Tilebarn Nursery

[KentGardener]

Last Sunday I spent a happy couple of hours browsing through the cyclamen available at Tilebarn Nursery, Kent, UK.  The nursery is not large, consisting of four 30 ft greenhouses in the garden of the owner.  There are also numorous stock beds that are not open to the public.

The Owner, Peter Moore, has dedicated many years to breeding Cyclamen and has a fantastic array of plants on show and, more importantly for me, on sale.  Every year when I visit I manage to come away with something interesting.  Below are a few random shots that I thought may be of interest to SRGC members.

best wishes

John

[Carlo]

John,

Thanks for the post on Tilebarn. The name is, of  course, legendary--even here in the states. There was a post by J. Lonsdale not long ago with a stunning photo of C. mirabile 'Tilebarn Anne' (if I'm not mistaken). It was a treat to see a little of the place where all these plants are selected and bred...

[mark smyth]

I had a chance a few years ago to go for a look but the driver said "no I've seen enough plants today"

[KentGardener]

it's quite hard to find - the first time Ian took me, we drove around country lanes for about half an hour.  We were in an ever decreasing circle - asking farmers and horse riders directions until we eventually found Tilebarn.  This year we fortunately have his new 'sat nav' (with an annoying Anne Robinson voice!).

By the way - thanks Mark for the text message - I had been meaning to post - but your text promted me to get round to it.

John

[Carlo]

Time for a new driver...

[mark smyth]

well, I was the guest and attending a bat conference in England

[Lesley Cox]

I had the same detecting situation in 1993 when I was able to visit Tilebarn after a trip to Elizabeth Strangman's nursery. Almost gave up but I had to persevere as I had plants to pick up, ordered from home before I went to the UK. I bought about a dozen corms and in spite of their being lifted and barerooted from Peter's pots, and a journey around the world and the rigors of climate turnaround, every one survived and thrived. The only one since lost (after 5 years) was a white cilicium which I've not been able to replace. I may try another import soon. Tilebarn is just about the ONLY UK or European nursery prepared to send to this part of the world.

[KentGardener]

Speaking of Bats Mark - I saw one in my garden last night for the first time ever.  It was flapping/darting about just as it was getting dark.  I was quite exited - the female neighbour I was talking to at the time ran indoors!! 

[mark smyth]

As they do. Dont quite know what they think a tiny bat will do

Picked/bought up Tilebarn Nicholas today

[KentGardener]

Speaking of bats... again - I just saw you on telly Mark.  We were watching a programme called 'hands on nature' and you were on for a few minutes to chat about bats with some blond woman.  I was really surprised how small that bat was that you caught!

__________________________________________________________________

John

[mark smyth]

If I had gone for repeat fees instead of a one off payment of £175. It seems each region is showing the programme over and over. It was on again over here last week and in Scotland earlier this week. I asked then not to use the footage of the bat yawning but they did. I was very tanned that day compared to now when I'm at my palest. There is a link on the forums to my piece that I'll look for later

[mark smyth]

here it is http://www.bbc.co.uk/handsonnature/video/index.shtml click on bat watching

[Maggi Young]

Just enjoyed watching that clip, Mark...
.. loved the analogy of the children leaving school!

[mark smyth]

I use it all the time and it fits very well. I've just done an interview with a journalist student from Queens about bats. He wanted an interview that no-one else would duplicate. Nice bottle or red wine as a thanks you

[mark smyth]

He was impressed with my interests - bats, birds and gardening - especially when I was so young! He thought I was about the same age as his eldest - early twenties. That made my day