Download PDFAutumn 2008 Programme

Each day at Llanover Garden School begins at 10am with coffee or tea, ahead of the morning session at 10.30am. A seated two course lunch will be served with wine or elderflower, before the afternoon presentation. The day will end with homemade teas and another opportunity to talk and walk around Llanover Gardens.

Thursday 2nd October
Val Bourne - The natural gardener
Val is a renowned author, photographer and columnist for The Daily Telegraph, The English Garden and Homes and Garden magazine. She won the Practical Book of the Year award for the book on which this talk is based. She will introduce some of the natural principles which she follows as a green gardener, and give advice about dealing with tricky problems naturally.

Rosy Hardy - Autumn flowering plants
Rosy's nursery, Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants, has won an impressive twelve gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. Her plantsmanship skills are superb: she selects and propagates only the best. She will bring a variety of plants specially chosen to extend the growing season and to provide autumn colour throughout the different areas of your gardens.

Wednesday 8th October
Dan Butler - Edible fungi foray
We tend to be wary of collecting and eating mushrooms growing in the wild, but a good eye can mean an excellent supper. Dan, a foraging expert, will devote the whole day to identifying fungi in gardens, woods and pastures. Lots of walking and a particularly hearty lunch to sustain you through the afternoon forage.

Monday 13th October
Helena Attlee - Oranges & Azulejos a journey through Portuguese gardens
Following the success of her book about Italian Gardens, Helena has written a beautifully illustrated book on Portuguese gardens, published in spring 2008 to critical acclaim. Expect gorgeous slides and the opportunity to forget about our shorter days and winter chills.

Roy Lancaster - A plantsman's garden
Roy is famous for combining vibrant enthusiasm with expert knowledge. In his own quarter acre garden - overflowing with over 1,000 different varieties - he has to be very selective. Today Roy will recount how he chooses plants for a rare space in his garden, sharing the memories associated with different plants and some of the gardening skills which he uses at home.

Friday 17th October
Timothy Walker - The subtle art and exact science of pruning
Timothy is director of the University of Oxford botanic gardens and the Harcourt arboretum. Pruning can be confusing but armed with the ten principles he gives in this talk you will never fear it again. He will also look at the various classes of pruning, drawing on examples of trees and shrubs commonly found in gardens.

Harriet Rycroft - Bulbs in tubs
Harriet is the head gardener at Whichford potteries. This afternoon she will create a variety of different container designs and demonstrate the layering of bulbs to extend the display. She will also talk about composts and feeding routines.

Wednesday 3rd December
Christmas workshop with Susie Edwards - Decking the halls
With guidance from Susie, participants will create a wired door wreath with seasonal foliage using form, texture and colour. After a delicious lunch, everyone will create a foam based table decoration for Christmas. All materials provided.

Thursday 4th December
Floral demonstration with Susie Edwards - Countdown to Christmas
In this professional demonstration, Susie a former demonstrator for Pulbrook and Gould, will create over 20 different designs in a range of styles, size and material. Although the designs will all have a Christmas theme, many can be adapted to use throughout the year. Proceeds from the raffle of each floral design and a percentage of ticket sales will be given to Breast Cancer Haven.

Monday 8th December
Christmas workshop with Emma Lynch
Emma is a young floral designer who creates beautiful, stylish designs in her shop and for her private clients. After a demonstration, she will help participants to make their own Christmas door wreaths and table arrangements. All materials provided.