Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants at Chiswick Flower Market

Chiswick Flower Market is delighted to welcome Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants to the market on Sunday 1 November.

Rosy Hardy is recognised as the most successful female exhibitor at Chelsea Flower Show, with 24 Gold Medals to her credit since she built her first display at the show in 1992. She started out growing plants in her back garden and selling them at car boot sales with her husband Rob in 1988. Their nursery has gone from strength to strength to the point where now they are considered to be one of the UK’s leading independent nurseries for herbaceous perennials.

To celebrate 25 years of exhibiting at the world’s greatest flower show, Rosy has written her first book, which is now available to buy from Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants, either from the nursery shop, via mail order or from their stall at the Chiswick Flower Market. In it she tells the nursery’s history, she  shares 80 of her top plants for problem places and reveals her secrets for colour combining.

They grow their plants in Hampshire, near the village of Freefolk, a 13 acre site with stunning views over the Test valley.

Images above: Rosy Hardy; the nursery in Hampshire

Christmas come early

What will Rosy and Rob be bringing with them to the Chsiwick Flower market on Sunday 1 November? The family run nursery has some 1,200 varieties of herbaceous perennials to choose from, which they believe offers an unrivalled selection, from proven garden favourites to the more unusual and noteworthy.

At this time of year Helleborus are about to come in to flower. They are particularly pleased to have Helleborus ‘Walberton’s Rosemary in stock, which has only been available for a few years but took 17 years to develop – a cross between a Helleborus niger and a Helleborus orientalis. Featuring the benefits of both, it has a coloured flower and blooms all the way from late November till April.

Images above: Helleborus orientalis; Helleborus niger; Helleborus ‘Walberton’s Rosemary’

They will be bringing with them a selection of late flowering perennials, including anemonies and hardy chrysanthemums and a selection of ferns.

Rob and Rosy breed and propagate their own varieties. This summer they launched their new anemone ‘Frilly Knickers’ at Hampton Court Garden Show, which they will also be selling at the Chiswick Flower Market.

Images above: Hardy’s Plants – anemone ‘Frilly Knickers’ on the left

Market details

Chiswick Flower Market will be open from 9.30am – 3.00pm in the Old Market Place, outside the police station, with a special early opening slot from 8.30am – 9.30am for elderly (over 70) and vulnerable people, with a friend if you need to bring an assistant. You can book a place here.

Please wear a mask and observe social distancing in the market area.

Image above: Rosy & Rob Hardy

hardysplants.co.uk

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: Chiswick Flower Market is back, 1 November

See also: Chiswick Flower Market a roaring success

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