Newsletter 144 February 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
No. 144 Irish Garden Plant Society Newsletter February 2019 IGPS Newsletter February 2019 IGPS Newsletter February 2019 Our Contributors Contents E Charles Nelson, formerly Brid Kelleher is a leading flower Taxonimist at the National Botanic arranger, keen gardener and Page 4 Editorial by Mary Montaut Gardens, is a founding member of a member of the National the Society and its first Chairman. Executive Committee. Page 5 2019 AGM Announcement A prolific author, he was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal by the Paddy Tobin is a retired teacher Page 7 Chairman’s Notes by Billy McCone RHS in 2015. and enthusiastic blogger who gardens near Waterford. He is our Page 8 In the Footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker: Brendan Sayers is Glasshouse website manager and a former A Sikkim adventure, Lectures and Book Launch Foreman at the National Botanic Chairman of the Society. Gardens and long-standing member Page 10 Iris pallida ‘Phylis Moore’ by E. Charles Nelson of the Society. Although a specialist Stephen Butler is the recently and Brendan Sayers in orchids, he has recently developed retired Curator of Horticulture at an interest in breeding daffodils. Dublin Zoo. He is a member of the Page 13 British-Irish Botanical Expedition to National Executive Committee and Tasmania by Seamus O’Brien Seamus O’Brien, Head Gardener spearheads the Society’s activities at the National Botanic Gardens, to propagate and promote plants Page 20 Remembrance Day at Kilmacurragh Kilmacurragh, is a horticulturist, with Irish associations. by Mary Montaut author and plantsman and has been a member of the Society Page 23 When in Rome by Mary Forrest for many years. Page 26 Irish Heritage Plants Update by Stephen Butler Mary Forest is Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and a former Chairman Page 28 Winter Fragrance by Brid Kelleher of the Society. In the 1980s she prepared an inventory of trees and Page 30 Worth a Read by Paddy Tobin exotic plant collections in Ireland. Page 33 Two of the Many New Narcissus Cultivars for 2018 by Brendan Sayers Cover Photograph by Paddy Tobin Page 34 Around the Regions Iris unguicularis ‘Kilbroney Marble’ Page 40 Dates for your Diary A winter flowering Iris thought to have been introduced by Slieve Donard Nursery, Newcastle, County Down. This is one of the society’s target plants in its conservation programme and we would very much like to hear from any Page 42 Seed Distrubution Scheme by Debbie Bailey member growing this plant. Copy deadline for articles for the Spring 2019 edition will be 15th March 2019 3 2 IGPS Newsletter February 2019 IGPS Newsletter February 2019 Editorial 2019 AGM Announcement The Editor is delighted to welcome vulgare) drawn so exquisitely Annual General Meeting May 2019 magazine, shows how well one the Image Library for IGPS, which that you can almost feel the The 2019 AGM will be held this year can manage on a windswept site; is currently in development by down on the leaves; and a whole in County Tipperary on the weekend the garden, which has stunning Philip Quinlan. We receive so many page of Compositae from dandelion of 18th and 19th May. We will be views, features some beautiful beautiful photographs, we aim to and thistle flower heads, down to based in the beautiful 4* Minella stonework, a lily pond, pergola stock an Image Library with suitable details of their ovaries and calyxes. Hotel in Clonmel, the county town and courtyard garden. photographs for reference/instruction The combination of learning with of Tipperary, on the banks of and pleasure. It seems to me that delight is, I think, exactly what the River Suir. Sunday is a day of contrasts. The these two essentials have always Rousseau had in mind. first garden, just a 10 minute drive been reflected in pictures of plants Clonmel is an historic and attractive from our hotel, could be described once the utilitarian ‘Herbal’ I hope that the IGPS Image Library town. The River Suir has played as a ‘walk on the wild side’ but with its generic woodcuts was will accomplish both of these a big part in its history, especially beautiful. The final visit is to superseded by realistic images. things as well. Of course, although after it was made navigable as far Killurney, a one acre plant-lover’s photographs may be the most as Waterford in the mid 18th century garden with a natural stream, a A while ago, I was lucky enough reliable of records, it is actually allowing large vessels to reach the sunken garden, meandering paths to pick up a copy of Jean- very difficult to make a ‘Plant Portrait’ town. The transport revolutionary, taking you throughout hidden nooks Jacques Rousseau’s Botany: with the camera, I think. I offer this as Charles Biancone, was once Mayor and crannies, and a wonderful array A Study of Pure Curiosity which is a challenge to all IGPS members: see of Clonmel; fittingly there is a of choice plants. Tea/coffee/scones a facsimile of the 1821 edition with if you can conjure up the essential transport museum in the town where will be provided to sustain us on our Redouté illustrations. Rousseau plant for the new Library. The you can explore and learn some journeys home. adored ‘botanising’ and the book, success of botantical artists in this more. At St Mary’s Church, which unpublished in his lifetime, contains work is almost impossible to match, dates back to the early 14th century, Accommodation a series of letters to a young girl I fear - but that is the challenge! We some of the original town walls can Please book directly with the of fifteen (whose ‘intelligence & look forward to collecting a beautiful still be found while other buildings Minella Hotel, Clonmel, telephone judgement were far greater than her and instructive library of images, of note in the town are the Main +353 (052) 612 2388 and mention age, and equal to the excellence of especially of Irish Heritage Plants, Guard, the Town Hall, the Franciscan the IGPS when booking to secure the her heart’ as he wrote to her mother) so remember to bring your cameras Friary and the old Wesleyan discounted rate. A number of rooms to introduce her to the delight of wherever you go. Chapel which now houses are being held for us and will be botany. I enjoyed reading the letters, the White Memorial Theatre. available on a first come first served but the greater pleasure for me basis. NB: the hotel has stated that certainly lies in the beautiful plant Garden Visits it will only take bookings by phone. portraits by Redouté. You most Mary Montaut Our first visit on Saturday is to probably know his famous collection Editor a well-established garden with One night in a double/ twin room of rose portraits. However, this odd fine specimens of small trees and and the Gala dinner: little book of instruction and pleasure flowering shrubs; the current owner €100 per person sharing contains quite superb illustrations has gardened there for some 45 of the commonest of wild flowers: years. The second garden on Two nights B&B as above and one here is Horehound (Marrubium Saturday, Ballyhist House which has Gala Dinner: €150 per person sharing been featured in The Irish Garden 4 5 IGPS Newsletter February 2019 IGPS Newsletter February 2019 Chairman’s Notes As we look forward to the promise an enjoyable Open Day and plant of a new year, let’s celebrate what sale in the summer while, at Pogue’s a successful year we have just had. Entry, with extra volunteers and generous funding from Antrim and Our editor, Mary Montaut, Newtownabbey Council, the garden produced four instead of the usual has undergone a marked change. three Newsletters, thanks to Anne James we published the 17th issue Collections of Irish Heritage of Moorea, Paddy Tobin continued Plants (IHPs) have increased to maintain the website keeping at both Blarney Castle Gardens it fresh and up to date while Ali and Glasnevin. Stephen Butler Rochford sent out regular colourful continues to lead the programme and informative ebulletins. to conserve and propagate Irish Minella Hotel, Clonmel cultivars and more members are Over 100 members and guests recording their collections with One night in a single room Further information from igps. enjoyed the AGM weekend, the him while Debbie Bailey has and the Gala dinner: €135 [email protected] or Margaret highest attendance for many years, organised the annual seed exchange. McAuliffe, +353 (0)86 816 6842 or resulting in new committee members Two nights B&B in a single room [email protected] and volunteers coming forward for Membership Secretary Nichola Monk and one Gala dinner: €220 a variety of projects. reports stable numbers of over 500; The Annual General Meeting she is making progress on a new The cost of the AGM Gala dinner The meeting will be held on Saturday The regional organisers treated membership database while Diane for non-residents is €35 morning; attendance at the meeting us to an excellent programme Sprules is preparing the way to move is free to all members but please of talks, plant sales and garden visits. to direct debit payments. Philip Booking the weekend let us know for catering purposes A remarkable amount of hard work Quinlan has developed a prototype The cost of weekend including the if you plan to attend. There are a goes into organising these but, Image Library software package garden visits will be €80. Members number of vacancies coming up on in the autumn, each of the three where we intend to collect and store may bring one guest, guests pay €90.