Early Events 2015 at the Chelsea Physic Garden
chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HS
"The Garden’s unique living collection provides inspiration for a variety of walks, talks and workshops throughout the year, including discovering the art of botanical painting, learning about the history and origins of perfumes and the art of chocolate making. The World Woodland Garden will be opening in April, and to mark this new area of the Garden the July lecture series will focus on the theme of trees. "
Snowdrop Days (free unless specified)
Sensational snowdrops - Joe Sharman
Saturday 31 January, 10.30am – 12pm & 2-3.30pm
A talk by the plantsman of Monksilver Nursery
Galanthus galore - John Grimshaw
Sunday 1 February, 2-3.30pm
An illustrated talk from the author of ‘Snowdrops, A monograph of cultivated galanthus’
Surviving winter - Michael Holland, Head of Education and Tom Wells, Gardener
Monday 2 February, 11am-12pm & 2-3pm
A Garden tour on winter survival strategies in nature
A plant lover’s guide to snowdrops - Naomi Slade
Tuesday 3 February, 2-3pm
Illustrated talk, planting demonstration and a book signing
Painting snowdrops & other winter gems - Lucy Smith
Wednesday 4 February, 9.30am – 4pm, £105
Botanical watercolour painting including one-to-one instruction
Best in snow tour - Nick Bailey, Head Gardener
Thursday 5 and Sunday 8 February, 11am & 2pm
Highlights from a winter garden
Naming of the shrew - John Wright
Thursday 5 February, 6-8pm, £15
A witty homage to the joyousness of Latin names, an illustrated talk with wine and book signing
Garden pharmaceuticals -Peter Houghton
Friday 6 February, 2-3pm
A talk on snowdrops, daffodils and other garden drugs
Garden herbal remedies - Maria Vlotides
Saturday 7 February, 9.30am-4pm, £95
Explore the traditions and science of plant medicine and make your own spring tonic
March
Plant remedies for spring - Lara Bean
Fri 27 March, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
From nettles to narcissi: this one day course explores the traditions and science of plant medicine with Medical Herbalist Lara Bean.
April
Behind the scenes garden tour - Nick Bailey
Thurs 2 April, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
Learn more about the Garden and its rich historical past with this exclusive tour of the Garden with the Head Gardener, Nick Bailey.
Introduction to beekeeping - Peter James
Thurs 9 April, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
This practical one-day course gives an insight into beekeeping and the equipment needed to get started.
Prehistoric plants at the Physic Garden - Tom Wells
Thurs 16 April, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
This walking tour will use the unique collection at the Physic Garden to explain the adaptations ancient plants developed to colonise the land and build the world we know.
Better garden photography – Philip Smith
Wed 22 April, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
This day gives you a sound technical foundation for your photography, along with a deeper understanding of digital processing and the creative opportunities it offers.
Willow weaving & soft fibre twining techniques - Tony Sutton
Thurs 30 April, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
Starting by looking at willow and its uses, the aim of this course is to construct a frame using willow for use in your garden space be it a conservatory, a balcony or garden.
May
Behind the scenes garden tour - Nick Bailey
Thurs 7 May, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
Learn more about the Garden and its rich historical past with this exclusive tour of the Garden with the Head Gardener, Nick Bailey.
Painting spring leaves & buds - Lucy Smith
Wed 13 May, 9.30am – 4pm, £105
Spend quality time capturing the charming detail of seasonal plants in watercolour. Advice on technique and individual assistance will be offered.
Gardening under glass – Kate Wilkinson
Thurs 21 May, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
In this workshop you will learn how to care for greenhouse and indoor plants including identifying and controlling indoor pests, choosing appropriate potting materials and techniques for watering.
Creative writing & gardens - Jackie Bennett
Fri 22 May, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
This day long workshop is for anyone with an interest in gardens, landscapes, prose and poetry, the aim is to explore how important gardens can be to a writer – as an escape, an inspiration, or as subject matter for their work. No prior experience required.
Compost clinic - Michael Holland
Fri 29 May, 10am – 1pm, £30
Whether you have a heap, bin or wormery, we lift the lid on the world of compost and teach you how to make the ultimate ‘black gold’.
June
Behind the scenes garden tour - Nick Bailey
Thurs 4 June, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
Learn more about the Garden and its rich historical past with this exclusive tour of the Garden with the Head Gardener, Nick Bailey.
Introduction to beekeeping - Peter James
Thurs 4 June, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
This practical one-day course gives an insight into beekeeping and the equipment needed to get started.
Writing herb infused poetry - Maria Vlotides & Chris McCabe
Wed 10 June, 2 – 3.30pm, £25
This poetry writing workshop, inspired by the art piece and book called ‘Pharmapoetica: a dispensary of poetry’, will explore the medicinal properties of plants and guide you through the process of writing poetry.
Propagation for beginners - Nell Jones
Thurs 18 June, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
Are your seedlings long and spindly? Do your cuttings sit and sulk for ages and then die? Come and learn how to give your seeds and cuttings the best chance of turning into healthy plants.
Plant remedies for summer - Lara Bean
Wed 24 June, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
This practical workshop explores the use of British native plants as remedies and considers their value to future medicine and the biodiversity of British flora today.
Better garden photography - Phillip Smith
Thurs 25 June, 9.30am – 4pm , £95
This day gives you a sound technical foundation for your photography, along with a deeper understanding of digital processing and the creative opportunities it offers.
Drawing trees and leaves – Mia Gubbay
Fri 26 June, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
With a focus on perspectives, shapes, repetition and rhythm, this one-day workshop will help to develop your observational skills and apply these to create your own personal responses to the beautiful subject matter of trees and their leaves found in the Garden.
July
The lost art of nature printing - Pia Östlund
Wed 1 July, 9.30am – 4pm, £105
Join designer and printmaker Pia Östlund for a one-day workshop exploring a wonderful way of depicting and discovering plants, which was developed by doctors and botanists over 500 years ago.
Behind the scenes garden tour - Nick Bailey
Thurs 2 July, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
Learn more about the Garden and its rich historical past with this exclusive tour of the Garden with the Head Gardener, Nick Bailey.
Perfumes from plants with an expert perfumier
Thurs 16 July, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
Spend the day learning about the remarkable origins and history of scent and perfumes, and meet a selection of the key plants that have played such an important role in this fine art. You will be guided through the science of the different ‘notes’ and how to effectively blend them to make your perfect personalised signature scent.
Gardening under glass – Kate Wilkinson
Thurs 16 Jul, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
In this workshop you will learn how to care for greenhouse and indoor plants including identifying and controlling indoor pests, choosing appropriate potting materials and techniques for watering.
Compost clinic - Michael Holland
Wed 22 July, 10am – 1pm, £30
Whether you have a heap, bin or wormery, we lift the lid on the world of compost and teach you how to make the ultimate ‘black gold’.
Bonsai and miniature gardens - Tom Wells
Wed 29 July, 10am – 1pm, £45
This practical workshop will be an introduction to gardening on a tiny scale, explaining the types of plants, techniques and design principles required to start you off in miniature bonsai and more.
July Lecture series
The history of malaria and its treatment – Prof. Marco Corsi
Tues 7 July, 6-8pm, £15 (inc. a glass of wine)
An unexpectedly lively illustrated talk about the history and treatment of malaria. From the Middle Ages when ‘mal’aria’ (bad air) was believe to be caused by vapour from stagnant water, to the first recorded effective treatment using the powdered Cinchona bark to cure the Countess of Chinchon in the 17th century.
Trees: their natural history - Peter Thomas
Tues 14 July, 6-8pm, £15 (inc. a glass of wine)
Peter Thomas looks at the way in which woods and forests were vital elements in everyday life for our ancestors providing food, fuel and timber and making everything from beds to bows and arrows. He will also discuss how trees cope in a diverse range of environments and the problem of being large and long-lived.
Ancient trees - Anna Lewington & Ed Parker
Tues 21 July, 6-8pm, £15 (inc. a glass of wine)
An introduction to some of the world’s longest-lived trees, from the ancient oaks and limes of northern Europe to the majestic monkey puzzles of Chile and Argentina. This talk includes botanical and historical information as well as examples of the cultural importance of ancient tree species.
The history of distillation – Desmond Payne
Tues 28 July, 6-8pm, £15 (inc. a glass of wine)
Desmond Payne, Beefeater’s Master Distiller, will demonstrate and talk about the history of Beefeater, the recipes behind the famous London distillation and what gives different gins their flavour making gin such a popular drink.
August
Behind the scenes garden tour - Nick Bailey
Thurs 6 Aug, 11.30 – 1pm, £25
Learn more about the Garden and its rich historical past with this exclusive tour of the Garden with the Head Gardener, Nick Bailey.
The evolution of flowers - Tom Wells
Thurs 13 Aug 11.30am – 1pm, £25
This walking tour describes how flowering plants came to dominate the biosphere and will challenge your ideas about whether plants really are the passive organisms they are often portrayed as.
Behind the scenes tour & Florilegium exhibition
Thurs 13 Aug, 6 – 8.30pm, £35
Join us for an exclusive, after-hours event including a Garden tour with Head Gardener, Nick Bailey, and a guided viewing of the Florilegium Society’s 20th anniversary summer exhibition, ‘London’s Secret Garden: Plant Portraits from Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium’.
Propagation for beginners – Nell Jones
Thurs 20 Aug, 11.30am-1pm, £25
Are your seedlings long and spindly? Do your cuttings sit and sulk for ages and then die? Come and learn how to give your seeds and cuttings the best chance of turning into healthy plants.
September
Behind the scenes garden tour - Nick Bailey
Thurs 3 Sept, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
Learn more about the Garden and its rich historical past with this exclusive tour of the Garden with the Head Gardener, Nick Bailey.
Better garden photography - Phillip Smith
Thurs 3 Sept, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
This day gives you a sound technical foundation for your photography, along with a deeper understanding of digital processing and the creative opportunities it offers.
Beginners’ plant identification - Kate Wilkinson
Tues 8 Sept, 10am – 1pm, £30
This workshop aims to demystify Latin plant names with an overview of the international system for naming and classifying plants, and practical experience in identifying plant parts and using keys.
Painting flowers & fruits of late summer - Lucy T Smith
Thurs 10 Sept, 9.30am – 4pm , £105
Spend quality time capturing the charming detail of seasonal plants in watercolour. Advice on technique and individual assistance will be offered.
Plant remedies for winter ills - Lara Bean
Fri 11 Sept, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
Herbs have been used for centuries to keep the family healthy through the winter, from vitamin-rich berries to antiseptic leaves. Learn to make traditional cough syrup from garden herbs, boost your immune system using wild berries and fight off infection with teas made from culinary herbs.
Introduction to natural dyes - Lara Hailey
Wed 16 Sept 9.30am – 4pm, £95
Learn about the past, present and future of textiles and natural dyes in this one-day workshop with artist Lara Hailey. You will have the chance to experiment with various colours, fabrics and techniques to produce beautiful works of art.
Propagation for beginners - Nell Jones
Thurs 17 Sept, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
Are your seedlings long and spindly? Do your cuttings sit and sulk for ages and then die? Come and learn how to give your seeds and cuttings the best chance of turning into healthy plants.
Introduction to beekeeping - Peter James
Thurs 24 Sept, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
This practical one-day course gives an insight into beekeeping and the equipment needed to get started.
The lost art of nature printing - Pia Östlund
Tues 29 Sept, 9.30am – 4pm, £105
Join designer and printmaker Pia Östlund for a one-day workshop exploring a wonderful way of depicting and discovering plants, which was developed by doctors and botanists over 500 years ago.
October
Behind the scenes garden tour - Nick Bailey
Thurs 1 Oct, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
Learn more about the Garden and its rich historical past with this exclusive tour of the Garden with the Head Gardener, Nick Bailey.
Cut flowers all year round - Rachel Petheram
Thurs 8 Oct, 9.30am – 4pm, £95
Everything you need to know about growing flowers for cutting, suitable for all abilities, whether you are a total beginner or a seasoned gardener, with a tiny space or a large garden.
Become your own chocolate expert - Chantal Coady
Wed 14 Oct 9.30am – 4pm £95
This course will include a brief history of chocolate and a demonstration of micro-chocolate making which will be followed a chocolate tasting session.
Gardening under glass - Kate Wilkinson
Thurs 15 Oct, 11.30am – 1pm, £25
In this workshop you will learn how to care for greenhouse and indoor plants including identifying and controlling indoor pests, choosing appropriate potting materials and techniques for watering.
Leaf inspired jewellery - Liz Pearson
Fri 16 Oct, 9.30am – 4pm, £105
This beginner’s class is for anyone who is new to working with metal clay and would like to spend an exciting day experimenting and learning new techniques to create silver leaf jewellery.
Compost clinic - Michael Holland
Thurs 22 Oct, 10am – 1pm, £30
Whether you have a heap, bin or wormery, we lift the lid on the world of compost and teach you how to make the ultimate ‘black gold’.
