Winter Trip- Anglesey Abbey /Cambridge Botanics

[Brian Ellis]

Well, the sun might shine on the righteous but it didn't for us, however it did stay dry for our daytrip to Anglesey Abbey and Cambridge Botanic Garden.

Anglesey Abbey was the home of the Lord Fairhaven from 1926 until it passed into the hands of the National Trust in 1966 at his death, for those who don't know, it is famous for its snowdrops and The Winter Walk which was planted to celebrate the Centenary of the Birth of the First Baron in 1996.

We were on an organised coachtrip and had a tour of the Winter Walk and snowdrops led by undergardener David Jordan.  The Winter Walk is a joy at this time of the year when it seems the only thing to cheer us up is snowdrops   It extends for about 600 metres as a serpentine path with planting on either side.  Of course at this time of the year scent is very important and the main provider is sarcococca although there are also plantings of Wintersweet -Chimonanthus praecox towards the centre of the walk.  The planting is very clever and I think the only place I have been to surpass it has been the Winter Garden at the Hiller Arboretum where Daphne bholua gave us an absolutely unforgettable visit.

Here are some of the snaps I took, there may be close ups to come from David who is a much better photographer!

There were two forms of Sarcococca at least, the most attractive being the pink flowered form. 
One of the first assaults on the visual senses is the planting of Cornus and Rubus, shining out against the background of the hedges.
I liked the contrast of variegated Euphorbia (Silver Swan?), cornus and galanthus...
...and this underplanting of Ypsilandra thibetica?
Even more striking was this Hamemellis with Euphorbia and Bergenia.
Still more striking dogwoods
and newly split galanthus which will be a joy next spring!
Here it is underplanted with galanthus
Next looking back on the walk at the halfway point

[Maggi Young]

Brian, you're fibbing..... there was some sun.... there are shadows in the last  two pix!

[Brian Ellis]

The half-way point is marked by this statue to the memory of Huttlestone Broughton First Baron Fairhaven surrounded by an eleagnus hedge.
There were quite a few Hamamellis in flower...
...and I liked the underplanting here of ophiopogon again.
The serpentine walk sweeps round with no sign of what you might see next...
and in this case it was underplanting of cyclamen
At the far end is this Silver Birch Grove, the underplanting here has changed over the years and this year there are pink tulips beginning to come through on the right, this should look good in a few weeks time.
Leaving the Winter Walk there are areas of newly planted galanthus.

[Brian Ellis]

There may have been occasional sun Maggi but it was definitely not warm!

[Brian Ellis]

At last we get to the reason for the visit
The Snowdrop ditch, brought to light by the devestation caused by Dutch Elm disease as was the Galanthus 'Anglesey Abbey' seen at top right of the second picture.
The snowdrops are numbered well, 16 is Galanthus 'Ophelia'
A lovely drift of Galanthus 'Galatea'
Number 33 - the name escapes me!
74 named after the present Lord Fairhaven - Galanthus 'Ailwyn'
Believe it or not there was one I did not like!  Galanthus Moses Basket has outer tepals that are incurved like a parrots beak - very ungainly!
200 is named after the Lord Fairhavens present home, Galanthus 'Kirtling Tower'

If only there had been some good sunshine to open them up

Leaving the ditch we came across this Parrotia persica just in flower, and all around the bases of trees were planted with snowdrops - delightful

[Maggi Young]

Lots to cheer the soul in a lovely garden though, Brian.  The white birch planting is terribly smart..... but I wouldn't like to have to scrub all of those twice a year!

Makes a great foil for those white things you get so excited about!

[Lvandelft]

Nice pictures Brian. I always admire those people who make such planting,
which are even attractive in winter.

The white birch planting is terribly smart..... but I wouldn't like to have to scrub all of those twice a year!

Seeing the picture of the birches, I was just thinking of the one in Maggi's Garden   

[Brian Ellis]

Having warmed ourselves up in the new restauraunt we left for Cambridge Botanic Garden.  We headed for the glasshouses as we were still cold.  Here there were a few more things that are of interest to the alpinist.
It was a treat to see them at eye level!
Adonis amurensis
Galanthus lagodechianus (well what else do you expect from me!)
Iris reticulata 'Cantab' and Iris histriodes 'George' group
Iris reticulata 'Cantab'
A view of the plunge with Narcissi and galanthus at the far end.
Iris bakeriana
Gmnospermium altaicum
A tower of sedums - nice idea
Corydalis henrikii

[Brian Ellis]

The last few are from the tropical house and guaranteed to brighten your day!
Calliandra haematocephala from Bolivia
Some of the many orchids
The star of the show, Strongylodon macrobotrys - the Jade Vine, stunning in bud and even more so in flower

[Brian Ellis]

Maggi, they now do it with a pressure washer!

Luit, I am continually delighted with the imaginitive planting I see in other peoples gardens

[ashley]

Many thanks for these pics Brian, allowing us all to look over your shoulder  

Interesting that the Cambridge Iris bakeriana differs markedly from others shown here on the Forum - rather like 'Cantab' in fact

[David Nicholson]

Interesting set of pics Brian, I enjoyed them. Nice to see the glasshouses open again at the Botanical Garden most of them were closed for refurbishment when I went last May.

Yes, Ashley I agree, I'm just going to look at the iris pages again now.

[johnlloyd]

 Visited Anglesey Abbey today 11 Feb 09 10:15 - 12:30
 Weather was good. Snowdrops in the garden were looking beautiful.
 In the Entrance hall, they had a really excellent display in pots.
 Stunning  - particularly some lovely tall G. Rev. Hailstone.
 Some photos below;
 G. Reverend Hailstone
 G. Kite & G.Mrs W M George
 G. Ginns Imperiati
 G. Gerard Parker
 G. Brenda Troyle
 G. Ailwyn

 A visit to Anglesey Abbey is highly recommended

           John


edit by M: John's photos are added in the next post by Mark 

[mark smyth]

Here are John Lloyds photos from Angelsey Abbey

[Brian Ellis]

It was good to see Mike Broadhurst standing behind the pots of Snowdrops explaining the differences and helping the general public with their enquiries when we were there. Reverend Hailstone was the previous owner of the Abbey and Thomas Hobson (Hobson's Choice) was a previous owner.