Third Czech International Rock Garden Conference -May 2017

[Maritfri]

Thank you Maggi   Always nice to get the right name on people
 

Marit

Great blogs and fantastic photos, Marit - just as I expect from you!
 In your blog photo of " UN, Cliff og Susan B, Ian Y and Julia C " - the unknown is  Adrian Young (no relation) the Saxifraga expert from England.

 In the photo of your blog, and also here in the forum,  with  "Matt, Ian and…?"   the third man is the American crevice garden builder, Kenton Seth.

[Maritfri]

Thank you Matt Great pictures from you too! We look forward to meeting you in July!

Marit

Wonderful photos, Marit! They bring back many happy memories of a great time we all shared. Looking forward to your visit this summer.

I have finally managed to sort through my snaps too and will post a few here.

[Maritfri]

Then the last blog post from the Third Czech International Rock Garden Conference has been published. These are pictures from all the beautiful gardens we visited 



Marit

[Matt T]

Another great blog, Marit full of more excellent photographs. It amazes me that we all visited the same gardens, yet something different catches our eye. You've photographed some plants and views I don't remember noticing.

[Matt T]

Day two and we board the buses again. The first on our itinerary is that of the master of the crevice, Zdenek Zvolanek - the famed Beauty Slope.

1. What stood out for me in ZZ's garden was the cunning use of Sempervivum in every available nook and cranny.
2. The gardener's friend visits the Erinacea flowers.
3. The Aethionema were in peak bloom.
4. An overview up the slope towards the natural cliff face.
5. Not just Semps in the crevices, here a white Ramonda and a Cyclamen.

[Matt T]

6. A sign of the skilled gardener's hand here, with a very naturalistic vignette.
7. The low sun for our morning visits highlights the Pulsatilla seed heads.
8. Margaret Edwards and Ian Young take a rest in the arbour, made from recycled ladders.
9. A stunning form of Lewisia cotyledon.
10. Plenty of room for visitors to explore. Amongst those in this shot are: Paul Cumbleton, Richard Green, David Rankin, Philip Duplock, Celia Wright and Liz Mills.

[Matt T]

11. Floral profusion.
12. Aethionema.
13. Globularia.
14. Edraianthus.
15. The terrace by the house included many pots and troughs.

[Matt T]

Next up we were treated to the kind hospitality of Jiri Pospisil and Iva Pospisilova in their garden that surely caters for great parties and gatherings with a natural swimming pool, sauna, outdoor home cinema, home brewery, BBQ fire pit and bar. Their traditional home sits amongst the mature trees and shrubs, with some well integrated crevice gardens and troughs.

1. Haberlea rhodopensis.
2. A view across the main rock garden towards the house.
3. Part of the main rock garden, with many Saxifraga longifolia coming into flower.
4. View of the house and main rock garden from the gate.
5. A stone trough integrated with a crevice and well.

[Matt T]

6. Polygala (calcarea?)
7. Edraianthus
8. Mossy saxifrage.
9. Dwarf pines are a great feature.
10. Gentiana (acaulis?).

[Matt T]

Some of us sat out a brief summer shower before stepping out of the bus into Martin Brejnik's garden. Others were off like a shot to look at the sales stock! Martin has recently completed a large project to construct a canyon as part of this mature rock garden. Amazingly, the work was all carried out by hand. The bottom was quite moist, and should provide a home for plants that wouldn't normally cope with the drier Czech climate.

1. Another good example of the use of Sempervivum.
2. Kenton Seth and Adrian Young demonstrated the depth of the canyon. Also in his shot, at ground level are, L to R: unknown in pale green rain coat, Jiri Papousek, Christopher Peed our very own Bulb Despot, Ian Young (crouching), the next two I cannot name, then David Rankin, Caroline Seymour and Maggie Duguid.
3. Again, Aethionema star, along with many Daphne in this garden and other plants yet to flower. L to R: Paul Cumbleton, Julia Corden, Carol Marriott and Angela Townsley.
4. Saxifraga longifolia.
5. One of many superb Daphne!

[Matt T]

6. Another Rhamnus.
7. Daphne domini - one of many specimens in this garden.
8. The canyon from another angle.
9. Mature plants filling crevices nicely.
10. Antenarria dioica rosea contrasts nicely with the fresh green foliage of a Daphne.

[Matt T]

The last garden we visited was something quite different. At a higher elevation the climate was slightly cooler and moister, allowing Jiri Sladek to grow a wider range of plants. The garden is packed with shrubs, which help to divide the space and create interesting corners where many troughs are tucked away.

1. Hymenoxys scaposa on the rock garden.
2. Overview of the rock garden.
3. Daphne tangutica.
4 & 5. Rhododendron.

[Matt T]

6. An example of a trough with a crevice arrangement and showing how interesting foliage and form alone can be.
7. A form of Rhododendron campylogynum.
8. Rhododendron.
9. A Cedrus atlantica glauca pendula has been trained to form an arch at the entrance.
10. Saxifraga granulata on a roadside verge.

[Chris Johnson]

Thanks Matt for showing these wonderful images, and to Marit earlier (whose blog I have yet to look at).

[Maggi Young]

Some of us sat out a brief summer shower before stepping out of the bus into Martin Brejnik's garden. Others were off like a shot to look at the sales stock! Martin has recently completed a large project to construct a canyon as part of this mature rock garden. Amazingly, the work was all carried out by hand. The bottom was quite moist, and should provide a home for plants that wouldn't normally cope with the drier Czech climate.

 
2. Kenton Seth and Adrian Young demonstrated the depth of the canyon. Also in this shot, at ground level are, L to R: unknown in pale green rain coat, Jiri Papousek, Christopher Peed (crouching), the next two I cannot name, then David Rankin, Caroline Seymour and Maggie Duguid.

Beg to differ - that figure is of the crouching Bulb Despot, hidden husband!