Kenilworth Castle

Posted on 24 Oct, 2008 6 comments

My Son and Daughter-in-Law run Southview Nursery, specialising in Old Time Plants, particularly Old Fashioned Pinks, of which they hold the National Collection. Some of these will be used in the renewal of this garden.
He has a good story about these Pinks Dianthus caryophyllus (the parent of Carnations). These plants were grown from\ seed collected from the ruined walls of .Sherborne Castle, by the Head Gardener. This castle was leased from the Crown by Sir Walter Raleigh, whose Wife was called Elizabeth, the local people have always referred to the Pinks as ‘Lady Betty’s Pinks’
This is taken from his talk ‘The 500 year History of Growing Pinks in Briain. I was reminded of this because he wanted to check in my ‘Horticulture Week’ to see if the Nursery had got a mention. It had.and in the Daily Telegraph about a fortnight ago.
Unlike Myself they don’t open their Nursery very often, the plants are grown elsewhere, as they have planted Houses instead on the Nursery land.

Comments

Terratoonie

Interesting blog.
Do you know what is planned for the aviary ?

24 Oct, 2008

Blodyn

Congratulations to your son and daughter in law for holding the national collection of pinks.
They're one of my favourite flowers.

24 Oct, 2008

Pheversley

Perhaps you could get your son and daughter-in-law to write an article about it here.

24 Oct, 2008

Nariz

Pinks are another flower that won't germinate here, along with penstemons and delphiniums, much to my regret.

25 Oct, 2008

Sandra

pinks have a wounderful fragrance. i bet your sons garden smells glorious...

25 Oct, 2008

Poaannua

Hi Terra I will try to find out about the Aviary. I would guess they kept Peacocks. Strange to say one has recently kept appearing in a Friends Garden and she fears for what it will eat.

25 Oct, 2008

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