Paging Ian,

[pepper]

On way into Town this afternoon I had to reason to think of you, Clare Baldings Ramblings on Radio 4 this week were walking through Westonbirt Arboretum, I only listened to it partially and I admit they did seem to be talking about their singles club rather than the surrounding area they were walking through. Though the arboretum was later on in the walk which I missed.

Here's the listen again page in case you were interested.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/ramblings.shtml

 

[ian Stanbury]

..How nice of you Pepper..

..I have only been to Westonbirt once and I have to say was slightly disappointed..Too many trees of the same variety and many without labels.

Kew and Wisley are much better but even they have been known to forget to label some.

Trees without labels is a tree lovers nightmare..Thats why I label all my wonderful trees with engine oil.

This is a very very very very very very rare Bonjour Tree (Stanburyii Bonjouriana) found in a fasinating and really wonderful Arboretum in a little known but soon to be world famous part of the Vendee in Western France.

Its the only known Bonjour Tree in the world and its whereabouts is a closely guarded secret...

Even rarer I believe than a Wollemi Pine - http://www.wollemipine.com

And in case you are interested, a member of my wifes' family was one of the founding fathers of the Royal Horticultural Society.

And here is another boring tale - Before he died, I tried to present the RHS at Wisley with a Bonjour Tree on behalf of my Father in Law (whose great great great grandfather had got THEIR whole show on the road) and was told that they didnt have room for it!!

I couldnt believe it, as a Grumpy Old Man would say..

 

[pepper]

Good old Grisley Wisley, sorry to hear that they couldn't find room for what is a very important specimen.

I used to be a regular visitor to Wisley until my mums friend Jack Temple passed away.

He was a founding member of the soil association and my mother was also chair of the Shrewsbury horticultural society, I grew up running around Percy Throwers garden.

 

[ian Stanbury]

..Amazing Pepper..

..Together we have a hell of a lot of, until now, unknown skeletons in our cupboard havent we?.

Did you know that one of my ancestors fired the final shot at the Battle of Trafalgar - and missed on purpose, so as to not inflict any more death and destruction on the already pummelled Frenchies..?

And did you know that my wife is a great chum of Mike Foale - The first British astronaut?

And did you know that I have the propeller off my Uncle Franks swordfish that hit the Bismarks rudder and jammed it and disabled her for your Uncle Cyril on HMS Dorsetshire to finish her off?