On a snowy January evening Grayshott Gardeners welcomed Pip Bensley, who gave us a colourful talk all about climbers, and made us forget about the world outside for a while.

Pip is now a renowned florist, with 3 Chelsea Gold medals to her name, but she started her career in horticulture. For many years she worked at Hillier, and during her time there she wrote a book all about climbers and wall plants. It was her wealth of knowledge of these plants that she shared with us during the evening.
Pip talked us through the different types of climbing plants – self clingers, twiners and those that use thorns or prickles to raise themselves up to the sun. She encouraged us to think about how a plant behaves before we place it in the garden, and to consider appropriate supports that the plant’s characteristics can take advantage of.

She also reminded us that different varieties of climbers can have differing heights at maturity – and warned us against planting a Kiftsgate rose on a six foot arch, when really it is a plant that needs an acre of garden of its own.
Pip showed us beautiful images of honeysuckles, roses and clematis, and recommended varieties that do well for flower power and vigorous healthy growth. She gave of lots of ideas for how to bring colour, height and scent to our gardens all year round, but mixed that with a wealth of practical hints that will hopefully make us all better gardeners!
