ENTHUSIAST

CHARLIE RYRIE TRAVELS TO NORTH-WEST SCOTLAND TO MEET ATTADALE GARDEN’S OWNER AND DISCOVER HOW A SPECIAL FERN HOUSE HAS SAVED A GARDENING EXPERT’S COLLECTION . PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREA JONES UNFOLDING PASSIONS

48 49 PREVIOUS PAGES, FROM LEFT: ASPLENIUM SCOLPENDRIUM ‘CRISTATUM’. BLECHNUM SPICANT. OPPOSITE, FROM LEFT: DRYOPTERIS CYCADINA. ADIANTUM PEDATUM. THIS PAGE, TOP (L-R): ATTADALE HOUSE. CANDELABRA PRIMULAS. MIDDLE (L-R): TRACHCARPUS FORTUNEI. BLECHNUM SPICANT. BOTTOM (L-R): DRYOPTERIS AFFINIS CRISPA GROUP. ATHYRIUM FELIX-FEMINA.

erns have always been an who has managed the gardens. “On on, but never pass the chance to ‘WE DIDN’T HAVE ANY integral part of the gardens at the hillsides around the garden, burns look at anything of interest, so we SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE FAttadale on the south shores are surrounded by trees, ferns and went to see.” Among hundreds of of Loch Carron in north-west rocks,” Nicky explains. “The garden unlabelled ferns there were over 70 AND THE FERNS WERE Scotland. Since the 1890s a succes- is all about trying to repeat the expe- distinct types in a polytunnel, but all BONE DRY. WE DECIDED sion of enthusiastic owners have rience.” Even so, she had not intended were desperately in need of attention. TO WASH OFF EVERY developed and refined the 20 acres to become a fern specialist, but when Serendipity then played a hand of mixed gardens at the heart of this the opportunity arose Nicky couldn’t because the editor of Pteridologist OUNCE OF SOIL AND extensive Highland estate, where resist. Scottish gardener and friend magazine happened to move on to REPOT THEM… AND THE paying visitors can appreciate the Peter Hainsworth had been visiting the Attadale estate. Says Geoff, “James FERNS ALL DID WELL fruits of their efforts. But despite Attadale for 20 years, occasionally Merryweather came down with us Attadale’s vegetable garden, sculp- bringing Nicky new plants, including and was very helpful in identifying OVER THAT WINTER’ ture collection and sunken garden, ferns. When he died in 2002 he left a which ferns were worth collecting, the importance of the magnificent fine but dilapidated fern collection, saving us masses of time as we would setting and its native flora, has always and the following spring his daughter just have taken the lot.” been respected. Sue offered the plants to Attadale. The first problem was how to Nicky Macpherson’s father Attadale head gardener Geoff rejuvenate the specimens, the second bought the estate in the 1950s, and Stephenson recalls, “We weren’t was where to put them. Geoff for the last 20-or-so years it is she looking for something new to take remembers the early days were

50 51 WHERE TO BUY FERNS

Rickard’s Hardy Ferns, Carreg y Fedwen, Sling, Tregarth, Nr Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 4RP. Tel 01248 602944. The Fern Nursery, Grimsby Road, Binbrook, Lincs LN8 6DH. Te l 0 1 4 7 2 3 9 8 0 9 2 . Fibrex Nurseries, Honey- bourne Road, Pebworth, Warks CV37 8XP. Tel 01789 720788.

TOP LEFT: THE GARDEN LOOKS NORTH TO THE HILLS BEYOND LOCH CARRON. FAR LEFT: THE GEODESIC DOME CONTAINING THE DELICATE FERNS. LEFT: DRYOPTERIS AFFINIS. OPPOSITE PAGE: D. AFFINIS CLOSE UP.

nerve-wracking. “At that time we Siting the house was an easy chosen it to plant maidenhair ferns, didn’t have any specialist knowledge decision. Beyond the vegetable Adiantum pedatum, and hardy tree and the ferns were bone dry and in garden lies an old semi-circular ferns, Dicksonia antarctica. very poor shape. We decided to quarry area which is sheltered, shady Nicky decided that a geodesic wash off every ounce of soil and and damp with a rocky hillside dome built on a dry-stone base repot them.” This did the trick. The above strewn with ferns such as the would blend best with the site and ferns were left outside in shady vigorous Dryopteris felix-mas, the today, as she visualised, it sits unob- woodland for the summer and male fern with long leathery upright trusively in the space. “All a visitor within a few months they were emerald green fronds, and the sees from about 50 yards away are looking a lot healthier, although striking glossy evergreen fronds of diamond shaped panes glinting in new growth was slow to emerge. Blechnum spicant, which loves the the sun,” she explains. Only the In the autumn the collection was slightly acidic conditions. most delicate ferns live inside the brought into the conservatory A waterfall coursed down the house, as the quarry is scarcely because no one knew which were rocks through an old Victorian touched by frost and even tender hardy and which tender. “It was belt channel which has since been ferns survive happily outside. and braces, but it worked and all did extended and directed into a new The identification process is very well over that winter,” recalls pond in the fern house. Peter ongoing, with the help of fern expert Geoff. After this, the next step was Hainsworth had always liked this Martin Rickard, and Geoff has been to build a dedicated fern house. area of the garden and Nicky had busily propagating, with at least 70

52 53 OPPOSITE, FROM LEFT: DRYOPTERIS AFFINIS ‘CRISTATA’. OSMUNDA REGALIS ‘PURPURACENS’. THIS PAGE, TOP ROW (L-R): INSIDE THE DOME. DARMERA PELTATA BEHIND THE FERNS. MIDDLE (L-R): ATHYRIUM FILIX-FEMINA AND SAXIFRAGA. ATTADALE’S NICKY MACPHERSON. BOTTOM, LEFT AND RIGHT: ASPLENIUM SCOLO- PENDIUM CRISTATUM GROUP.

different named varieties growing in with its thick strong simple shape such as hostas make excellent the greenhouse after a mass sowing. and a slight coarseness that helps to companions, and wherever hostas CONTACT DETAILS “It’s easy to germinate the spores but keep it looking good all winter. will grow, so will ferns.” Last autumn the aftercare does require attention Other striking ferns include she planted Hosta sieboldiana and Attadale House Gardens, for a considerable period of time.” Osmunda regalis ‘Purpurascens’ with Darmera peltata with the hardier Strathcarron, Wester Ross, However, by 2006 he anticipates unfurling purple crosiers like shep- ferns around the fern house, a thor- Scotland IV54 8YX. having a continuous wide selection herd’s crooks and pale green fronds oughly satisfying combination. The house and gardens of ferns to sell to visitors. that turn gold in autumn, particu- There are plans to extend the are situtated on the A890 One of Geoff’s favourites is the larly good by ponds, majestic ostrich breeding programme, and Nicky is between Strathcarron and glossy light green Asplenium oblongi- ferns Matteuccia struthiopteris, and continually experimenting with South Strome. Entry is folium or shining spleenwort from Onoclea sensibilis, the sensitive fern planting combinations and situations £3 and they are open New Zealand, but slugs love it too; that dies back at the first frost. Nicky as well as landscaping. “We’ve every day, except Sunday, Nicky particularly likes the versatile finds ferns make a wonderful show discovered a new vein of rock in the from 10-3 between April Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, under the many splendid rhododen- bank above the fern house, so we’re and October. For further which can be grown indoors or out, drons that are such a feature at using that in the landscaping. Ferns, information, tel 01520 its unique variegated fronds offer Attadale but she believes ferns will running water and rocks are such a 722603 or log on to numerous planting possibilities. But become increasingly popular as feature of Attadale, I want to keep www.attadale.com she is equally passionate about the they are so good for damp shady building on that.” We’ll watch with hardy favourite Blechnum chilense town gardens, “Broad-leaved plants interest how things unfurl.

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