Very Hot and Steamy (Newington Nurseries)

Member Name: zebra

Product:	Newington Nurseries
Date:	27/11/03 (679 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Unusual plants, unusual display gardens and unusually good tea.

Disadvantages: Might be awkward to get to.

Sorry to disappoint you but the title refers to the atmosphere in the amazing tropical
paradise to be found at Newington Nurseries.

Newington is not your average garden centre. In fact it is not a garden centre at all. It
does not go in for tacky gifts, books, garden equipment or Christmas decorations it
simply focuses on the real stuff which makes a garden ? wonderful plants and
inspirational garden design.

Newington describes themselves as 'specialists in the unusual'. They sell unusual sub
tropical and rain forest plants; unusual huge and exotic specimen plants; unusual pots,
and elegant statuary; unusual spectacular display gardens and they also do an
unusually good tea.

The gardens

You enter the nursery through the gardens which are quite superb. The owners are
garden designers too, in fact they are Chelsea gold medallists and it really shows. The
beauty of having such gardens is not only do you get to see the plants they sell fully
established but you can also pick up hints of which flowers look good growing
together. I chose a wonderful combination of a new dawn climbing rose and a
clematis after seeing it entwined together at Newington.

There used to be a lovely rose garden with a romantic arbour positively dripping with
pink roses. But this has been replaced with a stunning garden featuring a slate obelisk
water feature, lush grass and banana plants. I'm going to try and borrow that idea
somewhere I think.

Other parts of the garden include an alpine garden, a delightful wildlife pond, herb
gardens, a beautiful summerhouse and other delights. Pictures of the gardens are
shown on their website at http://www.newington-nurseries.co.uk/ (which is rather
amateurish and is not a very good showplace for such a good nursery) ? but do take a
peek.

The glasshouse

Newington are famous for thei
r tropical plants. They have exhibited at Chelsea and
won medals. Real Chelsea fans might remember them for featuring a 'crashed' de
Havilland Chipmunk plane buried amongst the spectacular display of exotic
subtropical plants one year. In 2000 they created 'Window on the tropics' which
featured a waterfall set in lush tropical rainforest. The waterfall is now displayed in
the nursery, as are several other dramatic water displays.

The glasshouse is full to the brim with the most beautiful exotic plants, tropical fruit
dangles temptingly amongst the enormous lush ferns and other amazing flowering
plants. There are probably a few man-eating plants tucked in amongst them. I don't
own a conservatory so I really do know much about this specialist area but I am sure
this nursery would be of interest to people who do.

The nursery is apparently home to the National Collection of Alocasias whatever
they are.

The have an excellent range of specimen plants, huge palms such as Chusan
(Trachycorpus fortunei), bamboos and other huge plants are lined up dramatically to
give interesting vistas on water features built around the display area. They also sell
many Mediterranean plants such as olive trees, lemon and orange trees and vines.
Beautiful twisty ancient looking vines cost a fortune but they do have younger
affordable ones too. I bought an olive tree this year and got a good sturdy tree for £15.
Another unusual item they sell are ready trained espalier fruit trees and I think these
are very reasonably priced, at around £30.

Teas

I don't know about you but I think a visit to a garden centre isn't complete without
having tea. In fact I know of people who visit them just for the teas and 'collect'
garden centre teashops as a hobby. Well, as far as garden centre teashops go this is a
gourmet teashop. <
br>
The teashop is in the glasshouse but there are also tables in the gardens. It is not a
very busy nursery and if you time your visit well you will get a choice of delightful
areas where you could have a secluded teas in lovely surroundings.

Conclusion

If you want boring everyday plants, pick and mix sweets, cute stuffed toys and
Christmas decorations go to any old garden centre. If you want inspiration, something
exotic or deliciously different try Newington.

Summary: