Thus, if you know what you’re looking for, you shouldn’t need to scroll through lots of pages to find it. Take a look at my efforts with Acer palmatum, Betula, Cornus,  Epimedium and Magnolia for example. I still need to add all the photos Nick has been working so hard at taking - but that is such a slow task. I’ll get there eventually...bear with me!

I am aware of the limitations of the catalogue pages for anyone who wants to print off groups of plants to study at their leisure. To that end, I have put together a .pdf file that should print out in a simple format onto A4 paper. The beauty of this format is that it is neither platform nor application specific - anyone should be able to access it. It is more extensive than the bound catalogue you would receive by post, becasue it includes most of the small quantity plants as well. From memory I think it extends to 45 pages, but of course you don't need to print it all off if you have a specific interest. Just note the relevant page numbers and type them into your printer command box. No photos are included to keep the size vaguely manageable, so you may need to review it in conjunction with the website. As always, let me have your feedback.

So, what progress have we made since I last put pen to paper (or I should say, finger to keyboard)? It's been a slightly traumatic time at family level, but the new site is progressing well, if more slowly than I would like.

There will be more plants available this year that have been growing in the open ground. We’re doing that at our other site, and it is proving to be most satisfactory. Of course the limiting factor is the shortened planting season, but it does result in superior establishment because the plants have been growing in the real world all season, developing a more natural root system and canopy. In most cases these are limited to larger sizes at the moment, but do feel free to discuss your requirements with me. Remember that we try to achieve something of this in the pot grown stock too, with our use of a soil based compost. This provides the roots with a more consistent environment, avoiding the extremes which are such a problem with peat.

Perhaps I should explain for the benefit of new readers that we operate strictly on a Home Grown basis. We grow everything that we sell ourselves, we don’t buy in. This allows us to grow exactly what we please and an eclectic range it has become! It also means we have control of quality and naming. But it does mean that when something is sold out, that’s it until the next crop is ready (which would be the following September). Indeed this updated listing reflects what we will have available by the end of the growing season - things aren’t necessarily ready to leave home just yet. And of course the biggest drawback is that when it's gone...it's gone. Some things are already fully booked for September, so even if you're not ready to plant just yet, do get in touch to reserve the plants you want.

It’s been a difficult 6 months for sure. Both on a personal front with family bereavements and also the weather. What an interesting winter that was! We certainly suffered our share of plant damage amongst the evergreens as a result of the ridiculously wet snow, but thankfully no structural damage to either site. We were glad that we originally invested in quality tunnels.

We have known so many of you for so long now that you always ask after the children. Having achieved straight A grades in her Lower Sixth year, Greta faced A levels this summer and now awaits the results. She has a ski season already organised for next winter and hopes her results will take her to University at Bath the following year to study sports science, though she is developing a deep interest in event management and is currently putting her cycling experience to good use, working with a Tour of Britain organising team. Torsten has just finished his GCSEs and is working hard before going back to 6th Form College. His plans are extensive and complicated, but revolve around plants and the nursery, snakes and kayaking...but not at the same time I hope! Work experience at RBG Kew gave him a unique insight into the conservation of some of the planet’s most endangered plants.

Finally, "Happy Gardening" and at a time of financial uncertainty, what more enjoyable (or economical) a way to occupy one's spare time could be found than enjoying your garden.

Karan Junker

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