Touchwood Plants Home Page: Seeds, Seedling, Plants. Aquilegia specialist. Gardening Services

TOUCHWOOD now has TWO National Plant Collections of Aquilegia. In recognition of the incredible red and yellow doubles that are being created here, Plant Heritage (was NCCPG) granted Plant Collection status in Autumn 2009 for 'Aquilegia hybrids'(adding to the existing 'Aquilegia vulgaris cultivars'). Come and see them this year, I'm sure you'll be wowed! They flower a little later than the A. vulgaris cultivars, so extending the season.

Hello, I'm Carrie Thomas, a keen plantswoman with an interest in unusual and rare gardenworthy plants, as well as cottage garden favourites. I especially enjoy growing from seed, sowing several hundred types each year as I'm awed by the miraculous process of germination.

In particular I love aquilegias (granny bonnets/ columbines), and I have the National Plant Collection® of Aquilegia vulgaris cultivars and hybrids here in Swansea; comprising not only singles but all forms of doubles, bicolours and scented forms. See most of the collection on my Aquilegia DVD. Hey, great news! I'm now actually qualified to hold a granny's bonnet collection! I became a granny on 10th July 2009, to Miriam: thank you to my son Geraint and his wife Joy for this special delight. I will be known as mamgu ('mam-gee' or 'mung-y'), and the Welsh common name for aquilegias (like the English) is capau mamgu (or even cap nos mamgu...granny's nightcap)! Click here for more pictures of Miri.

The Gardeners' World feature on TV could be thought of as a trailer for my 90minute DVD/video in which I tell you more than you thought there was to know about Aquilegias! Includes demonstration of sowing and growing, pests and breeding your own plants. Many, many named forms, and other cultivars are shown.

SEED-LISTS

Seeds: for something different, try the Touchwood seed-list, and the Aquilegia seed-list. The seeds are of unusual, rare and cottage garden plants. You will find an incredible range of aquilegia seeds for sale.

Or do you need sowing information?

Or perhaps general encouragement or ideas about what's available from seed? If so, then my articles will help to inspire.

"The service and help you offer is exceptional, and, once again, many thanks"

FREE SEEDS

Dotted about the main seedlist and the aquilegia seedlist are some quizzes ...do have a go, you may be one of the lucky ones!

There are also free packets of seeds when you buy certain multiple choices such as digitalis, and aquilegias.

PLANTS & SEEDLINGS

Postal service: during the winter you can order bare-rooted plants.

I also send out cut-down Aquilegia plants after flowering at the end May, early June (they respond well to cutting back at that time of the year). Also, in spring and summer I offer a very popular service sending out young seedlings. More information on these services can be found under Plants. I always have plenty of plants for sale at Touchwood, either at the garden, or in rare plant sales. Visit the garden to buy.......in May and early June there are hundreds of Aquilegias available whilst flowering. I also bring plants and seeds to sell when I give gardening talks.

E-MAIL LIST

If you would like to receive information and offers 4x a year by e-mail, please e-mail me and I'll be happy to add you to my e-mailing list.

GARDEN SERVICES

I provide 'tender loving care' for gardens, and can help your design ideas. I am a very experienced gardener so you can safely leave pruning, planting and weeding to me, knowing that your plants are in safe hands.

GARDENING TALKS

Over 20 different talks given on a wide subject range within gardening, wildlife and botany.

Visit this page also if you want to know WHERE you will be able to hear me talk over the coming months.

VISIT TOUCHWOOD GARDEN

The garden at Touchwood, Swansea, is open during the gardening year. Understandably it is most popular whilst the aquilegias are flowering in May and early June, but there's always plenty of interest.

GREETING CARDS

Very beautiful original flower-photo cards are available.

WEDDING FAVOURS

Wedding favours: special seeds for your special friends on your special day!

EDUCATIONAL PAGES

Aquilegia information, and downloadable leaflet

General sowing information, including sowing ferns

Sowing aquilegias

Sowing article

Other articles includes magazine & newspaper features

OTHER PRODUCTS

Touchwood Flower Essences help your health at all levels

Fragrant smudge sticks to cleanse and clear.

Quality labels and pens for your gardening needs.

VIDEO: A Guide to Aquilegias: Sowing, growing and breeding.

Kombucha: a probiotic drink to brew yourself

Healing: Includes intuitive healing, reiki, Bowen Technique, & flower essences

Touchwood Flower Essences™



Only £4 per 10ml dropper bottle



ETHICAL GIVING

It takes but a little thought to reduce our carbon footprint and demonstrate a greater concern for the environment.

Touchwood accepts Paypal payments, including most credit cards

Carrie with Roy Lancaster and Ray Brown at Plantworld

Find me in The RHS Plantfinder

...including on-line.

Back to Top Seed-List Aquilegias Plants & Seedlings Video Contact me

Talks Sowing Gardening Garden Visits Labels Order forms

Smudge Articles Essences Greeting Cards Healing Links

Do you like my website? Need help creating your own?

Please let me know of any mistakes, confusions or frustrations you encountered...I like to rectify anything I can!

Website building was just one of the steep learning curves I surmounted when setting up my business. This is a basic but very simple site to set up and use. There are a great variety of basic designs, this was my preferred format. If YOU also want a website, I also offer help in either creating a site with you, or training you to do so (which would take 2-10 hours depending on your current skill level).