Garden Wisley offers floral treat

The Royal Horticultural Societys (RHS) Garden Wisley should be worth a visit this year for garden and greenhouse enthusiasts who love sweet peas.

According to RHS sweet pea subcommittee chairman Jim McDonald, those who check out the trials field at the popular attraction are in for a treat.

A total of 22 varieties that are not yet commercially available are being tested in the Portsmouth Field – 12 of which have been submitted by amateur gardeners.

There are also a further 25 sweet peas being examined by judges to establish if they are worthy of the Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Among these is the bi-colour Duo Salmon from Unwin Seeds, which has a red standard with pinky-lilac wings.

Awarded top marks last year, "it gave a stunning display which melted the hearts of all the judging panel", Mr McDonald explained, adding that it would hopefully receive the AGM this year.

The new entrants will see the six fancy colours represented – blue picotee on pale blue ground, pink marble on white, pink picotee edge on white, lavender stripe on white, pink and white stripe and pink ripple with white rear of flower.

Meanwhile, the RHS recently announced the results of a study which shows that teaching kids garden and greenhouse skills is great for their development.