A couple of weekends ago we paid Cotswold Garden Flowers a visit to see what treasures they have for sale in their nursery. It is owned by well known plantsman Bob Brown and although the nursery itself is leaning more towards cottage style of gardening they have an extensive catalogue of plants which includes many new, rare and unusual ones, most coming from exotic locations. Fortunately the nursery owner is an extensive collector of plants, enterprising, and always on the lookout for the newly sourced and introduced hence a nursery that has a treasure trove of botanical gems.
The stocks and what's on offer in this nursery are ever changing and you're bound to find something new each time you visit. If only it was much nearer to us! We try to visit at least once a year and catch them in some of the plant fairs they attend. Our visit was certainly rewarded and we saw so many gorgeous plants
First things first, a glimpse of their arid trial beds to the left just before you enter their polytunnel sales area.
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| Nolina sp. 'La Siberica' to the left and Yucca recurvifolia 'Gold Stream' right |
The strip of land to the side of their sales area has been planted too, mostly with plants that they actually stock (so customers can have an idea what these plants look like in a border/garden setting and give an indication to their hardiness).
Then you enter the sales area and immediately you are greeted by a beautiful selection of plants. Be prepared to look very thoroughly, to spot the gems among the gems...
They have several sales polytunnels, located at the top and at the bottom of a section of their property that is open to the public. In the middle of these polytunnels are more demonstration beds that are looking so good that the entire area looks more like a proper garden rather than something functional. Again the plants growing here give a clue to how most of the plants they sell perform when planted out.
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| Nice isn't it? That seat looks so inviting! |
Ohh and they have demonstration shade poytunnel too..
Okay, enough of the outside, so what's inside and what did they have for sale when we visited??
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| Oops! This one wasn't for sale |
They have a selection of small Yuccas, some of them were...
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
The plants on offer at your nurseries often amaze me since many of those you show are a challenge to find much closer to their native range. Great selections. I am smitten with Beschorneria after the winter's success with them and would love to find more.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see these placed in the garden.
It amazes me what becomes available in this nursery from time to time Shirley. The plain green beschorneria sailed through our harsh winter a few years ago fine :)
DeleteI think I would have grabbed a 'Kaleidoscope' too if I had a moist area of the garden. So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI wonder why other nurseries always look so exciting compared to my local ones? The demonstration gardens are an idea that I wish every nursery implemented, as it's often so difficult to see the potential, and combinations are always helpful.
Perhaps it's just the change of scenery Alan, I can imagine nurseries in your area are just as interesting :)
DeleteWhat a great selection! I like to see nurseries plant out portions of their offerings. That's relatively unusual here and the demonstration beds/borders that do exist are generally far more limited than those in place at your Cotswold nursery. Happy planting!
ReplyDeleteTheir demonstration beds are quite exceptional for a nursery here too Kris but it makes for a great reference to how their plants will perform outdoors :)
DeleteOh what fun! It looks like everything is signed and labeled well too. All of your purchases are lust worthy and I am especially happy to see you bought another Quercus dentata 'Pinnatifida'.
ReplyDeleteWe were inspired by your Quercus post Loree so we just had to buy a replacement :)
DeleteHello Mark and Gaz:
ReplyDeleteWe knew Bob Brown and his wife, Diana, exceedingly well during our Herefordshire gardening days and remember attending the most wonderful summer evening parties held at the nursery. He is the most generous of men and we owed many of our least usual plants to his generosity as he would so often arrive with us for dinner armed with a box of absolute treasures.
Cotswold Garden Flowers we always considered to be among the very best of all nurseries and the catalogue, where the worthiness of plants was given a score out of ten, was always a joy to read. Perhaps he continues to produce it? We do hope so.
That's fascinating to hear Jane and Lance and somehow I was expecting that you two would know Bob and his wife well. Their catalogue is a delight to read too, not just for the plants but for the humour and anecdotes that he injected into it. Yes, he still continues to produce it, a catalogue we look forward to receiving in the post each year :)
DeleteOh my favourite nursery - just wish it was nearer. Whenever we visit himself (after he's had a good moan about nurseries being down lanes in the middle of nowhere) puts on a brew in the camper van and settles down with a book, whilst I disappear in to those tunnels and browse to my heart's content. It sounds as if you came away with a good haul.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely one of our favourites as well Anna, and yes if only it was nearer to us too! It's good that your other half has learned to keep himself busy and give you ample time to peruse the polytunnels, as you know such an activity can take a long time for a plant lover :)
DeleteI love when nurseries have display gardens.
ReplyDeleteI didn´t know Scilla peruviana is from Spain! I must investigate that. And add some to my garden if I can find any for sale.
I love the picture of Polypodium aureum 'Derry's Medium', those leaves seem to be from the Jurassic.
Why don´t you collect Dickia or Puyas any more? are they difficult or boring?
Scilla peruviana should do great in your garden Lisa, and perhaps even the Polypodium (although I'm not sure how low a temperature it can take).
DeleteI could easily get into Dyckias and Puyas if I let myself, they are gorgeous plants but lack of space and time are the issues :) Perhaps in the future!
Its one nursery I have never been too. Bad really bearing in mind how much closer they are to me than you!! This has to be added to my 'must visit' list for this year. Thanks for sharing x
ReplyDeleteShould be high priority on your list this year Libby :)
DeleteYou picked up quite a bit. This is a fantastic garden center. Not only do they apparently carry a lot but it's so nice and clean. Love their gardens.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
It's a very tidy and organised nursery indeed Cher, makes it easy for shopping!
DeleteI love Bobs nursery - always come away with an empty purse.
ReplyDeleteScilla Peurvian is named after the ship it arrived in this country on which was call Peru! It needs a good bake in the sun to get it to flower again apparently.
Ditto Helen, bad for the wallet but good for the garden! I find the trivia amusing, even botanists do get their naming wrong sometimes :)
DeleteI'm completely blown away by the collection of plants not to mention how beautifully tended everything is. I'm in love with Podophyllum 'Kaleidoscope'. What a beauty! fabulous foliage
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed Deanne :) have lost a couple of times before but I'll still keep on trying, third time lucky perhaps!
DeleteA great nursery full of splendid plants! Glad you found some treasures to take home.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Peter :)
DeleteLooks like a wonderful nursery! The Scilla peruviana looks oddly short. I wonder if that is from blooming in a container or if it is a shorter strain than the others I've seen. I love both the Acanthus. I had to look up Acanthus eminens. Fantastic! I can't wait to find that in the US, even if I have to protect it in winter.
ReplyDeleteI hope you manage to get hold of that Acanthus there soon Evan, and yes the Scilla is possibly stunted by pot culture :)
DeleteWhat a great nursery! I really like that they show plants in a garden setting. That is a good strategy to sell more plants! I like your selection. Your own garden is a wonderful collection of exotics and these will be a great addition. I also would have had to have the 'Voodoo' Aeonium.
ReplyDeleteNurseries with demonstration gardens are the best. We always drag house guests to Joy Creek and Cistus whether they are plant lovers or not. We are strategically located smack between the two.
ReplyDelete