Newsletter
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Chair’s report
The gardens are at their full summer peak at present and reflect the first class work and dedication of the staff. Countless members of the public have voted with their feet and paid the Gardens a visit in recent weeks. Our public tours run by our volunteer garden guides have been outstandingly successful with many…
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Tales from the Tours: Plant Hunters
Everyone loves a monkey puzzle. Araucaria araucana is a unique and popular ornamental conifer in UK gardens. But how did it get here? In 1795 Archibald Menzies (1754-1842) voyaged with Captain George Vancouver on HMS Discovery. Invited to dinner by the Governor of Chile in Santiago, he was served some large seeds for dessert, slipped…