science festival fun - royal botanic garden edinburgh · most of the science festival events are...

Songs of SpringtimeBirdlife at the four Gardens

Garden’s GatewayMore about this exciting project

A Pressing TaskHandiwork of RBGE’s Herbarium Mounter

2 T H E B O T A N I C S S P R I N G 2 0 0 4

Wild About Nature, an all-day

family event on Wednesday 14

April, is a chance to get up close

and personal with Scotland’s

trees and flowers, beasts and

birds. People from Scottish

Natural Heritage, the RSPB,

National Trust for Scotland and the Pentland Hills Rangers will

be hosting hands-on activities in the Exhibition Hall from

10am to 5pm – all events are free. If rising at dawn doesn’t

daunt you, there’s a chance to experience birdsong at

sunrise with the Edinburgh City Rangers (5am,

£8/£6, breakfast included).

For those interested in the environment, the evening talk by

Sir Crispin Tickell is a must. (6.30pm, Lecture theatre, £6/£4). Sir

Crispin, former diplomat and leading environmental authority,

explores the effects of climate change on the global ecosystem

and all living things – it promises to be a real eye-opener.

Thursday 15 April brings a one-day seminar entitled Science

for Biodiversity, which comprises a programme of short talks on

the science behind conservation in Scotland.Topics include

lichens, sub-arctic willows, moths, worms in the oil industry,

maerl beds and genetics.The day is organised by the Action

Plan & Science Group of the Scottish Biodiversity Forum –

a full programme and booking form is available online

at www.rbge.org.uk

Variety,

the spice of lifeEveryone’s talking about ‘biodiversity’, but what does it really

mean, why is it important, and what are the threats to the

variety of life on earth? Find out more on 14 and 15 April,

when the Garden celebrates Scotland’s biodiversity.

Most of the Science Festival events are free. For full details of dates, times

and locations see the Events Programme or log onto www.rbge.org.uk

This spring, from 3 to 13 April, the ever-popular

Edinburgh International Science Festival

returns to the Botanics, and it promises to be

as exciting, fun and informative as ever.

Plants + people= adventure!

of his photographs.Then, join the Garden Guides (below)

outdoors for a tour of George Forrest’s plants growing in

the Garden (see page 6).

Take a trip behind the scenes to see

the vast collection of dried plant

specimens held in the Herbarium, a

scientifically important resource not

usually open to the public.The Herbarium

Open Day on 6 April offers four tours –

at 10.30am, 12 noon, 2pm and 2.30pm.

For children aged three to seven,

Rhythms and Potions of the Rainforest (left) is

a magical, musical journey to the heart of

the jungle.They’ll listen to stories, mix

herbal potions and make music with

strange instruments. Adults and older

kids can explore the secrets of the double

helix with the excellent exhibition DNA in the Garden (top left),

presented by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences

Research Council (BBSRC).

Science Festival Fun • Scotland’s Biodiversity Revealed

Last year an estimated 13,000 people joined in the host of

activities and events, walks and talks for children and adults.

This year’s programme sees several of last year’s favourites

returning. Survival: Nature’s Reality Gameshow (9 to 14 April) is a

hilarious show with audience participation in which creatures

compete to stay in their habitat.

Flowers by Night, which sold out last

year, is a unique evening walking tour

exploring sights, sounds and scents in

the Garden and Glasshouses after

dark (5, 6 and 7 April).

Real Life Science (2 to 11 April) is a

drop-in, 30 minute live event offering

something different for science fans

every day – from maggot racing

to the chance to talk to real botanists

about their expeditions to

far-away places!

Speaking of adventure… this

year the Botanics celebrates the centenary of Scots plant

hunter George Forrest’s first trip to Yunnan, China. So during

the Science Festival and beyond there’s a chance to find out

more about the adventures of Forrest in a unique exhibition

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N A T I O N A L B O T A N I C G A R D E N S O F S C O T L A N D I N A S S O C I A T I O N W I T H I T S M E M B E R S I S S U E 1 6 | S P R I N G 2 0 0 4

George ForrestLife and legacy of a plant hunter


.

Focus on fernsThis summer the Botanics plays host to amajor conference on ferns, organised byMary Gibby, Director of Science, withcolleagues Paul Kenrick and Johannes Vogelof the Natural History Museum, London;and Harald Schneider, University ofGottingen.The conference, called ‘Ferns forthe 21st Century’ has support from theLinnean Society of London and the BritishPteridological Society.The diverseprogramme includes sessions on fossils,species diversity, evolution, ecology andconservation, as well as the chance to seeRBGE’s rich collections of living ferns.

‘Ferns for the 21st Century’ runs fromMonday 12 to Friday 16 July 2004.Registrations, as well as contributed papersand posters, are welcome.Visitwww.rbge.org.uk for more information orcontact Carol Gibb, tel. 0131 248 2957,email [email protected] COVER

Intrepid Scottish plant hunter George Forrest’s legacy lives on in garden

introductions and valuable botanical specimens, while the colourful details of

his adventures in Yunnan, China, come to life in his letters and photographs.

DESIGN: J-P SHIRREFFS

Editor Ida Maspero ([email protected])

Contributing Editor Anna Levin ([email protected])

LayoutJohn-Paul Shirreffs ([email protected])

Printed byJ Thomson Colour Printers, Glasgow

The Botanics is printed on paper made of wood pulp from managed,sustainable plantations. The paper is chlorine free, acid free, recyclable and bio-degradable.

Enquiries regarding circulation of The Botanics should be addressed toEleanor Carter ([email protected]).

The Botanics is a publication of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh,20 A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR Tel. 0131 552 7171, fax 0131 248 2901, www.rbge.org.uk

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a recognised charity and is supported bythe Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department.

Opinions expressed within The Botanics are those of the contributors and do notnecessarily reflect the views of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

The National Botanic Gardens of Scotland comprise:

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Benmore Botanic Garden, near Dunoon, Argyll

Logan Botanic Garden, near Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway

Dawyck Botanic Garden, near Peebles, Borders

4 GEORGE FORREST,A CENTURY ONA Scots plant collector’s life and legacy.

8 SONGS OF SPRINGTIMEBirds to hear and see at the fourGardens.

11 PLANS FOR GARDEN’SGATEWAY A chance to find out more.

12 A PRESSING TASKHandiwork of Rita Calder, RBGE’sHerbarium Mounter.

13 PERUVIAN AMAZONA brighter future for its forests and farmers.

14 WITH MEMBERS IN MINDPlant Auction and Sales, plus earlysummer trips in the UK and abroad.

16 SCIENCE FESTIVALDiscovery, adventure and biodiversity.

One third of a millennium after itwas founded, the Royal Botanic

Garden Edinburgh is responsible for an

extraordinary heritage of internationally

important collections. Our Living

Collections are the second richest in the

world in terms of the number of wild

plant species represented. They are also

rich in plants listed as threatened, or

even extinct, in the wild.

This year we celebrate the work of

George Forrest, one of our most

renowned plant hunters, a century after

he first visited China. His photographs

and letters are among many important

collections held in our Archives; and his

pressed plant specimens are preserved in

our Herbarium. The Herbarium is an

international treasure – one of the small

number of global herbaria that have

holdings of a significant proportion of

the earth’s plant biodiversity.

These collections are so much more

than a historical record. They embody

the knowledge base from which we can

understand and investigate the world

around us. As the importance of

biodiversity rises up the political and

scientific agenda, the European Union is

investing in Europe’s biological

collections which together represent half

of the world’s total.

I am delighted that the Royal Botanic

Garden Edinburgh, together with 19

partner organisations from 11 countries

that make up the Consortium of

European Taxonomic Facilities

(CETAF), recently shared an award of

113 million from the European Union’s

Sixth Framework Programme. The

award will enable researchers to harness

the power of Europe’s major biological

collections by travelling between the key

centres for biodiversity research. The

SYNTHESYS (Synthesis of Systematic

Resources) project will also enable the

partners to work together on the

development of standards for the care,

storage and curation of collections,

including DNA.

Our own plans for the future include

making these collections accessible to our

visitors through exhibitions and

interpretation in the Gateway Project.

You may not be able to hear directly

from George Forrest in the Gateway, but

you will meet our modern-day collectors

and learn about their work in Scotland

and worldwide. Forrest himself, I am

sure, would be pleased to note that one

set of his herbarium specimens is now

held in our twin organisation, the

Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB). Our

relationship with China goes from

strength to strength – in late February the

KIB appointed David Paterson as

Honorary Director of Horticulture and

myself as a Visiting Professor.

International partnerships are the key to

documenting and conserving biodiversity

in the century ahead.

Professor Stephen Blackmore

Regius Keeper

In January Edinburgh City Council selectedthe capital’s first floral emblemwith advice from the Garden– the vibrant blue poppy.Meconopsis x sheldonii(recently renamed M.‘Lingholm’).The bluepoppy stole the crownfrom native plants on theshortlist – the rare stickycatchfly (Lychnis viscaria) andheather (Calluna vulgaris ‘Cramond’).

The blue poppy has historic links with thecapital. In the 1930s, Edinburgh-born and

Blue poppy crowned Capital’s emblem

trained botanist Sir George Taylor (laterDirector of Kew) identified Meconopsis x

sheldonii as a cross betweenM. grandis and M.betonicifolia. The RoyalBotanic Garden Edinburgh

was one of the first gardensto grow both parent plants

and the resulting cross.Todaythe striking flower provides a

feast of late spring colour ateach of the four National Botanic

Gardens of Scotland.

Visitors can enjoy improved interpretationat Benmore as it opens for the 2004 season,thanks to funding received from ‘Europe andScotland – Making it Work Together’ andthe Younger (Benmore) Trust.A new self-guided audio tour offers over six hours ofstories about the Garden’s history, plantcollections and people, told by botanists,horticulturists and personalities from bothBenmore and the Royal Botanic Garden

Edinburgh.The compact, hand-held wand is for hire from the ticket office and shop at £1 (Members and Children 50p).

In addition, the Garden now features 40orientation panels covering over 10km ofpaths and providing information aboutfeatures or plants.An extensive displayhighlighting Benmore’s role in plantconservation and research will be installedin the Courtyard Gallery later this season.

Sweet Reward

In January Lizzie Sanders, a tutor of RBGE’s

advanced botanical illustration courses,

successfully exhibited a series of eight watercolour

paintings at the RHS headquarters in London,

and was awarded an RHS Gold Medal.

The winning works feature the orchid Vanilla

imperialis, painted from specimens growing in

the Glasshouses at the Royal Botanic

Garden Edinburgh.

Professor DavidIngram OBE,Regius Keeper atthe Royal BotanicGarden Edinburghfrom 1990 to1998, was recentlyawarded thegreatest accoladein British gardeningcircles – the Royal Horticultural Society(RHS) Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH).The medal is awarded annually torecognise leading figures in UKhorticulture, and only 63 horticulturistscan hold the VMH at any one time.Thisyear’s two other recipients are TVpresenter Alan Titchmarsh and orchidbreeder Ray Bilton.

Regius Keeper Stephen Blackmore (right)

with Scotland’s Minister for the Environment and

Rural Affairs, Ross Finnie, during a visit to the

Botanics in December. PHOTO: DEBBIE WHITE

Dr Philip Smith, 1942–2004

In January the Garden bid a sad farewell tofriend and colleague Philip Smith, who died aftera short illness. Philip was the mainstay of wholeplant botany at Edinburgh University,inspirational supervisor to generations ofstudents, and co-founder and co-director of theEdinburgh MSc in The Biodiversity andTaxonomy of Plants. He enthusiasticallysupported the Botanical Society of Scotland,particularly the Flora of the Lothians project.Philip will be remembered for his humour, hissagacity, and his brilliant lectures which coveredall aspects of botany. He was also a dear friendto many RBGE staff.

CONTENTS

foreword

T H E B O T A N I C S S P R I N G 2 0 0 4 3

Caley honours Garden staffIn January Sally Heron (left), the Garden’sfirst-ever Guide, received a certificate ofmerit for her contribution to horticultureat the annual Royal CaledonianHorticultural Society (RCHS) awards. Sally,now in her fourteenth year at the Garden,continues to delight visitors to the Botanicswith her enthusiasm and knowledge.

The RCHS’s new president was alsoannounced at the ceremony.After five yearsas president, Professor Fred Last handedover reigns to RBGE’s George Anderson(right). George joined the Garden in 1966 and now heads up its School ofHorticulture. See the Events Programme fordetails of the RCHS Spring Flower Show.

Prestigious award forformer Regius Keeper

NE WS

Talking Benmore

that area of China, several of the plants he

collected were new to science, and RBGE

botanists were tasked with classifying them

– our Herbarium is rich in type specimens.

From there the Garden’s expertise in the

flora of this part of the world, and its

interest in rhododendrons, grew.

“Forrest was also a pioneer of

methods,” continues Mark. “Unlike other

collectors at the time, he extensively

employed local people as collectors. It’s a

practice we rely on these days, and these

helpers are often called parataxonomists. In

addition, the quality of the data he provided

for each collection – altitude, habitat, plant

description etc. – far exceeded that of his

peers.”

Building on Forrest’s legacy, the Garden

is a key partner in the modern study of

China’s flora. Since the late 1980s strong

collaborative links have been built with

Chinese institutes, especially the Kunming

Institute of Botany; and duplicate sets of

Forrest’s dried specimens have been

returned to Chinese herbaria.

‘Of the right grit…’Born in Falkirk in 1873, George Forrest

showed the makings of an adventurer as a

young man. Having worked as a

pharmacist’s apprentice for a few years, 25-

year-old Forrest inherited some money and

went exploring in Australia. His love of the

outdoors and desire to travel, as well as his

physical resilience and

instinctive curiosity were

honed during this trip, and

were evident by the time he

started work in the

Herbarium of the Royal

Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

In fact, he’d been

recommended to Isaac

Bayley Balfour, the then

Regius Keeper of the

Garden, after finding human

bones from the early

Christian period on the bank

of a reservoir!

Forrest’s future took a

turn toward adventure

thanks to Balfour’s

mentorship, and an opportunity offered by

A.K. Bulley, a Liverpool cotton broker and

lover of alpine plants. Both Balfour and

Bulley were tantalised by reports of

amazing new botanical discoveries

being made in the remote region of

Yunnan at the time, especially by a

French missionary named Delavay.

If these reports were to be

believed, a handsome profit

awaited those who could collect

seed and introduce Yunnan’s

treasures to the gardens of the

West.

Bulley resolved to start a nursery, and

send a man to Yunnan to harvest seed.

Balfour, equally interested in finding out

what Yunnan held, recommended the

young Forrest: “He is a strongly built fellow

and seems to be to be of the right grit for a

collector,” he wrote to Bulley.

Despite having fallen in love with a

colleague at the Herbarium, Clementina

Traill, Forrest took up the challenge and

packed for China. A journey by sea, paddle-

boat up the Irrawaddy and finally by mule

and on foot over the border to China

brought him to Tengyueh (modern-day

Tengchong), which would serve as his base.

Upon returning from his first expedition in

April 1907, he married Clementina and

would remain faithful to her despite

being absent from home for extended

periods. They had three sons, George,

Eric and Charles.

century after George Forrest began his

collecting career, the legacy of his

travels is evident in the many familiar

species of primula, rhododendron,

iris, camellia, clematis, gentian, jasmine and

conifer introduced by him from their native

China and gracing gardens around the

world today. At the Royal Botanic Garden

Edinburgh (RBGE) more than 50 original

Forrest introductions and their descendents

can be seen.

His botanical and scientific legacy, too, is

remembered in the work undertaken by

botanists at RBGE and elsewhere. A

century later, the landscape Forrest

traversed has changed dramatically – once

uncharted valleys and forests are now

developed and deforested. Yet modern-day

Chinese scientists and their collaborators

are treading in his footsteps, continually

studying and mapping the flora of China –

an exercise which will help preserve the rich

biodiversity of this area.

In the RBGE Herbarium, where dried

plant specimens for scientific study are

stored, the 31,000 or so specimens

collected by Forrest bear testament to the

fact that his travels not only brought new

material to horticulture, but gave botanists

in Britain a new understanding of a unique

temperate flora.

“Forrest had a profound influence on the

research interests of the Garden,” says

RBGE’s Flora of China expert Mark

Watson. “He sent pressed specimens of all

the plants he collected to the RBGE for

identification. Since Forrest was a pioneer in


On 14 May 1904, a 31-year-old herbarium assistant called George Forrest set off from the Royal Botanic Garden

Edinburgh for a great unknown on the other side of the world – the remote, mountainous region of Yunnan, south-west

China. For this intrepid Scot, his first journey would mark the start of a love affair with the tough, challenging existence of

a plant hunter, and with the landscape of Yunnan. For British gardens, this trip and Forrest’s six subsequent expeditions

would mean a wealth of scientific discoveries and new gems. Ida Maspero reports.

AIn Forrest's footsteps – Henry Noltie, David

Long and Crinan Alexander wade through a

stream to reach botanical treasures growing in a

gorge near the Da Xue Shan (Big Snow

Mountain), north-west Yunnan. Inset: Primula

forrestii in the field. PHOTOS: MARK WATSON

Forrest’s field photo of Rhododendron

decorum. His notes on the back of the print read:

“Single plant, Mekong Valley. Flowers white,

fragrant. 6–8ft in height. Alt(itude) 9,000ft.”

George Forrest with his chief collector, a Naxi named Lao Chao, who worked with

Forrest from 1906 onwards. The location and photographer of this picture is unknown.

plant hunterLife and legacy of a

Forrest’s camp in the Yulong Xue Shan

during his first expedition.


Snapshots of an extraordinary lifeIn the archives of the Royal Botanic Garden

Edinburgh, Forrest’s adventures come to

life in black and white. The explorer was a

prolific photographer, capturing the places,

plants and people of Yunnan. His camera,

developing equipment and boxes of glass

plates accompanied him everywhere (quite

a feat considering how bulky such kit would

have been!); and he developed some of his

negatives in the field. Forrest produced the

first photos of many of Yunnan’s plants in

the wild.

This pictorial legacy takes the shape of

an estimated 1,700 images

(glass plate negatives and

original prints) housed in the

RBGE archives. Over the

last two years Archives

Librarian Leonie Paterson

has been sorting and

cataloguing Forrest’s photos,

revealing their scope and

varied subject matter.

Among the wealth of Forrest-related

documents also kept in the archives are

hundreds of letters written by him to RBGE

Regius Keeper Isaac Bayley Balfour, and his

successor William Wright Smith. These

letters recount his travels and observations,

triumphs and trials in a chatty style and

flowing hand. Over 20 of his meticulous

field note books, documenting his botanical

finds, are also kept in the archives. Forrest

did not keep diaries, and he never wrote up

an account of his travels, so these

photographs, letters and notes provide the

pieces of his life’s puzzle.

Adventure, hardship and discoveryIn the course of his 28-year career, Forrest

undertook seven expeditions to Yunnan,

lasting up to three years at a time. The

range of his travels covered the spectacular

Cang Shan and

Yulong Xue Shan

mountain ranges (or

the Tali and Lichiang

mountain ranges, as

they were called

then), and included

the great divides

created by the

mighty Mekong,

Salween and

Yangtse rivers.

Trekking through

the remote

mountain regions of

south-west China

brought him face to

face with conflict

situations and

natural hazards.

Some of these tales

are now well-

known. On his very

first expedition, in

the summer of 1905, Forrest had to flee for

his life. Warring Tibetan lamas had sacked

the mission at Tsekou where Forrest was

staying, and had subsequently murdered his

two missionary friends.

Pursued by a group of lamas, Forrest hid

out in the hills for 21 days, enduring hunger

and exposure. He had been reported dead.

Recovering at Tali, pleased to be alive,

Forrest reflected on his loss in a letter to

Balfour: “In the sack

of Tsekou, I have

lost everything; 700

species of dried

specimens, 70

species of plant

seeds, my camera

and over 50

negatives of

plants…Worst of all

I have lost the

greater part of the

season and this

grieves me more

than anything.”

Forrest soon

earned a reputation

as a meticulous,

prolific collector of

plant specimens and

seeds, whose

botanical

observations

were also of

great value to scientists. On all his

expeditions, dried plant specimens were

sent back to the Royal Botanic Garden

Edinburgh for identification and naming.

The Garden also received material for

propagation, as well as the wealth of

photographs Forrest took.

Some of his expeditions

were sponsored by syndicates

of individuals and

organisations with an interest

in natural history, and he was

contracted to collect not only

plants, but birds, mammals and

insects too. Forrest became

quite an expert at taxidermy!

Several species were eventually

described as new to science and

named in his honour. Many of his

collections, including pheasants,

squirrels and butterflies, are

held by the Natural History

Museum, London.

The extraordinary extent of Forrest’s

collections was thanks in no small part to

the fact that he had a great talent for

training helpers. He recruited collectors

familiar with the lie of the land from the

native tribes, especially the Naxi; and relied

on a core group of collectors headed up by

the trusty Lao Chao. These people would

scour the mountainsides at different times

of year, often in Forrest’s absence. The

result is that Forrest was able to amass

more plant material in the course of

one season than some of his rival

plant collectors.

Forrest died of a heart attack while out

in the field, on 6 January 1932, not far from

his base at Tengyueh. He was just over a

year into his seventh expedition, funded by

a syndicate of 39 sponsors.


Reader offer

Order your copy of George Forrest, Plant Hunter

before 30 June 2004 and pay only £26

(recommended retail price £29.50). Plus,

postage and packing is free*. Send your contact

details and cheque payment to: Publications

Department, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh,

20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR.

If you wish to pay by credit card, please phone

Ellie Carter on tel. 0131 248 2991 or email

[email protected]

*Free postage and packing applies to UK orders

only. Overseas prices on request – please

contact us by phone, email or post as above.

Forrest's remarkable life's story is told in vivid and

fascinating detail in a new biography, due out in April.

Brenda McLean’s new book George Forrest, Plant Hunter is

the culmination of many years of meticulous research.

Brenda (below) has delved into the letters and

photographs housed in the RBGE archives, as well as

correspondence kept by Forrest’s descendants, and

material held elsewhere.The

breadth of her research has

resulted in a book that sheds

new light on the man, and

reveals new information about

Forrest’s sponsors – individuals

and syndicates who funded

his seven expeditions for

various purposes.

Extensive quotations from Forrest’s letters and

writings reveal his personal observations, ambitions

and emotions in a distinct voice.

George Forrest, Plant Hunter is published in hardback

later this spring by Antique Collectors’ Club in

association with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh,

retail price £29.50.The 240 pages are sumptuously

illustrated with Forrest’s own black and white photos

as well as contemporary colour plates.


Forrest centenary at the Botanics

Come and learn more about the life and

legacy of George Forrest between 3 April and

27 June in the Exhibition Hall. A unique

exhibition tells of his travels and shows the

plant hunter’s own fascinating photographs,

along with various artefacts.

From 1 April to 30 June the Garden Guides

present ‘In the footsteps of George Forrest’, a 90-

minute tour exploring the species introduced

by George Forrest (many are original plants or

their direct descendents!).Tours run daily at

11am and 2pm from the West Gate; tickets sell

at £3 (£2.50 concession) from the Shop.

In April, author Brenda McLean will talk at

the Botanics about Forrest's life and the

fascinating discoveries she has made in the

course of her research. Signed copies of

her book will be on sale. For details of the

date and venue, visit www.rbge.org.uk

or tel. 0131 248 2991.

Packing crates of seeds and specimens collected in

the 1913 season, ready for despatch – Frank Kingdon

Ward’s haul (right) and Forrest’s (left). These two

photos accompanied a letter to JC Williams in 1914,

which read: “I enclose prints of Ward’s collection and my

own… Comparisons are vile but this one justifies itself.”

These are examples of Forrest’s herbarium

specimens, his more than 20 field note books, and

his specimen labels in safekeeping at RBGE.

Lady Amherst pheasants (Chrysolophus amherstiae), bagged for the zoological collector Lord

Rothschild in 1922. Below the long tails are stacks of plant specimens between papers. Forrest

gained a reputation as a fine collector not only of plants, but of animal specimens.

New Forrest biography

Forrest also photographed the native tribes of Yunnan and wrote

in detail about their culture in letters home. This picture is captioned

“Lo-ma-dé Lissoo group in the Salwin Valley. Consul Litton

[Forrest’s friend] in background.”

Inverleith

The Garden at Inverleith is an urban oasis

for Edinburgh’s birds and birdwatchers.“Stand still for a moment and listen,” says

RBGE conifer specialist and keen bird-

watcher Robert Mill. “That’s the secret for

hearing and then seeing so much more. If

you learn to recognise bird calls and songs,

you’ll be aware of so many

more species than you’ll

actually see.”

The birds of Inverleith

are mostly common urban

garden species, present in

large numbers and relatively

tame, so it’s an excellent

place to familiarise yourself with their

appearance, behaviour and song.

“The Garden’s different habitats attract a

range of species,” explains

Robert. “The conifers are

home to coal tits, great tits,

siskins, finches and the tiny

goldcrest, Britain’s smallest

bird – listen out for its thin,

high-pitched call. The

dense, shrubby areas such

as the Chinese Hillside and

Copse are good for

bullfinches all year

round and attract blackcaps in

spring and summer. The wilder area

behind the Beech Hedge is another

good place to listen out for the

lovely rippling cadence of the

willow warbler.”

Another birder among the Garden’s staff

is Curator of the British Herbarium Douglas

McKean. From his office, he enjoys watching

long-tailed tits performing

acrobatics on the delicate

twigs of the birch trees

outside the window. As the

longest-standing member of

staff, he’s seen changes in the

Garden’s birdlife over the

past 30 years.

“Hawfinches were once

seen every year in May and

attracted many birdwatchers

to the Garden, but they haven’t been seen

since the 1980s,” he says. “We don’t know

why, perhaps there are so many nest-

raiding magpies in the Garden now, or

because the sparrowhawks are back in

force – they are now breeding here, and

you see little puffs of feathers around the

Garden where a pigeon met a

sparrowhawk!”

In May, the Dawn Chorus walks at

6.30am are a special opportunity to enjoy

the songs and scents of the early morning.

RSPB’s Mike Betts will be the guide to the

Garden’s birds and birdsong, while Garden

Guide Cathy Bell will seek out the scented

flowers whose fragrance is strongest in

early morning.

Songsof Springtime

As you enjoy the wonderful sights and scents of the Gardens in spring, listen out for the backdrop of birdsong. The increase in

daylight that awakens plantlife also triggers hormone changes in birds, and they begin to sing – proclaiming breeding space and

attracting a mate. Garden staff and Guides share their tips for bird-watching – and listening – in RBGE’s four Gardens.

Benmore

Garden Supervisor Neil McCheyne takes us

on a tour of Benmore’s birdlife.“On entering the Garden, pause while

crossing the footbridge over the river

Eachaig and you’re likely see at least one of

our resident dippers. These hardy birds

love the shallow, fast-flowing water and are

unique among song birds in being able to

feed underwater. They are one of the first

species to breed and may be nesting as

early as March.

Among the tall trees of the Eachaig

Arboretum and Redwood Avenue you are

in the domain of the chaffinch, goldcrest,

siskin, tree creeper, as well as blue, great

and coal tits.

Look for smooth, round depressions in

the soft fibrous bark of the redwood trunks

– these are small shelters excavated by tree

creepers. They make shelters at different

positions around the tree so they’re

protected whatever the prevailing wind.

It’s a common sight to see these industrious

birds working up in a spiralling direction

from the base of the large trees,

searching in all the nooks and crannies

for tasty morsels.

Around March, life returns to the Formal

Garden and robins, great tits, chaffinches

and greenfinches sit at the very tips of the

conifers proclaiming their territories and

inviting prospective mates to come for a

closer look. Pied wagtails return from their

wintering grounds in England and France

and proudly strut around the lawns leaping

up to catch any passing insects.

Many people associate the cuckoo with

the coming of spring but I think that the

return of the chiffchaff in late March is the

first real promise of finer days ahead. They

can be found on the hillside around the

viewpoint area where there is a mixture of

tall, mature trees – which they sing from –

and light scrub where they nest on the

ground. Another small bird that enjoys the

same conditions is the willow warbler,

which returns during early April. Its

cascading song is a real joy.

In the Chilean

Rainforest Glade you

may be fortunate

enough to encounter

hen harriers. The

openness of the

young plantings is

ideal for hunting small

birds and mammals,

and the heather-

covered slopes

beyond are perfect

for nesting. Here,

early in the morning,

you could be treated

to the strange, bubbling call of the black

grouse, one of our rarest native birds.

Logan

“The trills and chatter of finches and tits

greet you as you enter the Garden,” says

Curator Barry Unwin.“We feed the birds regularly here,

attracting siskins, greenfinches and

chaffinches, and you’ll see blue, coal and

great tits all year

round. Once we even

had a hawfinch

feeding on melon

seeds that we’d left

out. Flocks of long-

tailed tits fly over in

the winter and early

spring, and crossbills

are occasionally seen

in the area by the shop, opening pine cones

to get at the seed.

Chiffchaff can be seen and heard

anytime from mid-March, and by April

willow warblers will be singing throughout

the Garden. Wheatears are often seen on

the drive, as well as the first swallows, sand

martins and house martins. In the past few

years, the house martins have nested in the

Discovery Centre and their bubbling trills

can be heard around that area.

Several pairs of barn owls nest nearby.

Obviously they usually hunt at dusk, but

when bad weather or windy nights prevent

them doing so, they will hunt in the day, and

they’re sometimes seen and heard at the

end of the drive.

In early April the willow

warbler returns from its

wintering quarters in West Africa

and serenades the spring with its

rippling song. PHOTO: LAURIE

CAMPBELL

The great-spotted woodpecker needs

standing dead wood or mature trees for its nest

holes – Benmore’s Arboretum and Dawyck’s

woodlands fit the bill. PHOTO: LAURIE CAMPBELL

The Garden’s

different habitats

attract a range

of species.

Little birds line

their nests with

the soft, fine hairs

from the crowns

of the tree ferns.

DAWN CHORUS WALKS

Inverleith:Wednesday 7 & 14

April at 5am (part of Science

Festival); Saturday 1 May &

Wednesday 5 May, 6.30am.

Dawyck: Sunday 16 May, 4am.

For booking details see the Events

Programme or visit

www.rbge.org.uk

The birds of Inverleith are mostly common

garden species, but the more unusual visitors

include night herons from a feral colony at

Edinburgh Zoo. Night herons are much smaller

than common herons, and, despite their name,

can be seen in the day. PHOTO: DEBBIE WHITE


The dipper delights visitors to Benmore with its chirping

song, which evolved to be heard above the sound of running

water. PHOTO: LAURIE CAMPBELL


Dawyck

At Dawyck, a special treat awaits

early birds who make it along to the

dawn chorus walk.The wild beauty of Dawyck’s woodlands is

at its most magical in the springtime, and as

the succession of flowers burst into bloom,

so the bird song builds to a crescendo as

spring progresses. Early in March, only the

resident species will be singing, such as

chaffinch, blackbird, great tit,

blue tit and robin (below

right), and perhaps dippers

chirping from the burn.

Then the summer migrants

begin to arrive, and as well as

chiffchaffs and willow

warblers, blackcaps bring bursts of rich,

pure notes and wood warblers add their

sweet trills to the chorus. By mid-May, all

the migrants will have arrived, even late

arrivals such as the spotted flycatcher, and

the bird song is at its peak.

At that time, the dawn chorus is

spectacular, and according to local birder

Damion Willcock, the experience is well

worth getting out of bed for! He will be

leading an early morning walk, starting at

4am, on Sunday 16 May. “We start so

early so that we can pick out the

species one by one as they join the

chorus,” he explains. “Invariable a

song thrush or robin will be first…so

it continues until 20 or 30 species

might be singing simultaneously. At

that hour of the morning, tawny

owls should still be out and we’ll use

CD recordings to ‘strike up a

rapport’ with them. As well as

several warbler species, we should find

redstart – a real stunner – and hope to

locate nuthatch.”

The nuthatch is among the Garden’s star

attractions as Dawyck is one of the few

places in Scotland where this species is

found. Shaped like a mini-woodpecker, it

can be seen climbing up and down trees,

and its clear song has been described as “a

man whistling for his dog.”

“Some dead wood is left and this

encourages a more diverse

invertebrate range, therefore

providing a greater food source for

many species,” says Damion.

“Mature and decaying trees provide

nest holes for birds such as

woodpeckers, nuthatch and tawny

owl. The extensive beech forest is

particularly favoured by redstart and wood

warbler; a dense understory in parts of the

Garden enables ground nesters such as

warblers to breed, while sunny glades

provide feeding sites for redstart and

spotted flycatcher.”

There are plenty of birds of prey in and

around the Garden – buzzards, kestrels and

sparrowhawks are quite common, and

peregrines fly over the Garden in spring.

Hen harriers can sometimes be seen in

the nearby fields and osprey, red kite

and merlin have all been sighted at this

time of year.

The birds certainly make use of the

exotic plantings at Logan – little birds such

as chaffinch and goldfinch line their nests

with the very soft, fine hairs from the

crowns of the tree ferns, and other birds

are seen flying to and from the chusan

palms (below), taking the fibres for

their nests.

The unveiling of the architects’ plans is the

culmination of thorough consultation with

management and staff of

the Garden as well as with

visitors. The new building,

to be sited at the West

Gate, will provide an

exciting introduction to the

Garden, with temporary

and permanent exhibitions as well as live

interpretation exploring the world of plants;

visitor information and reception; a rooftop

restaurant and shop.

The architects Edward Cullinan are

refining their ideas for a low-impact,

‘porous’ building moulded to the contours

of the Garden, and a process of public

communication will get underway following

the completion of Stage C. A drop-in

session to view the 3D model is planned,

and liaison groups have been created.

“We have invited the involvement of

community and business liaison groups to

encourage interest in the project and give

people an avenue to stay informed,” says

Press and Marketing Officer Clara Govier.

The community liaison group is made up

of local leaders, and the business and

tourism liaison group comprises

representatives from key players such as

Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland.

“Anyone is welcome to get in touch with

members of the community

liaison group to find out more

about the project,” adds Clara

Govier. “Further plans for

keeping visitors and residents

abreast of developments include

media coverage, regular updates

on the RBGE website www.rbge.org.uk and

information in the Garden itself once

construction gets underway.” The

architects’ plans and frequently asked

questions about the project are currently

available on the website. Further questions

and comments may be sent to

[email protected]

As the project develops, the challenge is

to raise the necessary funds – this is well

underway. Charged with the fundraising

effort is RBGE’s Campaign Board, headed

up by Royal Bank of Scotland chairman, Sir

George Mathewson. RBGE’s Development

Manager, Jackie Whalen, commented: “The

Garden is fortunate to have such a

committed Campaign Board who are

passionate about communicating the

importance of the Gateway.” Regius

Keeper Stephen Blackmore added: “We are

delighted to be receiving significant

contributions for the Gateway Project and

will report on these in a future issue.”

At the time of going to press, the date for the

public drop-in session had not been confirmed.

Please visit our website www.rbge.org.uk for

an announcement, or email

[email protected]

This spring the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will present architects’ plans and a three-

dimensional model of the proposed Gateway facility, expected to be completed in 2007. Visitors

and residents have the opportunity to get involved in further stages of the project, now that what is

known as the Stage C (viability) report is nearing completion.

An architect’s cross-section

visual of the building and landscape,

seen from the south-east.

Drawings of new Gateway unveiled

The challenge is to

raise the necessary

funds – this is

well underway.

An artist’s impression of the new Gateway and West

Gate entrance, looking outwards from within the Garden.


At the very northern edge of the nuthatch’s

range, Dawyck offers a rare opportunity to see this

beautiful bird in Scotland. PHOTO: LAURIE CAMPBELL

The nuthatch

is among the

Garden’s star

attractions



IIn the early 19th century, Scottish doctor

Robert Wight travelled

extensively throughout

southern India, working

as a plant taxonomist.

With the help of Indian

collectors he assembled a

vast herbarium collection

and described a

remarkable number of

genera and species. He also

produced a renowned series

of illustrated books on the

southern

Indian flora.

His collections are now widely scattered in

major herbaria, but one of the most

important – containing 23,000 specimens – is

housed at RBGE, having come with the

University of Glasgow’s herbarium in 1966. In

addition, 500 of the original paintings

commissioned for Wight’s books were tucked

away in the RBGE library’s extensive

illustrations archive. RBGE taxonomist

Henry Noltie came across these paintings in

the course of his work on the Indian flora,

and realised the rather crude black and white

reproductions in Wight’s books gave no hint

of the incredible quality of the original

watercolours by two Indian artists – Rungiah

and Govindoo.

In 2002, Henry embarked on an extensive

research project to conserve the paintings,

catalogue the corresponding herbarium

specimens and produce a book on the

paintings and Wight’s life and work in India.

“In many other collections of

Indian botanical drawings, the

related herbarium specimens

have been lost,” he explains.

“This collection is so important

because we have both elements

and because of the level of

scientific documentation. The

paintings are not just

decorative but incredibly

accurate, and each herbarium

sheet has a fascinating

layered history.”

Despite spending four months in Madras

searching for clues, Henry was unable to

discover any more details about the artists

themselves.“It was relatively unusual at the

time to credit the artists,” he says.“I’d be

interested to know what they were doing

before this Scot commissioned them to paint

plants for him. They may have worked in

temples painting religious stories, or perhaps

they were cloth painters.”

While the details of the artists’ lives may

be lost, this project ensures that their work

will be conserved, celebrated

and appreciated by a

far wider audience.

Indian treasures unearthedIn ‘Gifts to the Garden’ of the autumn 2003 issue, we reported a

£10,000 donation toward the conservation of watercolours

commissioned by Robert Wight. Here’s the story behind the story.


The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

welcomes grants and donations to help

continue its commitment to plant

conservation, educational programmes and

scientific research in 40 countries worldwide.

Here’s a round-up of recent gifts.

Patrons’ gifts in 2003 reached £73,822 – a

wonderful achievement. Thanks to their

support the Garden has been able to

achieve a range of successes, such as: telling

1,000 children from 19 schools more about

plants through The Rainforest Roadshow;

mounting 10,000 plant specimens for

research; publishing Sibbaldia, RBGE’s new

journal of horticulture and supplying a

specialist vehicle for the Garden’s tree

surgery team.

RBGE’s Dr Pete Hollingsworth and his

team received an additional £15,000 from

English Nature towards on-going work in

conservation genetics research.

The Idlewild Trust has awarded the Garden

a grant of £2,000 towards a Plant Archive

Project which will help conserve Vietnam’s

biodiversity for future generations.

The Garden has received a £5,400 grant

from the Government of Bhutan to

undertake the first part of a feasibility

study into the development of a new

3,800ha botanical park.

Thanks also go to two anonymous donors

who recently donated £5,000 and £1,700 in

support of the Garden’s work.

The Garden has already received significant

donations toward the Gateway Project (see

page 11). Details of these will be published

in future issues.

If you wish like to make a donation toward

the Garden’s work in science, horticulture,

conservation and education, please contact

the Development Office, tel. 0131 2482866 or

e-mail Becky Govier, [email protected]

Gifts to the Garden

You may hear about plant collecting trips to exotic places,

or be familiar with plant specimens catalogued and

preserved in a herbarium, but the painstaking work that

goes on between these stages is mostly invisible to the

outside world. Anna Levin goes behind the scenes to meet

Herbarium Mounter Rita Calder.

Rita tends to delicately beautiful plant specimens

suspended in a spirit solution. PHOTO: DEBBIE WHITE

A Pressing Task

New face for DevelopmentMike Robinson recently joined the National

Botanic Gardens of Scotland as Head of

Development, following the departure of

Janice Reilly in November 2003. Having

spent ten years with the Royal Society for

the Protection of Birds (RSPB) as Head of

Marketing, Mike brings with him

considerable experience in the promotion

of membership and giving initiatives. He

adds, “I’ve always been passionate about

the environment, and joining the Garden is

a great privilege. I look forward to raising

awareness and support of the Garden’s

work even further, and meeting the

exciting challenges that such a high-profile

project as the Gateway presents.”

n the autumn 2003 issue of The Botanics

(page 5) we reported on the key training

objectives of this three-year project.

Designed as a handbook for local

foresters, farmers and students, the new

Spanish-language tree guide (whose title

translates as Useful trees of the Amazon and

their utilisation) is the first of its kind and has

been desperately needed in this region. It

will serve as a vital source

of information about

the identification,

propagation, care and

harvesting of 140

economically useful

Amazonian trees –

sustainable sources of

fruits and timber which

could provide much-

needed income to small-

scale farmers.

“The greatest threat to

the Peruvian Amazon is slash

and burn clearing by subsistence farmers,”

explains RBGE’s Toby Pennington, co-author

of the guide along with his father Terry

(based at RBG Kew) and Carlos Reynel (of

the University of La Molina, Lima).

“Essentially the purpose of the project is to

encourage sustainable forestry on a small,

local scale. The hard plant science bit of the

project involved drawing up an inventory of

potentially useful trees and identifying them

properly – in many cases only their local

Spanish names were known.” The project

has consolidated information about

traditional uses of trees, as well as revealed

some new uses.

A prime example is the leguminous

Cedrelinga cateniformis, a widespread

Amazonian tree. “Its wood is an excellent

alternative to sought-after

mahogany,” explains Toby. “It is

faster growing than mahogany

and can be easily and

sustainably cultivated in a

plantation. The trials look good

– this tree is potentially a very

valuable source of income for

small farmers, and will

hopefully slow the demand

for the threatened

mahogany.” Other tree

species have been

earmarked for their fruits, which are suitable

for local markets.

“We hope that this free guide will help

the inhabitants of the Peruvian Amazon to

exploit the diversity of tree species in a

sustainable way, leading to a better future

for both the people and the forest,” Toby

concludes. “But our work is not done – we

are applying for further funding to build on

the achievements of the last three years.”

IThe recent publication of a free, user-friendly guide to the useful trees of the Peruvian

Amazon marked the final phase of a major Darwin Initiative project based at the

Garden, ‘Tree diversity and agroforestry development in the Peruvian Amazon’.

Shrubbier stalks of pressed, dried specimens are

carefully sewn to the card to secure them. Here, the card

is punched before sewing. PHOTO: DEBBIE WHITE

A market stall in

Amazonian Peru with wild-

harvested fruits of the

rainforest tree Rollinia

mucosa. PHOTO: ANDREW

MCROBB (RBG KEW)

he shelves of Rita Calder’s office are

stacked high with newspapers from

throughout the past century and from all

over the world – The Wall St Journal,

Jakarta Post, Sunday Times of

India and Mexican tabloids. This

is not an international cuttings

agency but the RBGE

Herbarium, and each folded

sheet of newspaper contains

carefully pressed plant

specimens from

botanical expeditions.

Rita’s role as Herbarium Mounter

involves preparing the pressed plants for

storage and study in the Herbarium. The

first task is to lay out the specimens in small

batches, showing the different parts that a

botanist may need to study, such as fronts

and backs of leaves, flowers and fruits. Each

one is labelled and a ‘capsule’ is attached –

a small envelope containing loose specimen

pieces, which can be used for microscope

studies and other research.

The specimens are then glued to the

sheets using PVA glue, with a sheet of tissue

and sheets of blotting paper placed

between each specimen. Each batch is

weighed down, using small weights or old

telephone directories! To finish off, any

fragile sections such as the points of leaves

are taped down; shrubbier stalks are sewn

to the card and the stitches secured with

tape – it’s intricate, fiddly work.

“If it has been pressed well, you can see

the relevant details such as the seed heads

of the plant,” Rita explains. “They are

botanical specimens intended for scientific

use, so it’s important that the information

is displayed, but it’s also creative

and beautiful.”

Most specimens are preserved in this

way, but for some research, the

structure of the plant needs to

be maintained, and so

specimens are also preserved in

a ‘Copenhagen solution’ of

glycerol, distilled water and

meths. These are housed in the

aptly-named ‘spirit room’

below the herbarium. The

solution maintains the

structure but takes the

colour out of the plant, so

there are jars and jars

containing strange,

translucent forms, like the

ghosts of plants from

expeditions long ago.

Rita checks all the

specimens regularly, topping

up the spirit where

necessary.

“I love coming down

here,” she says, “you see some weird and

wonderful things. Many of them are quite

exquisite.”

The jars are all numbered, and

correspond to dried samples

in the Herbarium

above. Sample

3022 contains

miniature orchids – the delicate, paper-thin,

colourless flowers float like mysterious

sea creatures.

Rita is assisted by a small team of

“wonderful, dedicated and creative”

volunteers, but still her workload is

colossal. Together they mount an average

of 115 specimens a week, but with

collections arriving from ongoing

expeditions as well as donations and loans

from an international network of research

institutions, there is now a backlog of more

than 20,000 specimens waiting to be

processed.

“There is a lot to do,

but I just get on with it,”

she says. “I’m often

working on my own here

and people ask if I get

lonely – but I don’t have

time, I’m so absorbed in

what I’m doing. I enjoy

looking at plants from

different areas and

occasionally going to a talk

or slide show about a

particular expedition. Sometimes it’s like

going on a botanical world tour from your

own wee room.”

These are botanical

specimens for

scientific use, but

they are also creative

and beautiful.

T

A brighter future for Peru’s forests and farmers

The Herbarium Open Day on

Tuesday 6 April offers a rare glimpse

behind the scenes, a chance to

meet some RBGE scientists and see

plant specimens collected over

hundreds of years. Come along to

one of the four 1.5 hour tours,

starting from the Exhibition Hall at

10.30am, 12 noon, 2pm and

3.30pm. Numbers are limited, so

come early to secure your place!

Pete Brownless takes us on a tour of the world'shardy gesneriads, in search of an inspiring challengefor gardens back home.

Green fingers in mind

pring brings some of the highlights of

the Members’ calendar – the annual

Plant Sale and Members’ Auction.

Both events are a wonderful opportunity to

stock up a new garden, or augment an

existing one, with a great variety of plants at

bargain prices, as well as having a fun outing,

gleaning some horticultural tips from the

experts and raising thousands of pounds

towards the vital work of the Garden.

The Auction, exclusive to members, is

always a special night, and

Nursery staff are promising

some sizeable

Rhododendron, Viburnum

and Sorbus specimens as

well as a range of alpines

among this year’s lots. All

plants are now supplied

with a laminated ‘certificate

of origin’ – proof of your plants ‘pedigree’ as

required by the Convention on Biological

Diversity to ensure that all plants of world

heritage value can be traced.

Members have been busy all year

preparing for the Plant Sale, with very

successful propagation and cuttings

workshops held in the Garden Nursery last

autumn to grow plants for the Sale. Seed-

grown Meconopsis from the previous year’s

workshop are now ready for sale and feature

among the varied collection:

“We’ve got a mix of annuals, perennials

and biennials,” says Caroline Pearson who is

organising this year’s Sale,“as well as

shrubs, trees, alpines, conservatory plants,

climbing plants, and water plants – there

really is something for everyone!”

This year, for the first time, Benmore

Members are holding their own Plant Sale

in the Courtyard, featuring a range of

plants from Benmore and Inverleith.

Rhododendron seedlings from David

Younger’s garden are among the special

things on offer to bring a Benmore

connection to your own garden.

Volunteers are needed for the Plant Sales, as

are contributions of plants and home

baking. Please contact Caroline Pearson

(Edinburgh) tel. 0131 441 2328 or Sandy

Smith (Benmore) tel. 01369 704 435.

Take home a botanical treasure

Members’ Auction: 8 April

Edinburgh Plant Sale: 16 May

Benmore Plant Sale: 22 May

Memberswith


S

Horticulturists Lucy Young and Ross Irvine

re-potting cuttings for the Plant Sale in May.


Four new faces represent the interests of

Members on the National Board. They are,

from left to right, Ray Perman, Gabrielle

Reynolds, Alex Elder and Sandy Smith. Ray

and Alex were appointed Ordinary

Members of the Board at the AGM on 10

December 2003. Gabrielle was voted

Convener of the Logan Regional Committee

on 7 February this year, while Sandy Smith

took up his place as Convener of the

Benmore Committee on 19 February.

he first tour, in May, will visit the

Gardens of Wessex. The packed schedule

for this four-day tour promises 11

magnificent gardens, while still finding time

to explore the history of this

former kingdom, with trips

to Wells Cathedral and

Sherborne Abbey.

Among the gardens selected

are two designed by Harold Peto:

the romantic Italian Garden at

Ilford Manor and the three-acre

Wayford Manor, noted for its

magnolias and acers. Other

highlights include the enchanting formal

garden at Barrington Court and the

exotic flowering trees and shrubs of

Minterne Gardens.

In June, there is a wonderful opportunity

to travel to the Bernese Oberland, where a

profusion of wild flowers bloom in the grassy

alpine meadows and lush pastures. Walks

include the Eiger glacier and Valley

of Flowers; and painting sessions

with resident artist Jane Butters will

offer the chance to record this

breathtaking, inspiring scenery.

Members head for South East

England in July, home to some of

the country's finest gardens. The

‘jewel in the crown’ is undoubtedly

Sissinghurst, created by Vita

Sackville-West and Harold Nicholson, which

tour leader Geoffrey White describes as “an

unending source of inspiration and as close to

gardening perfection as you can get”. The

varied programme also takes in the colourful

modern borders of Merriments Gardens and

the old formal garden of 17th century manor

house Squerryes Court.

A series of day trips also runs throughout

the summer season. In May, there is an

opportunity to admire feature shrubs and

rhododendrons in two private gardens in

Perthshire, as well as an evening outing to the

dramatic Arnot Tower with its ten acres of

garden and views over Loch Leven and the

Ochil Hills. In June, a trip to two walled

gardens in Fife takes in the six acre garden at

Wemyss Castle and the Victorian garden of

Cambo House near St Andrews.

For more information about these trips

contact the Membership Office,

tel. 0131 552 5339.

English country gardens to Swiss mountain meadows

New appointees to the National Membership Board.

Knoll Gardens (above left), another highlight

of the Wessex tour, was developed from a

private botanic garden into an informal English

garden. At Cranborne Manor Garden (above

right), Members can admire an enclosed herb

garden and a nursery garden featuring old

and shrub roses.

T

This summer, RBGE Members’ tours take in the delights of English Gardens

and the wild flowers of the Swiss mountains.

This year

Benmore

Members are

holding their

own Plant Sale.

A profusion

of wild flowers

bloom in the

grassy alpine

meadows.

Thematic plantings appear to be the hardy

perennials of the past decade, but the next step is to

develop a theme that nobody else

has thought of. Choosing a plant

collector could be an

interesting starting point.

This year the Garden

celebrates the centenary of

George Forrest’s first

expedition to Yunnan, China,

so this is a timely issue to

explore a Forrest theme.

For a shady woodland

corner, a foil of Rodgersia

pinnata, (Forrest number

440) collected in forest

margins in south-west

China could be very effective. Luxuriant frond-like

leaves burst from the rhizomes in spring. In July and

August many branched panicles of hundreds

of pink flowers are produced, extending to

about a meter in height and in autumn the

leaves turn russet-orange and flame-red. It can

be easily increased by divisions in the autumn

or spring.

As a contrast for the front of the border,

how about the strong, vertical leaves of Iris

chrysographes (Forrest number S421). From

May to June, it will produce an exuberant

display of deep violet flowers, each suffused with a

broad golden vein. In the autumn and winter, the

seed heads can be left for statuesque decorative

effect. It can be propagated in the same manner as

the Rodgersia.

In the foreground, try the dwarf evergreen shrub

Rhododendron saluenense, which grows to only 60 cm.

Throughout late March and April, it is bejewelled

with over-sized rose- purple flowers.

Forrest number 5862 is one

of the best, now known

as R. saluenense ssp.

chameunum. It is one

of the easier

rhododendrons to

propagate from semi-

ripe basal cuttings in

summer; a little base heat

will speed rooting.

These plants can be found in

many parts of RBGE’s four Gardens,

and it’s a testimony to the early plant

collectors that such plants are readily

available to plant in your garden.Take a

look at the bottom left of the Garden’s labels to

identify the plant collectors, and have fun creating

your own collector-based thematic plantings –

and challenge visitors to your garden to

identify your theme!

Pete Brownless is Head of the Garden Nursery

Email [email protected]

Iris chrysographes

Rhododendron saluenense

A Forrest (under)storyChoosing a plant collector as a theme for your garden is novel and fun,

says Pete Brownless.

science festival fun - royal botanic garden edinburgh · most of the science festival events are...

Documents