Over the last 30 years David Livermore has become an expert on Alpine plants and gave us a very interesting and comprehensive talk.
He explained that Alpine plants can be defined as those that grow above the treeline, or those that grow in inhospitable soils and climate, or simply those that are diminutive!
Having gone to the Alps on their first holiday, David and his wife Liz have become more and more adventurous in their search for Alpines. We were taken on a whistle-stop tour of the Alps, Turkey, the Caucasus Mountains (both sides, Russia and all the ‘Stans’), ending up in Patagonia. In each place they took marvellous photos of the various Alpines they saw including gentians, blue, yellow and white, miniature buttercups, mini tulips, yellow fritillaria minima, too many to mention! Particularly noteworthy were two photos: one taken in Turkey of a field of blue Alpine bulbs with snow-covered Mount Ararat in the background, the second taken in Uzbekistan of a field of brilliant red poppy lookalikes (roemeria refracta). The highlights of high Patagonia were gunnera magellanica and little orange violas. Nearer to home in Burren, Ireland David described an outcrop of glacial limestone pavement where Alpines grow including gentians.
To grow Alpines, you will need a greenhouse. Plant them in pots of moist, well-drained compost and grit with room for an extensive root system. Make sure there is plenty of circulating air, as well as shade in summer.
Alpines can be viewed at various botanic gardens, including Cambridge, Wisley and Harlow Carr (which has the best Alpine greenhouse in England). There is a large show at Chelmsford Racecourse every March. To meet fellow enthusiasts and learn more, David mentioned several groups including his own, the Bedfordshire Local Alpine Garden Society Group
Margaret Jackson
