Specific Families and Genera > Rhododendron and other Ericaceae

Arduaine gardens 2008

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Lesley Cox:
Thank you again Tom. I love this part of Scotland and would dearly love to return there some time.
The last picture is quite superb. Nice for me too, to see Primula 'Inverewe' again. I had it once but doubt if it is in NZ new.

TC:
Primula Inverewe seems a bit of an enigma.  As a sterile hybrid, it should not come true, however, all the plants for sale under this name have been propagated from seed.  According to the head gardener at Arduaine, some plants produce viable seed.  He got his plants from a local garden centre!  I have 5 plants in my garden and the largest is twice the height of the smallest.  The main similarity is the deep red of the flowers.

The picture you like was taken at the head of Loch Craignish looking towards Jura and the island of Scarba.  The tidal race and whirlpools of Corryvreckan separate these islands. The yacht was being pulled through the straits  in the smooth waters of a tidal race.

Cindy and I first "discovered" this area about 45 years ago before the yachting fraternity moved into the loch.  On a whim, we thought that we would try to walk to the point as we used to years ago.   Surprisingly, although the terrain was very rough and and required care at certain points, we made it in less than an hour.  Years ago it would have been 25 minutes !  Looking out to sea, nothing had changed in all those years - even the midges.  You could almost imagine the Viking longships or the Gaelic Birlins sailing through between the islands.  I have seen no better place than the Argyll coast on a warm sunny day.  But again, being a native, I would say that.

Lesley Cox:
Well of course as a sterile hybrid 'Inverewe' shouldn't/doesn't produce any seed at all, ever. Having said that though, it's possible that the original cross has been repeated and produced some fertile plants. If you ever get seed on any of yours Tom, would you remember me please? With selection it should be possible to get somwething pretty like the original. The colour of course but also the white farina on the buds, stems, seed pods and young foliage. The one in your pic does look like a true plant.

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