down in several pools, edged with marginal plants and azaleas to the lake with its island and Monet bridge, the bog garden, the 85 foot-long rope bridge inspired by a visit to New Zealand and built over a small ravine using half a mile of rope, the double herbaceous borders near the house, and the heather beds giving all year colour and interest.


At the far end of the garden, beyond the wild flower meadow, is an arbour edged with dwarf Japanese rhododendrons, R. yakushimanum, a particular favourite of Nigel Wright. June Wright is an artist who has designed parts of the garden, and finds plenty of material in the flowers abounding for months on end at The Old Glebe.


Rhododendrons at The Old Glebe


dwarf plant) R. Loderi ‘King George’ (tall, with huge scented trusses of blush and white) and the hard to find, tall pink R. Loderi ‘Pretty Polly’.


“It’s important to plant rhododendrons a few feet apart. They like being planted in a group, so you have to get the spacing right to avoid overcrowding, as they grow about a foot a year, outwards as well as upwards,” he explained, adding that they don’t mind being moved, as they have shallow roots, and are much less work to maintain than a herbaceous border.


Old stone buildings and yew hedges provide the perfect setting for Nigel Wright’s plant collection


This summer the Wrights celebrate their Diamond Wedding, and will be joined by their two sons, daughter, and ten grandchildren. The huge garden, with its trees and shady corners, its long rope bridge and wild flower meadow surrounded by woodland and fields, must have been heaven for all those children.


Mature groups of rhododendrons and azaleas complement each other in Nigel Wright’s showcase garden


The tour begins with the nursery beds and net tunnels, many also grown in the old kitchen garden with its venerable greenhouse, getting on for 100 years old. Plants are mostly sold bare rooted, but there are also some that are container grown. Nearing frames, an American invention, protect cuttings from direct sunlight. Further on there is a viewing platform hidden behind a group of large rhododendrons, allowing people to examine the flowers from above.


Other ideas may come from the garden: the water trickling


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Nigel Wright’s plants have been sent as far as Russia, but again through personal customers as mail order is not offered, (payment by cash or cheque). Larger deliveries can be made via courier service, using Danish trolleys to house the plants during transportation. But many customers find their way through the country roads to The Old Glebe and drive home with the car loaded up with these colourful plants – and a friendly, thorough consultation given to them free of charge.


Nigel Wright Rhododendrons, The Old Glebe, Eggesford, Chulmleigh, Devon EX18 7QU. Telephone: 01769 580632. www.wrightrhodos.com Open seven days a week, by appointment only. Garden open for the NGS Saturdays and Sundays 7th and 8th, 14th and 15th May, 2 – 5pm.


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