--
..
"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 2009-06-20 15:09:26 +0100, Gopher said:

In message , Sacha
writes
On 2009-06-20 09:42:55 +0100, Gopher said:

In message , Sacha
writes
On 2009-06-19 16:12:10 +0100, "Kate Morgan"
said:

My husband is compiling a quiz for his local pub and he has asked me
for some gardening questions, any questions and answers would be much
appreciated
kate
He could put in a couple of plants' common names and ask what their
proper name is, or vice versa. And why was 'Capability' Brown so
called? Which architect was Gertrude Jekyll most closely associated
with? What charming - or not so charming - habit did Christopher
Lloyd have when visiting others' gardens (that should stump a few!)
Which way round a pole do runner beans twine? What is the name of
Agatha Christie's house and garden in Devon, newly open to the
public?

I know the first two but what did Mr. Lloyd get up to in other
people's gardens - or is an answer in this forum liable to elicit a
writ?
BTW am very grateful as the timing is most appropriate. I am in the
throes of helping to put together such a quiz.

As C. Lloyd is dead, I can't see any writs flying around and anyway, he
thought it was funny. Remember, he was an advocate of colour and lots
of it and the more clashier the better. He'd go round others' gardens
and where he found something to be too 'perfect' in taste, colour
harmony etc., he's surreptitiously drop handfuls of nasturtium seeds!
Picture the poor bewildered garden owner wondering what on earth has
happened to their 'white garden'!

Thanks Sacha. I'm rather surprised. Bearing in mind his reputation I
thought the nasturtium trick rather tame; I would have anticipated a much
more dramatic gesture. After all, it would almost have been expected of
him, certainly in later years.

Perhaps it was what he could do surreptitiously and enjoy giggling to
himself about! Bit difficult to set about your host's garden with a
trowel or border fork!

I haven't visited Great Dixter yet but I'm due to attend a funeral next
week near Eastbourne - I wonder if I would have time to visit Rye? Worth
investigating.

I haven't been there, either and it's a great wish of mine to go.
Somehow, I have to drag Ray away at the right time of year.

Thank again, Sacha.

You're very welcome. We only heard that little story last week ourselves
and I was sort of amused and sort of horrified by it!
--
--
Sacha


Oh we have been. Went by appointment for Joan's Birthday. Met the great man
himself and had a lovely talk.

'Took Joan into the Potting Shed' so he could sit down and sign some books
she had bought.

Lovely man, so gentle and loved to talk to the people who wanted to talk to
him. Had two little dogs who followed him around, 'If the dogs are about, so
is Christopher'

You missed a treat. Too late now. However the great house is still worth
visiting, and, if it is still there, sit in his chair in front of the fire
where he did most of his writing. He told me that he had just been asked by
the BBC to write another book, don't know if he got it out before he died
:-(

Mike