I am a nurseryman with 50 years experience of being a 'plantaholic'. My speciality is growing the NCCPG National Collection of Autumn Flowering Asters (Michaelmas Daisies), in The Picton Garden, on the western slopes of the Malvern Hills. These colourful flowers were popular with UK gardeners between the late nineteenth century and the 1960's. Today, they are not at the top of the shopping list for modern gardeners, in spite of the glorious displays like the picture of this year's border in the garden. Perhaps this is due to the need to prevent mildew from spoiling the foliage of the novi-belgii varieties; although, most other sorts do not have this problem. Although I intend to come up with thoughts about all sorts of plants, I mainly want to give fellow enthusiasts for Michaelmas Daisies somewhere to exchange any thoughts about them.
