'African Violets'
www.reinhildraistrick.co.uk
by Widget Finn
Reinhild Raistrick has a passion for plants - a condition which members of the NCCPG can sympathise with. In particular she is fascinated by the genus Saintpaulia, the African Violet, and her interest has led her to return to the remote forest regions of Tanzania where she was born.
Reinhild is a botanical artist, now living in Suffolk, who has painted wild flowers in various parts of the world ranging from Kazakhstan to the Mediterranean and from South Africa to the British Isles. Her flower paintings of native plants from the equatorial rainforests of Tanzania are in the permanent collection of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and she has been awarded four Gold Medals by the RHS. Her book African Violets which was published recently contains beautiful watercolour illustrations of African violets many of which she painted in the wild, with her sketches of the leaf and fruit capsule as well as leaf hairs which are a valuable reference. But equally enthralling are her personal notes on where and how she found these plants during her travels in Tanzania.
To read the story behind these beautiful paintings gives them a very special dimension. She writes, alongside her illustration of Saintpaulia grotei “We trekked up a coastal mountain with foresters on a very hot day, and halfway up I was overcome with heat exhaustion and had to withdraw into the shade. The foresters duly brought back the plant for me to illustrate. I had my painting equipment with me and after my recovery and the disappointment of not being able to climb to the top, I settled down to paint the beautiful water lily Nymphea nouchali seen growing in a nearby pond” (this painting also appears in the book).
Reinhild's family connection with Tanzania starts when her grandfather first settled there in 1895, sent by the Lutheran Church in Germany to establish an orphanage for the children of slaves. He was keenly interest in the forest ferns, assembling a large collection of herbarium specimens. His granddaughter has clearly inherited his botanical enthusiasms.
In her accounts of her journeys to find African violets Reinhild comments on the precariousness of their habit, noting ominous signs of human destruction. In the forward Dr Phillip Cribb of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, comments “There was a village nearby and felling of trees much in evidence - how long would this special site remain?” and on another occasion “On our climb up to this site, the foresters heard a pit saw in the distance and went to investigate as this area is a reserve.”“African violets are iconic, one of the most important of all plants in the nursery trade, but little thought is given to their origins or the current perilous state of the species. The realisation that the world's climate depends upon the maintenance of tropical forests is slowly changing political imperatives throughout the world. This fine memoir will surely raise awareness and concern about a disappearing icon.” Elsewhere in this newsletter Brian Halliwell demonstrates how a plant's popularity can sound its death-knell. Reinhild Raistrick's book reminds us of what the NCCPG is all about.
African Violets by Reinhild Raistrick. Price £25 inc. postage. Available from www.reinhildraistrick.co.uk
Vibernum Lloyd Kenyon
NCCPG Publications
Published in October 2001 Viburnum by Lloyd Kenyon (National Collection Holder) is the first publication to deal with this single Genus of shrubs and small trees since Hydrangeas and Viburnums by Douglas Bartrum was published in 1958. Viburnum includes the major new cultivars introduced by Donald Egolf of the US National Arboretum in the 1980's. Drawing from his own experience as a National Collection Holder, the author has described in detail nearly one hundred and fifty species as well as adding information on more that 150 cultivars, many of which have been lost with the passage of time. Viburnum by Lloyd Kenyon is available from the author: Lloyd Kenyon, Gredington, Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13 3DH. Tel: 01948 830305; Fax: 01948 830673; email Lloyd@kenyon.freeserve.co.uk Price £6.90 plus post and packing fl.00.
The Origin of Plants
This book has the title 'The Origin of Plants - The people and plants that have shaped Britain's garden history since the year 1000' - by Maggie Campbell-Culver; the Foreword is by Tim Smit, creator of the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project.
In AD 1000 Britain had only a few hundred indigenous plants and many of the species we take for granted in our gardens and parks were as yet unknown in the UK. Over the past millennium, plant hunters introduced what we now consider everyday plants, such as rhododendrons from China and gladiolus from Africa and exotics such as the monkey puzzle tree from Brazil. For The Origin of Plants garden historian Maggie Campbell-Culver researched the provenance and often strange stories of the many thousands of plants which add colour and beauty to our gardens to produce a gorgeous and valuable book.
Scoffing the Primroses
Alex Pankhurst
Scoffing the Primroses is a charming story of Zinnia Peasemore's battle to save the choicest part of her garden. Set in a Suffolk village Kiln House embraces a large chalk pit which Zinnia has gardened under a gentleman's agreement of ownership for a number of years. It is full of her treasures, and absorbs much of her energy. The story develops round the chalk pits sudden and unexpected change of ownership. Zinnia cannot stand by and see her beloved chalkpit become a landfill site. How can she and her family save it? The story is inventive and entertaining. A full cast of Suffolk village characters and plenty of garden gems to relish. It is an enjoyable read.
Alex Pankhurst, the book's author and publisher is a member of the Suffolk NCCPG. She published Scoffing the Primroses in January 2003. Her previous titles include Who Does Your Garden Grow? Names of garden plants are often intriguing. Who Does Your Garden Growl tells their stories, describing the people whose names they bear, and the link between them. Scoffing the Primroses ISBN 0 9518 2316 7 is available from bookshops priced at £6.99. Published by Earl's Eye Publishing Tel/fax 01206 322203. For background information to writing the book visit the website on www.earlseyepublishing.com
Anne Tweddle
Black Magic and Purple Passion
Karen Platt
Black Magic and Purple Passion 2 continues where the original book left off. The author, Karen Platt, is the only woman to have run a nursery specialising in dark foliage and dark flowered plants. She designs gardens on both sides of the Atlantic. Karen is also the founder of the International Black Plant Society, and was the consultant behind the feature on black plants for the BBC coverage of Chelsea 2002. The book covers black flowers and foliage, chocolate-brown flowers and foliage, young purple foliage, suppliers, purple foliage, autumn colouring, full cultural notes and planting suggestions. It also includes five new garden plans, over 1,000 new plants and over 3 00 new colour photographs. ISBN No 0 9528810 98, price £16.99 UK only.
The Seed Search Fifth Edition
Karen Platt: To order both books contact: Karen Platt, 35 Longfield Road, Crookes Sheffield S10 1QW. Tel/fax: 0114 268 1700, e-mail: k@seedsearch.demon.co.uk or visit the website: ww.seedsearch.demon.co.uk
The Seed Search Fifth Edition is a unique compilation of almost 500 seed catalogues from all around the world, including flowering plants, vegetables and green manures.
The new edition includes all plant classifications, list of over 40,000 seed: almost 500 suppliers from around the world, plant synonyms, classificatio; by country, seed know-how and a source of 9,500 vegetables. ISBN 0 9528810 8X, Price: £12.50 UK only.
If you are looking for something rare, unusual, new or different in the seed line, you could do no better than The Seed Search. Karen Platt has been researching this comprehensive directory of seeds for the past eight years. The book is now in its fourth edition and lists over 40 thousand seeds and over 400 suppliers both in England and overseas.
Most overseas suppliers will export and there are no restrictions between EU countries. Suppliers are also included even further afield, there is even someone in the Galapagos offering rare tropical seeds, many suppliers in the USA and a good sprinkling from South Africa and Australia. Species from these countries abound, with many genera having enormous listings.
Looking for British natives? If it is available from seed, it can be found in these pages. In addition, societies are listed if they offer a seed exchange for members, as these seeds are not generally available to buy, their lists do not form part of the main directory as in previous years, but their addresses and contact numbers are included. Although the main directory consists mainly of listings of flowering plants, there are also extensive listings of all types of vegetables, over 7,500 in total. Herbs and green manures also have their own section. This comprehensive book for anyone seeking sources of seed costs £12.50 plus £1.75 p&p. Special offer, mark your envelope SNCCPG, and pay £12.00, making a saving of £2.25.
Garden Surf
Karen Platt
Garden Surf, a new book by the same author, Karen Platt, is a must for anyone interested in the internet and garden websites. Karen has been surfing the internet, and offers readers the benefits of her searches so that they can go straight to the websites that interest them. The book contains the URL (website address) for over 600 garden websites including everything related to gardening and many international websites too.
Karen has had her own website for almost all the information that is out there on the internet. Where would you find gardening gloves, a decking service, a garden designer, the latest information on shows? Find where you want to go without spending time and money searching with a search engine. The book is divided into easy to use headings such as books, garden equipment, plants, societies. From alpine gardening to zzz... if it's out there, it is in the book. There are also sections on the USA and Canada, Australia, Europe and South Africa.
With this world wide web at your greenfingertips you can truly have mouse and travel. The URL's have been thoroughly checked just one month prior to publication. Price £5.99 (post free). Both books are available direct, cheques payable to Karen Platt, 35 Longfield Road. Crookes. Sheffield S10 1QW.
Fifty trees
Tree Council
Fifty of the most outstanding trees in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are featured in a new illustrated book from the Tree Council, Great British Trees. These 50 trees are some of the oldest, rarest and most striking, and all have stories to tell. They were singled out from gardens, parks, churchyards, farmland and woods by the Tree Council, with help particularly from the local tree enthusiasts who make up its National Grid Tree Warden Scheme.
The fifty trees mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee - one tree for every year of her reign. Publication was sponsored by National Grid, which has also generously supported the Tree Warden Scheme since 1997.
The book, compiled and written by the Tree Council's Director of Community Projects, Jon Stokes, gives an insight into some of the nation's most distinguished trees - why they are 'great' and why they were chosen.
Great British Trees (ISBN 0 904853 02 0), is available by sending a cheque, payable to The Tree Council for £8.99 a copy, including postage and packing, to The Tree Council, 51 Catherine Place, London SW1E 6DY.
Computer Gardening
Susan Young
Computer Gardening by Susan Young was published in November 2000. It shows what can be achieved with plant and other databases, landscape calculations, digital photography, the Internet plus a range of other applications. The book is extensively illustrated in colour and is suitable for garden designers, landscapers and gardeners, both amateur and professional. It has a companion CD-ROM that has database information for over 800 plants plus spreadsheets and photographs. Price for book with CD £19.99. Pascoe Publishing, PO Box 16, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 5XT.
The Good Web Guide Gardening
Good Web Guide Ltd
The Good Web Guide Gardening by Sue Little provides an insight into garden planning as well as online resources. It also has a CD-ROM. Price for book with CD is £12.99. Good Web Guide Ltd, Broadwall House, 21 Broadwall, London SE1 9PL.
Suffolk's Gardens and Parks
Windgather Press
Suffolk deserves a special mention in garden and landscape history. Some of the greatest names in English landscape architecture, such as 'Capability' Brown, Humphry Repton, William Andrews Nesfield and Sir Charles Barry, were instrumental in creating the county's gardens and parks. In this book Tom Williamson explores how the landscapes we admire today at places such as Ickworth, Shrublands and Somerleyton came into existence, and shows how they reveal much about the past.
Starting with Elizabethan Melford Hall, Williamson takes the reader through a fascinating history of garden and park design and creation. The story has many themes: the influence of continental fashion on the restoration garden; the proliferation of parks in the mid-eighteenth century, culminating in 'Capability' Brown's work at Heveningham; the magnificent Victorian gardens at Shrublands and Somerleyton; and the impact of the 'Arts and Crafts' style on Suffolk's gardens. The author also explains the domestic economy of the Victorian garden.
The book not only shows how trends in garden and landscape design were played out in a particular corner of England; it also sheds light on parks and gardens as symbolic landscapes, proclaiming and reinforcing social divisions in a very unequal world.
Tom Williamson is Lecturer in Landscape Archaeology at The Centre of East Anglian Studies, University of East Anglia. Published by Windgather Press, it costs £17.99 and is available from Central Books, 99 Wallis Rd, London E9 5LN.
Potentilla bulletin
Royal Horticultural Society
The RHS has published a 20-page booklet outlining all the gardener should know about growing shrubby Potentilla. The Potentilla Bulletin is the first in what the RHS plans to be a series of trials bulletins.
Written by Diana Miller, keeper of the herbarium at RHS Garden Wisley, it summarises the most garden-worthy shrubby Potentilla varieties available today, including 14 new cultivars that have been recommended for RHS Awards of Garden Merit. (Plants are awarded with an AGM if they demonstrate excellent performance in the garden, are commercially available and do not require any specialist growing conditions.)
As well as comparing and assessing as many cultivars as could be obtained, other objectives of the trial were to study the effect of sun on the colour of red-pink-and orange-flowered cultivars, as well as the effect of different pruning regimes. Amongst the later Potentilla entries were new, unnamed plants. These exciting additions to the trial were subsequently given cultivar names.
Copies of the bulletin are available to buy from the RHS Garden Libraries or can be ordered by post (enclosing six first class stamps to cover costs), from the Trials Office, RHS Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB.