The group have three visiting speakers, illustrious in their field, giving some insight into their activities searching for plants in the wild. All talks will be held in the Lecture Theatre.
Members of Ness Botanic Gardens are very welcome to attend these talks.
The cost for non-RCM Group members to attend is £3.00, payable at the door, Members of the RCM group enter free.
We are expecting a good attendance so please come early.
Saturday 5 October 2024 - 2.00pm
Plants of the mountains of Myanmar (Burma)
The first speaker is Seamus O'Brien, currently the head gardener at Kilmaccuragh, Dublin, the National Botanic Garden of the Republic of Ireland. Seamus has travelled extensively around the world and will give an account of his plant hunting expedition to Myanmar, formerly Burma. This area was formerly searched by Frank Kingdon Ward, especially the area known as “the triangle,” on behalf of several sponsors, including A.K. Bulley but still has more new species to be found.
In addition to his expeditions and his horticultural experience, Seamus also has a detailed knowledge of the history of the many notable gardens and estates in Ireland.
Saturday 2 November 2024 - 2.00pm
New Zealand Tour and Rhododendrons
The second speaker is David Millais, formerly owner of Millais Nurseries. He sold the business recently to his colleague at his nursery. David has also taken various trips abroad in search of plants. At his nursery in Surrey he propagated by cutting, grafting and seed. It is probably for his large collection of hybrids that he is best known, many of which were exhibited at Chelsea, such that he won gold medals in five consecutive years. His business was also awarded the Royal Warrant, from the then Prince of Wales, for the supply of Rhododendrons.
He will be speaking to us about a tour of New Zealand and the Rhododendrons he found there.
Saturday 25 January 2025
AGM and talk
Our AGM will be preceded by a talk by our own illustrious speaker, Steve Lyus, who will brief us on the Global Botanic Gardens Congress. This talk will be followed by our annual social meeting and by our AGM once other matters have been completed and non-members departed.
Further details about the timings for this event will be announced closer to the time.
Saturday 22 March 2025
Woodland Gardening
To bring our 2024/2025 programme of talks to a conclusion, Ken Cox, of Glendoick Nursery will give us a talk on “Woodland Gardening”. Ken is the third generation of explorers and horticulturalists. Between them, all three generations have explored China, south east Tibet and Arunachel Pradesh in north east India. Ken’s knowledge of plants is encyclopaedic and has assisted him in writing several books on both species and varieties. His book on woodland gardening will form the basis of his talk, with two 45 minute presentations and possibly incorporating a walk round the gardens (weather permitting). This book was voted “European Gardening Book of the Year” in 2019.
Further details about the timings for this event will be announced closer to the time.
Annual Show
Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May 2025
Our Annual Show will be in the Bulley Room at Ness Botanic Gardens - further details will be announced closer to the time.
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