News and InformationCURRENT TOPICS
Next Dispatch 3rd June
Once again we are exhibiting at Chelsea Flower Show.
This means we cannot dispatch any Mail Order parcels for the rest of May.
Our next dispatch date is 3rd June.
Orders can be placed as normal and will be acknowledged automatically.
Confirmation of availability and dispatch date will follow as normal, but there may be a slight delay due to reduced numbers of staff at the nursery.
RECENT ITEMSLast Dispatch 6th May!
Chelsea Flower Show is looming and we are now planning the final details. As usual we will suspend our mail order dispatches whilst most of us are away in London.
Our last dispatch before we leave is Tuesday 6th May.
Orders should be placed by Friday 2nd at the very latest to be sure of being included.Our next dispatch date after we return is 3rd June. Orders can be placed on-line over this period, but e-mail response may be a little delayed due to reduced numbers of staff.
15th February 2008
We are pleased to have become an appointed stockist of Raymond Evison's 'Branded' Collection. These are a selection of his newest and best introductions, including Rebecca TM to be launched at Chelsea Flower Show this year. These top quality plants are grown in the UK, supplied in larger 3 litre pots of midnight blue and with their own booklet labels and a small trellis support. - They are excellent for gifts as well as for your own enjoyment.
Raymond Evison Introductions; Prices held; Catalogues.Return to home Page | Earlier Years of Current Topics Our New Catalogues are now available. The printed version and the on-line version both have all our newest choices included.
We also now offer our printed catalogue text as a pdf download, click here for more details Catalogue download
This contains the 40 pages of text only, no pictures, order form or cover, but for those who like a printed list, especially our overseas customers, it is an alternative to sending us stamps or vouchers for 'the real thing'.We are pleased to be able to announce that for the FIFTH YEAR we have HELD OUR PRICES for Packing & Delivery in England and most of the UK!
NEW CLEMATIS FOR 2008
Also many plant prices are the same as last year, with increases to just two price bands.As we begin planning our new catalogue and displays for next year, we are able to offer an advance supply of some of the new clematis cultivars we will be introducing in 2008.
If you would like to see more details, click below to go direct to the On-line Catalogue.
On-line Catalogue - New for 2008ALSO - NEW - We now have a Clematis Room on the Peter Beales Website Forum. Why not visit to read about current topics and maybe add your own comment or question? Clematis Forum
We have also now provided a Download option for those who would like a printed version of our catalogue. Printed Catalogue details
OUR FIRST GOLD MEDAL AT CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW
We are delighted to have been awarded a GOLD MEDAL at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Our stand was a change from previous designs, with angles and curves rather than rows of obelisks in a symetrical pattern. It seems that the judges liked that and so did the visitors to the show.
After a number of years we have managed to make that last critical step up from a run of Silver-Gilts and achieve the ultimate award for a floral display exhibitor.
We were very heartened by the number of compliments and congratulations received over the week of the show.We have now added a 'Chelsea Page' to the website with pictures for those of you who were not able to see it yourselves, and with lists of clematis that were on display for those who did see it to remind themselves of which was which.
Link to Pages of Pictures and Plant Lists
Then we had the filming on BBC for Carol Klein's e-mail questions slot - 4 in one minute was a bit of a rush, but it was great to be a part of the fun of the show.
Meanwhile back at the nursery, Peter and the team have kept things running as smooth as always, with on-line and telephone orders all being dealt with as planned.Other Climbers such as Honeysuckles, Ivies, Wisteria and many more now available at the nursery and on-line.
See details on our Shop Pages -> On-line Catalogue & On-line OrderingEaster Opening Times
New On-line Clematis Shop - On 24th January 2007 we began using our NEW On-line Catalogue and Shop
As usual we will be closed on Sunday. However, we are open on Good Friday and Easter Monday, normal times - 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Our mail order service continues as usual with our next dispatch on Tuesday 10th April. See our on-line shop for full details of our mail order service.
We have tried to retain the same fast loading and logical layout for you as we had in the earlier version, but with a number of new features, such as a search facility.
And there should be further improvements as we get to know the new software!Most importantly though, the plants and the quality have not changed! All plants are still inspected by us a number of times before packing and dispatch. We still hope to provide you with a first class service and prompt attention to your order.
Click here to go straight to the Shop -> On-line Catalogue & On-line Ordering
Summer Review and Autumn thoughts -
Ruth Gooch has written an article that you may find of interest, especially if you want to grow clematis in a warmer dryer climate overseas, or in a dryer part of England.
The extreme heat of July gave us all an experience of more 'Mediteranean' weather.
Then as we near the end of the year, Ruth reviews what is still doing well here at Thorncroft.Click to read more >The Clematis Garden in Early Autumn
Just as we get to half way between mid-summer and the autumnal equinox (about the 6th August), it is mathematically at least - Autumn. And low and behold we have cool misty mornings and even a drop of rain!
So now is the time to be careful not to over-water your containers, especially as we have become used to watering everything every day.For those of you lucky enough to live and garden in the Channel Islands we have good news - the cost of sending clematis to you has dropped quite a lot. It is still not cheap as we send our mature and well established plants, not little baby ones like some firms do.
But we cut down the top growth and remove the pot to save on weight and that gives you scope to order a few more clematis!
See our Export Page for details of the EU Gold service which we now use for all Channel Island orders.CHELSEA 2006
Once again we were awarded a Silver-Gilt Medal for our display. This is one peg down from a Gold and is our fifth one in a row. The judges couldn't really say why we missed the Gold again, but it is very much a personal opinion. The main thing is that the visitors to the show enjoyed it and many hundreds said they thought it was one of the best.
We enjoyed being at Chelsea again and are now catching up with two weeks post, etc.
We hope to have pictures of the stand on the website later in the season.Export Service Improved - We can now offer an improved service for export to all EU countries. This will enable us to send fully rooted plants without removing the compost. Full details can be found on our - Export Page
Our Chelsea Flower Show Display Plants will be loaded onto our truck on Monday 15th and then we shall be busy in London preparing our exhibit ready for Judging on 22nd and then the opening of the show from Tuesday 23rd May.
We hope to have at least two (may be three) of our new Polish Introductions featured on the display and we will be pleased to welcome the breeder from Poland - Szczepan Marczynski to join us for the UK launch of these excellent clematis that commemorate the founding of Solidarity 25 years ago.On 14th March we were pleased to welcome a film crew who are preparing a programme on The Nation's Favourite Blooms.
Needless to say, clematis are up there near the top of the list. We understand that the programme will be part of the 'pre-Chelsea' build up on UKTV Style Gardens, whatever that is! We are told that the series starts on 8th May. Our effort will be broadcast on 17th May at 11:00 am; 3:30 pm and 8:30 pm. We shall be at Chelsea by then so will have to find someone to record it!We were at Wisley on Saturday 25th March for the fisrt 'Plant Day for Plant Nuts' and were pleased to see a few visitors on a very cold and damp day.
We hope there will be further events later in the year, where you can see the specialists and buy choice plants.On Thursday 6th April, Jonathan gave a lecture at Coton Manor Garden School, entitled 'Success with Clematis', it was aimed at the keen gardener who wishes to know a little more about Clematis.
For more details about this excellent venue (Gardens, Nursery, Courses and Tea Room) visit their website, from our links page.February 2006
Our new catalogue is now available (printed version). The on-line version is also now finished, the new prices are shown, and the new introductions.Norfolk Nurseries Network
Following a successful launch at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, we are very pleased to be founding members of the Norfolk Nursery Network.
This is a group of local specialists who have joined together for jointly promoting our nurseries and Norfolk as a destination for keen gardeners to visit.
There are currently six member nurseries and more details can be found on the Network's website - www.norfolknurseries.netNew Sales Area OPEN. We have now enlarged our sales area and have about double the size of covered display for you to wander around and study the descriptive cards and pictures. We hope you will find this much less cramped when you come to select your plants.
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