Chinese Academy of Forestry and Beijing Forestry University
In August 2006 I was delighted to be invited by Professor Jiang Chunqian of the Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF),
Beijing, to advise on their project to introduce Thymus species and cultivars to China.
I gave three Powerpoint presentations, on Thymus in the wild, my work on nomenclature and the third on species and
cultivars, two presentations at the Chinese Academy of Forestry and one at the Beijing Forestry University.
In addition to my work at the University for the Thymus project, I was also taken on visits to
The Great Wall at Badaling, Tian'An Men Square and The Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Botanical Gardens
and it was great to learn more about Chinese culture.
Dr. Zhao Huien of Beijing Forestry University took me on a field trip to Shui Mu Gong, the forest park outside Zhang Jiakou,
a city four hours drive north west of Beijing, where Thymus mongolicus grows
and we found several colonies of this species growing on the hillsides.
I had a wonderful time in Beijing and I look forward to working with my colleagues at the University
and helping them with their Thymus project. (August 2006)
Horticulture Week 18 May 2006
In May 2006 Horticulture Week reported on my Much Ado About Naming
article, in the news section, pointing out that gardeners are being let down
by the practice of renaming of plants. (June 2006)
Much Ado About Naming
Just before Christmas 2005 I was contacted by my Dutch nurseryman friend, Roger Bastin, who told me that the thyme
previously known as Thymus citriodorus 'Villa Nova' was in fact T. citriodorus 'Golden King'.
Instead of writing a short sentence in my catalogue to correct the name, I decided to publish an article in Plant Heritage
highlighting the problems faced by gardeners who inadvertently buy plants they already have, because nurserymen have renamed them.
I consulted various colleagues and Much Ado About Naming is the result. (May 2006)
Growing Heritage Conference
In April 2006 I attended the Growing Heritage Conference organised jointly by the RHS and NCCPG.
The Action Plan on Cultivated Plant Conservation was launched at the Hampton Court Flower Show.
Click |
Growing Heritage
|
to go to the website, then click on Action Plan to view it. (July 2006)
|
Harpenden in Bloom 2005
In July 2005 LW Plants was awarded Third Prize in the Harpenden in Bloom
Best Commercial Section Floral Display Competition.
First Prize was awarded to Rothamsted Research and Second Prize to BUPA Hospital, Harpenden;
worthy corporate bodies to compete against, so I was very pleased with this award.
I was judged on my Thymus display beds.
Harpenden usually does very well in the Anglia in Bloom competition. (July 2005)
Brickell Award 2005
I was one of five short listed for the prestigious Brickell Award, the highest award for excellence made to
Scientific Status National Plant Collection® holders.
The result was announced at the Hampton Court Flower Show at the beginning of July and
Sylvia Norton was the winner with her Lathyrus Collection.
The judging was very close and the panel were most impressed with my work on nomenclature. (July 2005)
Capel Manor Spring Gardening Show 2005
I exhibited at the Spring Gardening Show at Capel Manor Gardens
with a Scientific /Educational Display of Thymus and Satureja.
The display was awarded a Second Prize, equivalent to a Silver Gilt award.
Capel Manor College is at Enfield, Middlesex.
(April 2005)
|
Second Prize Display at Capel Manor 2005 (click on picture to see more.)
Warning: These three pictures may take some time to download
|
Snowdonia Thyme
2005 sees the launch of the final group of thymes which I collected in Snowdonia in 2000.
Permission was granted for these thymes to be released to the trade on condition that the locations are not divulged.
These thymes are currently only available in small quantities, so please be patient while I bulk them up.
There are some really superb varieties amongst them and they are definitely worth waiting for.
It was an interesting exercise giving suitable names to them all. (March 2005)
Scientific Status
In August 2004 my National Plant Collection® of Thymus was granted Scientific Status by the
National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG).
This recognises the work I have done, particularly in nomenclature.
Scientific status will give me the authority I need when contacting botanic gardens and other institutions.
(March 2005)
Belmont House and Gardens, Kent
I have been involved in the project to develop the old kitchen garden
at Belmont House near Faversham, Kent, designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd.
I was asked to supply thymes for the mandala design which is part of this imaginative project.
There are 27 different thymes, mostly bushy varieties and the final consignment will be planted in 2005, a total of
more than 1000 plants.
The garden was featured in the June 2004 edition of Gardens Illustrated. (March 2005)
|
Belmont Gardens: part of mandala. (click on picture to see more.)
Warning: There are three large pictures which may take some time to download
|
Pendley Manor Flower Show 2004
At the end of July I exhibited at the Pendley Manor Flower Show at Tring, Herts and was awarded a Silver Gilt Medal
for my display of Thymus and Satureja.
I have decided that apart from the Capel Manor Spring Show, I will exhibit under Floral Rules rather
than Educational/Scientific.
Although it involves more work in preparing considerably more plants,
judges tend to be more generous in their award of medals. (March 2005)
|
Silver Gilt Medal Display at Pendley Manor Flower Show, 2004
(click on picture to see larger version)
|
Capel Manor Spring Show 2003
I exhibited at the Capel Manor Spring Show for the first time in 2003 and was awarded Third Prize.
Unlike other flower shows, the nurseries compete against each other and not everyone wins a prize.
I was delighted with the result, considering that thyme is not in flower
in early April and is only just starting its spring growth. (March 2005)
Gardeners' World Magazine
My website was featured as website of the month in the October 2002 edition of BBC Gardeners' World Magazine
which was complimentary both of my site and of Graham Walters' Thymus Information Page. (September 2002)
East Anglian Garden and Flower Show 2002
I was delighted to be awarded a Gold Medal for my Thymus display at the East Anglian Garden and Flower Show held at
Bourn near Cambridge at the end of June 2002.
I have been showing Thymes from my collection since 1995 and more recently have included information about the research
in which I have been engaged and the display is judged on Educational/Scientific Rules.
The reward was well worth the amount of work involved in the preparation of the plants. (September 2002)
|
Gold Medal Display at East Anglian Garden and Flower Show, 2002
(click on picture to see larger version)
|
RHS Wisley Trials 1999-2001
Award of Garden Merit was awarded to Helianthus 'Gullick's Variety' and Helianthus 'Lemon Queen'
submitted by LW Plants. (May 2002)
National Plant Collections ®
In February 2001 my collections of Hyssopus and Satureja were granted Full Status by the
National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG).
These National Plant Collections® link in well with the Thymus Collection and Satureja
and will be used in the DNA studies of Thymus.
The dividing lines between the genera are open to debate and the DNA studies will help to resolve this.
(February 2001)
Acquisitions 2000-2001
In the summer of 2001 I acquired some new German cultivars and when these have been bulked up
they will be added to the catalogue list. (January 2002)
During the summer of 2000 we visited the
National Collection Holder in the Netherlands at Brunssum, near Maastricht and exchanged plants.
I have also acquired more specimens from the wild, from Snowdonia, with permission from the Countryside Council for Wales
and in the autumn I collected from our local areas of the Chilterns, around Whipsnade, Dunstable, Luton, Sharpenhoe, etc.
with permission from English Nature.
We visited the widow of the third National Collection holder in Yorkshire and she gave me some plants from his collection.
(February 2001)
|