Download PDF Autumn 2010 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 at with homemade teas and another opportunity to talk and walk around Llanover Gardens.

Wednesday 6th October Sold Out
Raymond J Evison OBE VMH – The history of clematis and their use in the modern garden
Raymond is an internationally respected expert on Clematis who selects and propagates Clematis cultivars for the world markets at his Guernsey based nursery. He will talk about their history, the range of varieties, give useful tips and ideas for growing Clematis successfully and combining them with other plants.

Christopher Bailes – Brilliant Borders – planting for effect and prolonged display
Christopher Bailes studied and worked at Kew as a Supervisor before becoming Curator of RHS Rosemoor Garden where the herbaceous borders are renown for their colour and long flowering season. Using images to illustrate changing styles from the herbaceous border of the 1980s to contemporary borders he will speak about some of the underlying principles required and good planting techniques, before giving advice on plants to extend the seasons within a border.

Tuesday 12th October
Tony Russell – Trees with ornamental flowers, fruit and foliage
Tony is an enthusiastic speaker and leading authority on temperate trees and shrubs, who was head forester at Westonbirt where he had responsibility for managing and conserving one of the finest arboretums in the world. His work for TV and radio includes ‘Britain's Great Trees’, ‘Plant Invaders’, ‘Inspiring Trees’ and ‘Gardeners Question Time’. An author of numerous books and articles he is currently writing - The RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Trees - to be published in 2011.

Chris Smith – Victorian gardening techniques and heritage vegetables
At Pennard Plants Chris has restored the Victorian walled garden in which he has subsequently grown heritage vegetables, simultaneously discovering the fascinating range of tools and techniques used by the Victorian gardener. This promises to be an interesting and entertaining talk with many observations which could be of use to the gardener today.

Tuesday 19th October
Rosebie Morton – Scented Roses 
Rosebie began growing roses and herbs in her walled garden with the aim of developing a range of scented garden roses, flowers and herbs with all the natural charm, character and heady scent often lost in mass-produced varieties. From these beginnings in 1995 was born,The Real Flower Company, which makes beautiful and scented arrangements and has been awarded ‘Cut Flower Grower of the Year 2009’ and ‘Best Emerging British Luxury Brand 2009’.

This one day course will concentrate on scented roses which are suitable for cutting.The morning will cover the varieties which have proven to be the most popular, how to plant and care for them and give ideas for suitable planting combinations. After lunch Rosebie will demonstrate the art of pruning roses and techniques for creating different styles of arrangements using a wide selection of roses, herbs, foliage and containers.

Thursday 4th November
Stephen Anderton – Six ways to improve your garden
Stephen is well known for his weekly Saturday column for The Times, which twice won him the Garden Writer of the Year award, and has been described as ‘sometimes practical and sometimes cerebral but always well written and informative’ by the RHS. Every garden can do with a simple tweak or unexpected change now and then, to boost its magic. Stephen will show how you can transform even the smallest garden and make it more effective and satisfying, by giving a little imaginative attention to only six aspects of the garden, from your choice of plants and paving, to the way you create entrances and exits.

Russell Coates – The History and Art of Topiary
Russell, from Langley Boxwood Nursery which holds the National Collection of Buxus will talk about the History of Topiary and the merits of different plants which may be used before demonstrating how to create and maintain different shapes.

Tuesday 7th December Sold Out
Wednesday 8th December Sold Out
Wednesday 15th December Sold Out
Christmas Workshops with Emma Lynch
Emma, a creative master florist who in 2007 was awarded ‘Best Independent Florist in Wales’ is returning for the third year running. After demonstrating two of her artistic and sumptuous designs, Emma, with her senior florist Kirsty, will guide and encourage each participant to create their own table arrangement in the morning and festive door wreath after a delicious lunch. All materials except secateurs are provided.