So, five years on from the first plant fair I visited at Swines Meadow Farm Nursery owned by my good friends Colin and Karan. The first time I visited their April plant fair it rained, hailed and blew a freezing gale. Today started with frost, it is clearly a cold weekend generally. I have bought many plants from Colin and Karan, direct from their nursery, at plant fairs elsewhere and from talks that they have given. I buy from them because their plants are good and reliable, they are well priced and, probably most important of all, they are nice people. Also, let us not forget, that it was through them that I got Bruce, my beautiful big ginger cat.
So, what did I buy today: 
A Ribes odoratum, I had been wanting one of these for a while so as soon as I saw it I grabbed at it. The bees were loving it and it is now lighting up a sunny spot at the top of the garden.
A Mukgenia Terra Nova Flame. I have to say I had not heard of this plant but I really liked the shape of the foliage and the flowers are good.
You may notice the ghost-paw of Esme at the top of the picture, heaven forbid I should photograph something other than her! The plant is a hybrid a bergenia and a Mukdenia 'Crimson Fan', it is now planted in the Spring border and I am now a bit of a fan.
This is a Woodwardia fimbriata. I have been buying a few ferns recently as I have been developing a fernery. No you have not been told about this before, but I shall probably include it in my End of Month Review depending on how it is coming along.
This is a Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web'. I do not like this plant very much generally. Hold on a second you say, why buy a plant you do not like? Well, as ever, context is everything. I saw one of these last year at Great Dixter in their exotic garden and it looked fandabbydozy. Anyone would think that they knew a thing or two about planting! I can only dream about getting anywhere a fraction as good as what they achieve.
I also chose carefully which one I wanted. This one is not too webby and I like it better than most of its type. I do actually like it - honest! (protesting a little too much now maybe....) Anyhoo, it is now planted in the Tree Lupin border, shortly to become the Exotic Border.
Lastly and definitely not leastly, the Stauntonia hexaphylla. The scent of this plant was filling the greenhouse in the nursery. 
It has superb foliage,
and some of the most amazingly scented flowers you will ever come across. I don't think it is totally hardy so it has been moved to a larger pot and placed in the Courtyard. This is the perfect setting for it as the smallness of the space traps the scent. One thing I must say is that the scent really is powerful. Possibly a bit too powerful for driving home with on a warmish Spring day. I did have to open the car window after a while. As soon as I got it home and placed it in the Courtyard the bees found it. I take this as a good sign.So, a fine haul and a chance to catch up with good friends. A fine way to spend a day.
