April 20, 2001, Newsletter Issue #22: The Restoration of Sma` Shot Cottage Garden. (Part one).

Tip of the Week

The First Stage
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Sometimes you have to be hard-hearted, so all of the non-period plants had to be completely removed. The "New Dawn" climbing rose, the Fuchsias, the floribunda roses, modern Hebes, Crocosmias, long spurred Aquilegias, phormiums and countless other plants were removed and given new homes.
The layout of the beds remained the same as ultimately it was already user friendly.

The Research.
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Being a plantsman, I was aware of many plants that were around in the 18th and 19th Centuries and contacting the Hardy Plants Society, hours spent pouring over dusty old books and online added to my list.
I contacted every Carnation society and dianthus grower in the UK and North America for information on the old Paisley Pinks and indeed discovered that "Paisley Gem" was the last of the line. Several growers believed more existed but had been renamed many years ago to be more palatable for the English market. It was universally thought that the Pink "Dad`s Favourite" was a renamed Paisley variety but the new names for the dozens more remain a mystery.
An ancient book with articles by Gertrude Jeykyll revealed old varieties of shrubs, and herbaceous plants that were becoming rare in her time as the fashions changed to mass summer bedding.

The world famous Rose growers, Cant`s of Colchester and the Royal National Rose society revealed the popular roses of the era.


Sourcing The Plants.
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Preferring as I do to hand pick plants, I sourced many of the shrubs and herbaceous plants at
Mclarens Nurseries of Lochlibo Road Barrhead where I spent an unanticipated FIVE hours chosing the plants. It was very difficult to keep my eyes off all their fantastic range of modern herbaceous plants
Roses came from the excellent, Cant`s of Colchester whom were most infomative and helpful.

Victorian named varieties of Violas,were found at the very wonderful Heartsease Nurseries in Helensborough Scotland.
The Roses
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Alberic Barbier: A wonderful, old Wichuriana rambler with sweet smelling creamy white flowers . Introduced 1900.
Gloire de Dijon: A noisette climber with buff yellow blooms. Known as the "Old Glory Rose" Introduced 1853.
Pauls Himalayan Musk: A rampant rambler with small blush pink blooms. Introduced late 19th century.
Boule de Neige: A snow white bourbon introduced 1867
Cecile Brunner: A small flowered pink China. Known as the "Sweetheart Rose" and introduced 1881.
Perle d`Or: An apricot sport of Cecile Brunner introduced 1883.
Chapeau de Napoleon: A most unusual Centifolia with buds that resemble Napoleon`s hat Pure rose pink blooms. Introduced 1845.
Charles de Mills: A full flowered crimson/purple Gallica. Introduced 1840.
Fantin-Latour: A blush pink centifolia or Provence rose thought to have been introduced mid 19th Century.
Mme Isaac Pereire: A huge flowered crimson Bourbon, introduced 1881.
Mme Pierre Oger: A shell pink bourbon, introduced 1878.
Souvenire de la Malmaison: A beautiful soft pink named in memory of the Empress Josephine`s famous garden and introduced in 1843.
Louise Odier: A pink and lilac bourbon dating from 1851.
Rosa mundi (syn. Rosa gallica versicolour): The famous crimson striped white Gallica rose, known to have been grown in Britain before the 16th Century.
Little White Pet: A small rose with white pompon-like blooms. A sport of Felicite et Perpetue.

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