The Plant Fair on the first weekend in October attracted 2,000 people who bought lots of plants at the twenty-two nurserymen’s stalls.

GREAT DIXTERFriends’ newsletter Autumn 2015

Money mattersA Bursary of £500 has been donated by the Variegated Plant Group of Hardy Plant Society to fund a Dixter gardener for a project of Fergus’ choosing.

The Christopher Lloyd Bursary - Plant Fair nurserymen have raised over £12,500 in the past six years by giving 10% of their takings and twelve individuals have benefited. Reports of their activities are being compiled and will be put on the website.

Sam Wassall has become an apprentice in Environmental Conservation at Great Dixter funded by The Dulverton Trust on the recommendation of Friend Sally Stockwell. Sam spends every Wednesday at Plumpton College. “I was blinking over the moon when I heard”. Photo by Sarah Seymour.

Jam sale in Liverpool - Pat Williams sent £70 to the Trust from selling her confiture.

Mr and Mrs von Opel held a fundraising lunch on 5th June in their Berkshire garden which raised £1,562.

Life members - British Exporters Association friends of Hugh Bailey clubbed together and made Hugh a Friend for Life on his retirement. Friend Joyce Low made one of her sons a Friend for Life as a birthday present.

US Friend Kimberly Peterson has pledged $5,000 in 2015 and $5,000 in 2016 for the conservation and digitisation of the Christopher Lloyd slide collection.

Front cover: Dixter stall styled by Cornelia Steffen, photographed by Carol Casselden.

Julia Petrie died on 19th August 2015 aged 79. We all think of her with great fondness, she was committed to volunteering for the nursery every Friday for about 3 years through all weathers, no socks, no seatbelt, but always with golden Labrador Rowley in the back. Kathleen remembers her visiting the garden and buying plants at the nursery at least thirty years ago. Her provision of cakes for Dixter events was legendary, there were always at least 20. The words of her friend Margaret Leech (who introduced her to Dixter) echo those of everyone who knew her: “Her unfailing kindness, generosity and cheerfulness were amazing”. Julia has left the Trust a legacy of £50,000. Photo by Siew Lee Vorley.

Edward FlintLike many others I first met Christo whilst a student at Wye. Though I felt l knew him and the garden through his books our initial face to face encounter was uncomfortable.

Busted by the old boy; l was trying to creep out of the garden long after closing time, whilst he on hands and knees, dachshunds in tow deadheaded dahlias in the Solar Garden. Betrayed by a snapping dachshund!After a brief conversation and an embarrassed apology l asked for and was offered a job. Christo was quick in forming an opinion of people, and l like to believe insightful! I spent many, many happy hours at Dixter in the company of Christo and his cosmopolitan company of friends.

He was the most generous teacher and l was privileged to spend so much time at Dixter learning from him. Information and knowledge seeped in as if by osmosis.

I like to think that my involvement in the courses is in a small way repaying Christo for what he and Dixter have given and continue to give to me.

The Art and Craft of Gardening is a course of three terms starting on 9th March 2016. Rachael and Edward Flint will be teaching the skills necessary for establishing, developing and managing a garden in the style of Dixter.

Gill Duff died 20th July 2015 aged 59 after a short but excruciatingly painful battle with pancreatic cancer. Gill started guiding and volunteering at Dixter in 2009. She was an instant hit, always cheerful and beautifully turned out with designer- label clothes from local charity shops. She charmed everyone, was a brilliant raconteur and was particularly hot on the historical details of the medieval house and the control of visitor’s unruly children, drawing on her many years of working as an agency nanny. Pamela Milburn, her cousin, was a great friend of Christopher Lloyd whom she taught to cook. Gill leaves behind her sister, Sue, and beloved little dog Daisy Duff.

Jonny Bruce

Christopher Lloyd Scholar UK (CLS UK) - Comes from Oxford, went to Cambridge University and studied a BA in History of Art at Girton College. Worked for two years at Aberglasney before coming to Dixter. Edits an idiosyncratic publication, The Germ.

It is hard to imagine that over a year has passed since I began work at Great Dixter as the fifth Christopher Lloyd Scholar. It is equally hard to condense, in so small a space, all that I have learnt since arriving here last September. From the delicate work of propagation, to developing vast pot displays and border combinations, the past year has provided the opportunity to hone skills and indulge my ever growing love of plants. However, this is not to say that the garden is all fun and games. A reality I discovered a month into my scholarship when I found myself, in the pouring rain for the second consecutive day, weeding the paving in front of the house. Whichever way one tries to spin ‘the fascinating botanical diversity’ of Dixter’s paving there is something unremittingly bleak about weeding cracks all day in the rain.

It is in these solitary moments that you question, along with your sanity, the reasons why you entered a poorly paid and invariably back-breaking profession. Such feelings will inevitably reappear throughout life’s merry course but equally these moments are vital as part of the process of reforming that occurs at Dixter. Fergus explained to me once that he is not interested in the most practically able but in those students that show passion, a desire to learn and, most importantly, an ability to share knowledge. Here, gardeners are forged not individually but through a mutual appreciation of the plants and the people that make this such a unique garden.

In this place, for every moment of self-doubt there is a moment of revelation and for every crack that needs weeding there is a creative opportunity. I am exceedingly fortunate to stay a second year at Great Dixter to see through more substantial projects such as a two-year trial of over a hundred herbaceous perennials in the High Garden. To be given such a significant area was daunting but it has proved an invaluable learning experience as well as a wonderful opportunity to enter into a discourse with nurserymen and plant’s people from around the world. The generosity of time and knowledge I have experienced in this quest for new and exciting plants affirmed not only Fergus’ observations but also my own conviction that horticulture, despite those wet and weed-filled days, is the only world I would wish to be a part of.

Jonny is a joint Christopher Lloyd Scholar (sponsored by Goldman Sachs Gives) and a trainee on The Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme (supported with Heritage Lottery Funding).

Susan QuinnChristopher Lloyd Scholar US (CLS US)

Arriving at Dixter in mid-September I jumped right into meadow clean up. It may not be the most glamorous of activities but I will say that building the compost heaps with their right angles was something I found pleasure in. This time of the year is a time of seed sowing and collecting. Fergus has shown us a uniform way of sowing that enables the seed to have the best fighting chance of germination.

I grew up in a family of artists. My mother, an art teacher, painter and printmaker, my father, a painter and picture framer and my brother a photographer and builder. Naturally, I attended art school where I studied fibers and sculpture with a foot in film. These interests led me to obsess over spaces and movement.

I worked in art related jobs in Philadelphia and New York until it just didn’t seem right. Something was missing so I set out to explore the vast world of sustainability at a school in Vermont. My interest in building led me to a sustainable education center in the rainforest of Costa Rica where I became a gardener for a year while teaching permaculture practices. After returning to the States, Longwood Gardens accepted me into their professional gardener program where I received a more formal introduction to the world of horticulture. I fell in love and wanted more. I was incredibly fortunate to have Chanticleer take me under their wing for 6 months before sending me off to Great Dixter.

I’m living on the third floor of the famous old house and I’m ready to experience all that makes this garden such a unique place. Thanks to the incredible kindness of the staff and students I have had an enjoyable transition into my year at Dixter.

CLS US is funded by the Chanticleer Gardens and donations from Linda Cobb’s Spartanburg Event. Photos of Jonny and Susan by Sarah Seymour.

CuratorialA leopard shot by Patrick Lloyd outside Mysore in southern India whilst he was serving in the army in the 1930s required conservation. His tail in particular was tattered because it was at a tempting height for the dachshunds as it hung over the chest in the corridor.

BiodiversityA flock of more than 50 goldfinches feeding on the knapweed in the meadows; two herons taking advantage of the cleared horse pond; lots of common blue butterflies on the topiary lawn are all a part of the weekly foray by volunteer Claire Williamson. Anyone with a specialist knowledge is welcome to join Claire.

EducationRowan’s students October saw a visit by students from the Rowan’s pupil referral unit in Chatham. These are students with complex social, learning and behavioural issues, who have been excluded from mainstream education. Following a welcome and tour of the garden by Catherine, they helped Graham and the other gardeners with some of the meadow work, and spent the afternoon helping Aaron and Thomas pick gourds. One of the students was interested in gardening as a career, so it was good to show the possibilities horticulture can offer. Photo by Aaron Bertelsen.

Dixter’s link with Frewen College, a specialist school in Northiam village, continues thanks to Lewis’ hard work with the students. Izzie Simes returns to us, this year studying for a City and Guilds Level 2 in Horticulture, and we are pleased to welcome Tessa Whalley. The students spend one day a week working alongside Lewis in the garden. Photo by Lewis Bosher.

In 2016 it will be ten years since Christopher Lloyd’s death on 27th January 2006 and there is a programme of events planned. If any Friends have photographs, letters or stories they would like to share, please send them to Friends of Great Dixter.

Calendar28th & 29th November Christmas FairSat 5th December, 12-2pm Friends’ EventMonday 18th Jan, 15th Feb Behind the ScenesWednesday 9th March The Art and Craft of Gardening - Term 1 beginsGood Friday 25th March House and Garden opensWeekend 2nd & 3rd April Spring Plant FairFriday 24th June Open Garden FundraiserWeekend 1st & 2nd October Autumn Plant Fair

N.B. Friends of Great Dixter get free entry for two people to the house and garden and also to the Chelsea Physic Garden in London.

Compiled by Linda Jones, tel: 01797 254048, friends@greatdixter.co.uk. Designed by Joe Rodriguez.Great Dixter, Northiam, Rye, East Sussex, TN31 6PH. Tel: 01797252878. Web: www.greatdixter.co.uk.© Great Dixter Charitable Trust - Ltd. Co. No. 7181964 - Registered Charity Number 1134948.