Lost Horizons

Welcome to our 2010 catalogue, that includes a large selection of new, rare and exciting plants from around the world. The catalogue is available to peruse or download right here, and we will be adding more photographs and more plants over the next few weeks. You may also use this website to search, by using the 'product search' box at the left side of this page.
The garden can certainly be brutal in making one aware of impermanence and loss. A period of intense cold last winter combined with little protective snow cover resulted in the loss of several varieties that had survived many years in the garden. Most notable were the loss of majestic eremurus and several species of arisaema. Because arisaema have such an earthy and animistic presence their disappearance felt like old friends were missing. For weeks one would longingly look at the spots in the garden hoping they would pop up their heads and spread their wings, still alive, just arriving for the party a little late.
This sense of loss was heightened by the news that one of our favourite and long term clients had died. Elizabeth Ingolfsrud   was a strong supporter of the nursery for many years. Elizabeth was an avid collector who would pick a genus and then try to collect every variety and selection that she could find. She enjoyed the hunt and was always excited to see the latest arrivals. Although a voracious collector this was done in a delightful and light hearted way. There   was never a sense of grasping or covetousness and if something didn’t survive there were never any recriminations but always a willingness to purchase another and try again. Elizabeth understood that they were living things that needed care and nourishment not just another décor prop. Although her mobility was hampered in the last few years and it was not easy for her she probably visited the distant stock beds more than anyone else, always excited to see new plants that we were trialing. Elizabeth had a deep love of life, soaking in and enjoying as much as she could in many areas .She could talk just as passionately about jazz and is most well known for her books on Ontario antiques .I don’t think I will ever be able to look at another epimedium [one of her favourites] without feeling that figure dressed in black with the broad brimmed black hat looking over my shoulder with an appreciative smile.