MY KIND OF COUNTRY
Plant nursery co-owner Jess Pearce
Nurserywoman Jess Pearce enjoys working alongside her mother, near Frome in Somerset
Jess Pearce studied volcanoes, worked in a bedding nursery and trained in interior design before joining forces with her mum, Monica Ashman, to set up a business specialising in scented perennials and shrubs and wildflowers from around the British Isles. The pair run Wild Thyme from a two-acre site in rural Somerset and spend much of the summer selling their plants at flower shows. Mother-of-two Jess adores working with Monica, who inspired her love of gardening. July is a busy time at the nursery, so we went along to find out more…
Wild Thyme Nursery is at my mum’s 19th-century stone cottage on the outskirts of the market town of Frome. When she first bought the place, the family would come out at weekends and pull tables outside to eat. Surrounded by fields, the site today is full of wildflowers, perennials and shrubs that produce the heady scents associated with garden borders of the past.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED?
The cottage has a lovely warm atmosphere, but when Mum arrived it had to be gutted and renovated and we did lots of the work ourselves. Doing up the house was good fun because Mum
IS IT A DREAM HOME?
could put her own stamp on it. My own home is a Georgian flat in Bath but I spend a lot of my time at the nursery.
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK WITH YOUR MUM?
Mum was a social worker before her three children were born, but gardening has always been her passion. Her main ambition was to have her own nursery and seven or eight years ago, while chatting over a glass of wine, she said if she didn’t pursue her dream then, she never would. At the time I was looking for something that would allow me to be the kind of mum I wanted to be. We had fun looking for a site for the business. I’ve always been close to my mum. We have a lot of laughs and enjoy each other’s company.
DID YOU GROW UP IN THE COUNTRY?
We had a small cottage in Batheaston, near Bath, and Mum’s garden was big and really lovely, with hibiscus, peonies, foxgloves and campions. I was encouraged to look after my own patch, and there were lots of wild strawberries, which I liked to pick. I had all my birthday parties in the garden and we used to spend our summers outside. Mum would take us out on walks every weekend and brought us up to be able to identify
I couldn’t live without... ‘The crossword in The saturday Telegraph and my waterproof Trousers - i’m not crazy about gardening in The rain!’
wildflowers. I remember seeing ragged robins by a little stream and harebells on hillsides.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU MOST ABOUT YOUR LANDSCAPE?
The fact that we could be anywhere, with a view of just hills and trees. Although we only have a small piece of land, we feel a responsibility to protect it for future generations.
We specialise in beautifully scented perennials and shrubs. So many plants have had their perfumes bred out of them in favour of showier blooms in unusual colours. We grow without heat to produce hardy plants that establish easily. We’re also passionate about encouraging gardeners to help redress the loss of bee- and insect-friendly native plants, so we’ve extended our range to include plants that attract bees. Some wildflowers are ideal for flower-filled areas in a corner of the garden and look great in informal borders, where they bloom among perennials and may seed themselves to fill in any gaps.
WHAT SETS YOUR PLANTS APART? RUNNING A NURSERY IS A WAY OF LIFE – WHAT ARE THE POSITIVES?
We grow plants because it’s in our blood. Flower shows are great fun. There’s a super camaraderie with the other stallholders and the events are held in inspirational places, such as glorious stately homes and beautiful gardens. We also meet lovely people. Building show gardens allows me to use the creative side of my personality but it is hard work. We have to get up as early as 3 to 4am to finish loading the van so that we can beat the rush-hour traffic. In the evening we drive home and spend several hours watering before reloading the van for the following day.
WHAT’S FLOWERING IN THE NURSERY NOW?
Roses, including our current favourite, Ebb Tide, a plum-purple bush rose; nepeta, which smells delicious as you brush past and is brilliant for bees; pineapple broom (Cytisus battandieri); Galega x hartlandii
‘Mrs Wilson’ for its coconut-scented flowers; foxgloves, ox-eye daisies and red campion.
WHERE ARE YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL SHOPS?
Frome is a lovely old market town with great shops. Marmalade Yarns on Catherine Hill is a treasure trove for wool, with friendly, knowledgeable staff and a squashy sofa to sit on while you choose a pattern. Fiat Lux in Bath Street has amazing light fittings; Millie Moon on Catherine Hill is a bright modern haberdashery with exciting workshops for the children.
IT’S SUNDAY LUNCHTIME – WHERE DO YOU GO FOR A DRINK?
Sub 13 for a cheeky cocktail or the beer garden at the Pig & Fiddle – they’re both in Bath.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE WALKS FOR SEEING WILDFLOWERS?
Brown’s Folly, a nature reserve outside Bath;
Cley Hill near Warminster; Sand Point near Weston-super-mare; and Cornwall.
HOW DOES YOUR PERFECT WEEKEND SHAPE UP?
On a hot summer’s day, I like to bodyboard at Swanage beach with Mum and the children, followed by dinner out and getting home tired, happy and a bit sunburnt.
WHAT ARE THE HOT RURAL TOPICS WHERE YOU ARE?
Lots of community groups in Frome organise events to keep the town vibrant by supporting local shops and independent traders. Anti-fracking campaigns continue apace, as sustainability is key.
WILD THYME NURSERY, WILDTHYMEPLANTS.CO.UK.