My Life in Plants
The first plant I ever grew
The Livingstone daisy, mesembryanthemum. I can remember pricking out seedlings in my grandad’s greenhouse in Birmingham, aged 6 or 7. They had strange, squashy leaves and flowers in astonishing colours. I was also captivated by the name – it was the longest I had ever seen and found it difficult to get my tongue around!
The plant that shaped the gardener I am today
Every August the family holidayed in Guernsey and I was captivated by the bright blue ‘firework’ flowers that I saw blooming all over the island. Agapanthus were the first plant I wanted to know the name of and grow. They also started my love for the exotic. I now adore palms, agaves and plants with that tender South African feel.
My favourite plant in the world
It has to be agapanthus, especially very dark blue varieties, such as ‘Midnight Star’ and ‘Blue Peter’ – I’m drawn to their brooding tones, which are so out of the ordinary.
The plant that made me work hardest
When I was training in the parks department in the mid-1980s, I had to propagate hundreds of thousands of pelargoniums from cuttings. My thumbs still bear the scars from this job and I maintain a love/hate relationship with pelargoniums to this day!
The plant I’d like to grow more of
That definitely has to be clematis. When I started exhibiting at Chelsea Flower Show, our stand was often near that of clematis expert Raymond Evison. I fell in love with the artistry and detail of his displays and I now want to try them in my borders at home.
The plant I am in human form
I consider myself to be a bluebell, as, like them, I do like shady woodland. They also grab the limelight with a little floral razzmatazz for a short while, then go back to doing their job in the background.
The plant that changed my life
Agapanthus had such a profound effect on me. Along with the encouragement of my grandad, they were the reason I selected horticulture as a career.
The plant I’d always give as a gift
Thyme is such a useful, practical herb and also ornamental. I’ve lots in my garden and I also love to give time to people!