Download PDFSpring 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 about 3.30pm with homemade teas and another opportunity to talk and walk around Llanover Gardens.

Wednesday 24th February
Keith Wiley – Wildside- taking naturalistic planting to a new level
New gardens by pure plantsmen are rare and in the  garden started in 2004 from a bare field in Devon by Keith and Ros Wiley, plants come first.  In this talk Keith follows the development of their garden from its modest beginnings and shows how they are attempting to make it look good every month of the year. To quote The Garden (February 2008) they are creating a  ‘dazzling new garden...the perfect showcase for his radical and exciting ideas on planting’ which in time ‘will surely change the perception of future gardeners’.
(For further information please visit www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/..)

Christine Skelmersdale – The wonderful world of the Iris
Christine, a member of the RHS Iris committee has travelled widely observing Iris in their habitats which extend from cold and montane regions to grassy slopes, meadowlands and riverbanks.  Their uses are equally diverse ranging from a flavouring in gin to an insecticide or as ornamental plants -  there is an Iris to flower each month between November and July.  Christine will share her knowledge about some of the 300 species, and give practical advice on their cultivation and propagation.

Friday 5th March
Noel Kingsbury – Forms and foliage
Noels keen eye for shape and colour, combined with his PhD research in perennial plants means he knows how to make foliage work horticulturally and visually in a range of garden styles and environments.  Using examples from his landscape design projects he can illustrate the different uses of foliage whether it is clipped or kept in its natural form.

Tim Richardson – Avant Gardeners
Tim is a Trustee of the Garden History Society and serves on the National Trust’s gardens advisory committee but today he will be wearing the hat of an honest and opinionated gardening and landscape critic. He will give an illustrated talk covering the most exciting contemporary landscape practices, presenting a look at the most advanced thinking in garden design.

Wednesday 10th March
Bunny Guinness- Transforming  your garden Sold Out
If you don’t think you are making the most of your garden, but are not  sure which way to go, this is the talk for you. Bunny Guinness, the innovative Gold medal winning Landscape Architect, horticulturalist and author, will call upon her extensive experience designing gardens including those with a family-friendly brief  to illustrate her inspirational designs and problems solved.  In additon Bunny will talk about the use of plants, colour,surface materials, water and buildings to dictate the mood of your garden.

Richard Fishbourne – Gardening basics Sold Out
Successful gardening requires effective soil, water & pest management plus good compost. Using various organic methods including worms, green manures and nematodes Richard is going to demonstrate how these factors can be achieved and simultaneously encourage beneficial wildlife into your garden.