British Isles Garden Tour with Claire Jones (World Gardens)

Evergreen Garden Club

Minutes of Zoom Meeting, January 20, 2026

Attending:  Connie Anderson, Kathryn Baker, Jean Barquin, Julia Bellinger, Susan Bluhm, Winkie Crigler, Jane Dana, Doris Dixon, Catherine Farrell, Fossy Fenwick, Mary Jane Glass, Nancy Gorman, Jeanette Harper, Mary Frances Koltes, Diana Luka-Hopson, Claire Marshall, Sally Marshall, Colet Mitchell, Janet Nassim, Ann Reid, Donna Roberts, Pam Sheldon, Laurene Sherlock, Anne Snodgrass, Sharon Stoliaroff, Susie Taylor, Ellen Thrasher, Fran Usher, Susan Vanderver, Sarah Vilms, Rosa Wallach, Xenia Wilkinson, Ann Williams. 

Welcome:   First Vice President Donna Roberts welcomed participants, and introduced Claire Jones, the meeting’s presenter. Claire gave a “travelogue” on major, classic, gardens of the British Isles that she has visited and photographed. She is head of garden tours for the Horticultural Society of Maryland, author of several books and publications, and has also done Christmas floral decorations at the White House. 

Program:  Claire began with a few introductory remarks, noting that the British National Trust that manages many of the great gardens in the UK is analogous to the American Horticultural Society, though the NT has a wider remit. A growing focus in the UK is now on rewilding and conservation, and we would see several wildflower meadows in the photographs.  Claire warned however, that in the US about the only area where most of the UK plants shown in the photos will grow is the Pacific Northwest.

Claire started her virtual tour with the famous Chelsea Flower Show, held every May in London.  Another is the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show taking place in July, with a vastly different look in flowers and plants given the two month difference that takes us from Spring to Summer. The rest of Claire’s ‘tour’ took us through several public and private gardens in England, including such famous ones as Sissinghurst, the home of Vita Sackville West, and Chartwell the country home of Churchill.  Scotland gave us Crathes Gardens in Abbotsford, where Sir Walter Scott once lived and designed the walled gardens. Three other gardens in Scotland, one in Wales and, in Ireland, Antrim Castle and a side by side “double” garden completed the presentation. The gardens were very different in style and theme, some famed for their roses, some for their parterres, others for their hedges and trees or for their winter displays.  One of the most unusual was a garden designed to allow a dog to run free.  A list of the gardens covered in this very enjoyable talk is given at the end of these minutes. Each would be well worth a visit. 

Business Meeting:   Ellen Thrasher, President, thanked Donna and Winkie for organizing the Zoom meeting. 

Winkie Crigler, Treasurer, reported that all of the dues checks received so far and the monies from the November flower arranging workshop have been deposited. As of January 20, we have $13,917.30 in our account. All but 2 members have paid their dues, and Winkie has again reached out to the unpaid members. We are on track to spend $4,000 in gifts/grants again this year and are leaving a healthy balance in the account so that we can make an additional 75th anniversary gift of $7,500 in 2028. Motions on the treasurer’s report were duly seconded and approved. 

Rosa Wallach, Membership Chair, updated us on membership and the process for nominating new members. Currently we have two openings.  Members of at least one year’s standing who wish to nominate a candidate should provide a written proposal and two seconding letters.  Members are limited to either proposing one candidate or seconding two candidates each year.  These should be sent to Rosa no later than March 1. The proposals and letters will be forwarded to members by email and will be voted on in April.  New members will be introduced at our May meeting.   Ellen thanked Rosa, and Xenia Wilkinson, Rosa’s predecessor, who had worked on membership for many years.  Cathy Farrell was acknowledged for her support to the Membership Committee.

Donna Roberts then spoke briefly about the Blue Star Memorials in National Cemeteries, the subject of our next meeting on February 17. If there is snow the meeting will again be on Zoom.  Ellen thanked all participants and the meeting adjourned.

List of gardens featured in the presentation. 

England

Chelsea Flower Show

Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Great Dixter

Abbey House Gardens

Chartwell

Sissinghurst

Hidcote

Scotland

Crathes Gardens

Carolside

Floor’s Castle

Drummond Castle

Wales

Bodnant

Ireland

Antrim Castle

June and Jimmie Blake’s garden and Hunting Brook

Respectfully submitted

Janet Nassim, Recording Secretary