Crug Farm Plants are well known for their large selection of unusual plants, and despite having been buying plants from Crug for many years we had not managed to visit until recently. Our lack of visiting had long passed being embarrassing, as Sue and Bleddyn usually reminded us each time we saw them at a show or exhibition. However finally, we made the trip to North Wales.
We had opted to stay for a few days in the area, having a break at the coast, and of course enjoying visits to some of the world famous castles that Wales is renowned for.
But more about castles and coastline later, our first (and also last) stop on our trip was to Crug, we had selected a number of plants, and as we were staying in a hotel, left the plants until our final afternoon, when we went back to collect - and saw more of the growing areas, picking out a handful more plants of course.
We started our visit with a tour round the gardens, packed full of fabulous plants, many collected by Sue and Bleddyn, and showing that if thy can thrive in North Wales, then they should be hardy and thrive elsewhere.
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| Rubus sp. |
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| Veratrum sp. |
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| One of the very many Schefflera in the garden |
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| Mark listening intently to Bleddyn |
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| Rodgersia sp. |
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| A very tall and slender Schefflera |
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| Podophyllum pleianthum |
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| schefflera macrophylla |
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| Schefflera chapana |
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| Schefflera taiwania |
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| Exbucklandia populnea growing up against the house. |
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| Sinopanax formosanus |
After the garden tour, we headed in to the various polytunnels and it was time to start shopping. Packed full of even more amazing plants, we had to control ourselves as we were somewhat like kids in a sweet shop. At several points we spotted a gem, only to learn that it was a propagation plant ns sadly not yet available - even more reasons to visit again.
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| Schefflera bodinieri |
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| Picking out aspidistra |
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| oreopanax sp. |
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| Piper heydei |
Finally, and this was on the second visit a tour round the growing fields - I didn't take as many photos as would normally do, getting caught up in the plant discussions as well as hearing the stories first hand about how and where particular plants came from, or the trial and tribulations of trying to prop a particularly fickle plant.
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| Sorbus hedlundii |
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| Iris chrysograohes |
And then there is that view, across to Mount Snowdon.
We managed quite a car full, although perhaps there was space for a few more.
Lots of reason to go back again, now we have the bug.
Gaz
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Nurseries like that are one in a million and deserve to be treasured. I'm glad to see that the two of you are getting back in the groove.
ReplyDeleteSo glad we were able to visit this time, so many treasures!
DeleteI had no idea this was your first visit--although I should have known since you'd said elsewhere that you'd never been to Wales.
ReplyDeleteI would have been a bit star-struck, seeing how Sue and Bleddyn are superstars in the plant world!
They certainly are, and so helpful and accommodating too!
DeleteYou know you're making a lot of people very, very envious ;)
ReplyDeleteSo interesting to see the different habits of growth of the scheffleras. That S. taiwania is so very shrubby and fully leafed out from top to bottom. Long ago I once made it up to a castle in Wales too, called Powys. What a fun trip!
Powys is on the cards, another place to visit for plants people :)
DeleteLike Gerhard I had no idea you'd never been to Crug Farm! Thanks for taking us along, and I'd like one of those lovely center striped aspidistra please.
ReplyDeleteI'm positively green with envy! Would love to visit.
ReplyDelete