Larkspur Nursery

Photo Journal 2010

After a very cold start to the year, with lots of disruption to home and nursery work because of the snow, we were late taking cuttings which put us behind schedule all year. The weather eventually warmed up and became quite splendid during the early summer for a time. Unfortunately heavy rain at the beginning of June made our new delphinium bed look like a tsunami had been through it but it did recover and later in the month we had some decent blooms. Our tunnel was a delight as ever and our first Open Days saw us greet customers and neighbours and was very enjoyable. Our plant fairs went well with only one cold event and despite the economic downturn gardeners were still shopping for those rare plants, doesn't every one need at least one splendid delphinium in their garden? Our Abutilon collection has grown well, in spite of the cold temperatures, and we had lots of interest in them. Our delphinium seed harvest was as ever rescued by our family, who are thankfully making August seed cleaning a regular fixture in their holiday plans, where would we be without you! We grew lots of delphinium seedlings again in 2010 and we are very pleased with the plants produced.

Unfortunately our dear pest control operative, Scout, caught cat flu and died in the summer and the whole family, as well as the dog, have missed him terribly. We are actively seeking to fill his position but we can never replace him!

Ashley has enjoyed his first year on the RHS Delphinium Committee, which has been a chance to talk about his favourite subject with other enthusiasts, and with the lectures he has given this year he has managed quite a few trips during the year. Winter started early and caught us out once more so we have been very late in sorting out our large delphinium plants for sale in the spring owing to the fact that plants were frozen to the grown - thankfully delphiniums love the cold and rain and will probably be all the better for it next year. We are hoping the cold weather goes soon as we have lots of plans for 2011 and we need to be able to leave the house to put them in action!


January - Good to see even the boss has to do the menial jobs. Pot washing was a good way to keep warm this winter.	February - Our seed sowing is successful thanks to the heated bench and we are now struggling to find room for them all!

Now you see them.... Cuttings emerging despite low temperatures and lack of sun.	Now you don't.... We play cat and mouse with the frost as the temperatures are the lowest we have recorded here.

March - Large plants being dispatched.	Cutting material is appearing at last - better late than never.

Making cuttings is a skilled job.	Cuttings growing good roots.

Delphinium seed and show plants growing well undercover - May	English delphinium cuttings establishing themselves - May

As usual Kestrel is the first to flower and is looking beautiful! - June	Larkspur Nursery prepares for its first Open Days.

Ashley shows some visitors from the HPS his rare delphinium collection on an Open Day in June	The delphinium bed flowers at last in late June.

Our delphinium seedling plants are a triumph once more - July.	The Abutilon plants are blooming marvellously for most of the year.

Here comes the cold weather again.	A very cold end to 2010 - it is a good job that delphiniums are hardy plants!