Right, time to put on your sunglasses, folks.
Yesterday was one of the highlights of my year: the entirely unmissable Thompson & Morgan sneak preview press day for all us hacks to see what they're planning to bring in to the catalogue for 2011.
T&M have a huge breeding programme: sometimes misguided (step forward, the frankly mutant mophead hydrangea produced this year with one single flower head 10" across on an upright stem) but mostly pushing the limits in an occasionally groundbreaking and always interesting way, especially among fruit and veg which is why I trekked all the way up to Ipswich to go have a look. Four hours it took me to get back. Four hours. They closed two junctions of the M25 in case you're interested. Now that's dedication.
Anyway: the veg come later but for now I just want to indulge a little. T&M also have a well-deserved reputation for the most spectacular bedding: not usually my cup of tea at all but when you're there surrounded by the most eye-spinning profusion of flowers you can't help but be won over. Well, all right, I can leave the magenta petunias (and the ones striped yellow and pink.... bedding truly is the last refuge of spectacularly unashamed bad taste).
But many were really genuinely pretty plants, and quite a few will be finding their way into my patio pots next year.
Petunia 'Phantom': now this is a well wierd one. Kind of intriguing in its own rather spooky way.
Actually I think I preferred the flowers when they're just emerging, a sultry near-black.
Zinnia haageana 'Chippendale' paired with Rudbeckia 'Cappuccino'.
...and the equally sunshiny Calendula 'Neon'
Another Rudbeckia, this time 'Cherry Brandy'. Described as the first red rudbeckia ever bred but I'm sceptical: looks more bronze to me. Still lovely though.
Isn't this pretty? And it's a Zinnia: 'Zahara Starlight Rose', to be precise. Zinnias have always been temperamental for me but I might have another go if they're going to look this good.
A little soothing pastel to cool things down a bit: Salvia farinacea 'Fairy Queen'
This dwarf sunflower, called 'Chocosun' for reasons that entirely elude me, grows just three feet tall but looks lovely planted en masse.
Verbena 'Peaches and Cream'
...naaah. That was all getting much too tasteful. Here's Salvia horminium 'Marble Arch Mixed': now you couldn't miss that, could you?
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6 comments:
I love the T&M ruderies - they're so blatant, but such fun, and there's always a place for a plant, even one whose mother would reject it at birth. Have they got that vast busy Lizzie hedge this year? And did you taste tomatoes?
I'm sorry to miss the press days, this year, but one has to ration the seedsmen, otherwise one would be running around all over the place.
I have to confess I rather like Petunia 'Phantom'. (I don't generally like petunias at all -too water-consuming.)
Mmm... I quite like that Petunia Phantom too it's intriguingly weird.
I have never been on one of the T&M Press junkets as I thought that they would be a bit ghastly. But, I am just beginning a bit of an annuals kick and this posts has excited my interest.
If there is room for vulgarity anywhere (and there jolly well should be) then it is in the flashy world of bedding.
Will try to remember to attend next time.
Chocosun? chocolate inside, sunny yellow outside... would make an excellent ice lolly
Hello Nigel, no tomato tasting but they did have the Busy Lizzie hedge. And - get this - ground cover lilies! In stripey plum-and-cream! Paired with orange marigolds! You couldn't make it up...
Victoria et Sock: I agree, I kind of like them too. Though I couldn't rid myself of the feeling that they ought to be grown by goths.
James: I shall see you there then. Wear comfy shoes and don't eat breakfast. Very much like the idea of yellow ice lollies with chocolate innards: I think I shall apply for a patent. Or at least try to make one: it should be satisfyingly messy.
I am really struck by the zinnias. I am growing some for the first time this year and they might just become a permanent fixture. The petunias come into the category of like them, quite a lot, but in someone else's garden. Too urban for up here.
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