‘A A pond and wildflowers ildf lowers are a must!’
The first plant I ever grew
A Christmas cactus ( Schlumbergera truncata) was my first. We lived in an old terraced house when I was small. It had a conservatory full of different plants. I remember knocking into the cactus and a piece breaking off it and thinking I was in trouble but then, to my amazement, I was told by my mum I could save it and make it grow into another cactus.
The plant that shaped the gardener I am today
Cortaderia selloana, pampas grass. I’ve been fascinated by wildlife and how it’ll adapt and use things in different environments from a young age. My garden at home now is a mix of plants for my pleasure and for use by wildlife in the local area. The main plants are Geranium
phaeum ‘Chocolate Chip’, as this brings bullfinches and goldfinches in, as will bamboos. I also plant native hedging and various fruits trees and shrubs. Things like box or roses are great for leaf-cutting bees and the
Gunnera manicata is great for blackbirds as they love the orange seeds. I’ve also planted a large selection of wildlife-friendly perennials. But a must in any garden is a pond and wildflowers, if possible.
My favourite plant in the world
This has to be the native English bluebell ( Hyacinthoides non
scripta). I love woodland walks, with the bluebell season being the highlight of the year. There’s nothing like being in an ancient woodland with a sea of blue flowers in every direction.
The plant that made me work hardest
I couldn’t name just one as I seem to have gone to war with many plants in all the gardens I’ve worked in, such as bindweed, ground elder and various types of vetch over the years, and although I’ve won a few battles along the way, the war still goes on…
The plant I’d like to grow more of
At Castle Ward I’m lucky enough to be able to leave out plants such as agaves, Beschorneria yuccoides and dasylirion in the warmer borders. So it would have to be more exotic and tropical plants such as proteas, Telopea speciosissima and musas.
The plant I am in human form It would probably be a conifer as I’m a constant presence in the garden landscape and, like Picea engelmannii, I’m as happy in a small pinetum in County Down as I am high up in the mountains.
The plant that helped shape my life Lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’) was the plant that made me realise I was meant to work outdoors. Searching for a new adventure, I went to the Netherlands and got a job in a nursery. One of the first plants I worked with was lavender ‘Munstead’ along with fields of Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’ and various phloxes. While I was there I met a girl from Northern Ireland. I subsequently moved there and it’s where I’m living today.
The plant I’d always give as a gift I’d usually gift a herb of some sort as I love to cook and know that fresh herbs can bring any dish to life!