The Iris Collection getting under way with flowers at the beginning of June (Late this year)

As well as being a Garden Designer I, like many others, am fairly fanatical about plants. So much so that a few years back I started collecting the apparently unpopular Miniature Tall Bearded Iris. It’s daintier and makes a much better cut flower than it’s big brother the Tall Bearded

Supported by Plant Heritage  and working with a number of knowledgeable breeders and nurseries the collection now tops 65 varieties of MTB’s mixed in with a dozen or so TB’s, IB’s and a smattering of SDB and MDB’s – the classification is all in the height and flower size. My collection is now listed as  National Collection.

Excitingly Plant Heritage is celebrating 35 years in 2013 and the lovely people at the Weekend Guardian asked me to write about being a National Collector (Nerd!). Watch out for the article on 29th June.