Touchwood Aquilegia Garden
Touchwood Aquilegia Garden
Touchwood Aquilegia Garden
4.5
This location was reported permanently closed
About
TOUCHWOOD AQUILEGIA GARDEN is an intimate, exuberant plantsman’s garden, most items grown from seed. If you like aquilegias (granny's bonnets / columbines) then this is THE place to visit. Currently (2013) there are only 2 National Plant Collections of aquilegia, and BOTH are at Touchwood! Aquilegias have been popular garden plants for many centuries. It has always been the unusual colours and the double forms that are most sought after. There are very many species available, and my collection grows yearly. The 1st National Collection comprises cultivars of the commonest type grown here, our British native wildflower: Aquilegia vulgaris. Plant Heritage recognised the SECOND collection for full National Plant Collection status in 2009. These 'aquilegia hybrids' are mainly amazing doubles with yellow in them that Carrie Thomas is breeding at Touchwood.YOU WON'T SEE AQUILEGIAS LIKE THESE ANYWHERE ELSE!!The aquilegia season varies depending on the seasonal weather, it may be as early as the start of May or as late as Whitsun Bank holiday, and lasts for about 6-8 weeks (as the doubles with yellow, and the large long-spurred hybrids flower a little later (but overlapping)). End of the season is late June. Do email to enquire what's flowering when you're nearby.There are not only aquilegias there! Carrie is a plantaholic who gardens in the cottage style in order to cram more plants into a small area! Keen on traditional cottage garden favourites, she also has many unusual and rare plants, mainly grown from seed. There is an abundance of climbers, herbaceous perennials, annuals, biennials, bulbs, herbs, and vegetables, with shrubs, ferns and grasses. Containers (mainly alpines) and archways increase the available growing space. OPENING TIMES: By appointment, almost any time, during the aquilegia season... please email (see website, I usually log on early morning and evenings) (or ring, but I Don't get to the phone in the busy times!)) to choose a convenient date and time. Also open days, usually each weekend and Bank Holiday during the Aquilegia season.Plants & seeds for sale at the garden, and by post.
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4.5
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Alex Martin
Swansea, UK23 contributions
Jun 2013 • Solo
This delightful cottage garden is carefully nurtured by Carrie Thomas of Touchwood plants. It is the national collection of #Aquilegias (also known as Columbines or Granny's Bonnets) and will be featured AGAIN on #BBC2's #Gardeners World. Highly recommended to visit and purchase some fabulous and unusual varieties of this humble cottage plant. Carrie hand pollinates her flowers with meticulous precision and records all her genetic variations of the plants with equal attention to detail. Although not large, the garden is jam full of both bees and plants all looking equally happy.
Well worth the time, easy parking just outside with a walk down Clyne cycle path afterwards if you are feeling energetic. This is a gem for any gardener who appreciates the dedication of a committed and passionate kindred spirit.
Contact:
Carrie Thomas Tel 01792 522443
'Touchwood', 4 Clyne Valley Cottages, Killay, Swansea, SA2 7DU South Wales, UK
www.touchwoodplants.co.uk : Seeds & plants by post. Aquilegia specialist.
www.touchwoodspirit.com : Help & healing for body, mind & spirit. Flower essences.
Well worth the time, easy parking just outside with a walk down Clyne cycle path afterwards if you are feeling energetic. This is a gem for any gardener who appreciates the dedication of a committed and passionate kindred spirit.
Contact:
Carrie Thomas Tel 01792 522443
'Touchwood', 4 Clyne Valley Cottages, Killay, Swansea, SA2 7DU South Wales, UK
www.touchwoodplants.co.uk : Seeds & plants by post. Aquilegia specialist.
www.touchwoodspirit.com : Help & healing for body, mind & spirit. Flower essences.
Written June 27, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann
Dorchester, UK72 contributions
Jun 2013
Carrie welcomed the 4 of us on a personally arranged visit of her garden. Although it is not a large garden she has filled every corner and half of her neighbours garden with Aquilegias against a background of roses, hardy geraniums, grasses etc. I had previously bought seeds from her by post, which arrived very promptly, but I was tempted by several more varieties. The array of doubles, long spurred, American, dwarf etc varieties made the choice very difficult. Perhaps I'll also end up with a National collection :-) we had a lovely evening and look forward to the flowers next year.
Written June 20, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Always a pleasure to share time with other gardeners, especially if they are keen on aquilegias!
Written June 22, 2013
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Barracarol
4 contributions
Jun 2014
Great to visit Carrie and see the wonderful range aquilegia she is producing.Can't wait to plant my seeds and wait to see what wonders they produce :-)
Written June 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FionaClematis
Broxbourne, UK2 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
A small garden packed with different types and colours of aquilegias sited amongst other flowers and plants. They overspilled into next doors garden as well. Carrie showed us round and discussed with us what we wanted to purchase. I bought a couple of plants and one packet of seeds as I have a small garden at home. I think that all my seeds germinated and also some seeds which were on one of the plants that I bought.
Written December 5, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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