MEMORIES....DIANTHUS.

19 comments

Bought this Dianthus last week, just beautiful……..

Last summer at the National Plant Show, Dianthus Memories (‘WP11 GWE04’) won the award for the Best New Plant Introduction. Having won the top award at a trade show, recently it was a deserving runner-up in Chelsea’s Plant of the Year competition.

The journey began eight years ago when Whetman Pinks, the world’s top breeders of new garden pinks, dissatisfied with the faults of the old cottage garden favourite ‘Mrs Sinkins’, decided it was time to create an up-to-date replacement. At the Chelsea Flower Show last week Caroline Bourne, of Whetman Pinks, explained.

“There’s a very famous Dianthus variety called ‘Mrs Sinkins’ which was raised in 1863 the Master of the Slough workhouse. At Whetman Pinks 150 years later we’re raised a modern version of ‘Mrs Sinkins’ compatible with 21st century demands.

“This plant, bred in 2004, has undergone extensive trialling to provide us with a plant that is pleasing to the eye, fills our noses with beautiful fragrance, is easy and satisfying to grow and repeat flowering. It’s versatile, it can be grown in pots, containers, borders, or up the garden path. It’s repeat flowering, naturally compact, about 12in/30cm high, it’s extremely hardy to frost and heat, drought tolerant, easy to grow in a well-drained sunny situation.

“Most importantly, to me at last, it has the most fantastic scent, hurling out its fragrance at me stimulating the senses. This has very often been overlooked in modern breeding. Why the name Memories? Until Dec 2013 Whetman Pinks is donating all the royalties on this variety to the Alzheimer’s Society.”
Quote from Graham Rice……Garden writer, and plantsman, writes very interesting blogs…..
Here is a photograph of Memories and it is everything that one could want from a Dianthus, wish you could smell it!!

Although I did not buy this plant from Whetman I have bought several plants from them, I like to buy from the breeder if at all possible.

26 Jun, 2012
13 likes

Comments

Karensusan63

Especially lovely as it isn't too tall. I had some gorgeous hot pink ones that had the most fantastic scent, but they would flop over all the time. The flowers were too heavy for their stems. Interesting background info A. Thank you!

26 Jun, 2012

Terratoonie

Wonderful. I can almost smell the scent ! ;o)

26 Jun, 2012

Cristina

My dad ha altzimers.... And it was arwfull watching him get worse ... So this is a fantastic thing to do ... Let's hope it helps ...

26 Jun, 2012

Annella

Lovely blog Dotty. I am with Karen on the tall ones, and you on the scent as it invokes lots of memories for me xxxx

26 Jun, 2012

Annella

Cris xxxx

26 Jun, 2012

Dottydaisy2

Karen your welcome, TT it is a very strong typical clove scent, I keep sniffing it lol
Cristina that was another reason we bought it.......
Thank you Annella.....

26 Jun, 2012

Hywel

That was very interesting.

26 Jun, 2012

Dottydaisy2

Thanks Hywel.....

26 Jun, 2012

Bjs

Lovely flower as you say the scent makes the difference.

27 Jun, 2012

Niverdeen

Just love the scent of pinks ,it is a beauty ....I hope they sell loads of them ...it's a very worthy cause..........my Dad also had Alzheimers , I think it's great of Whetman
Pinks to do that am off to see if they do mail order. Thanks for sharing :o))

27 Jun, 2012

Dottydaisy2

Bjs thanks......Niverdeen they do mail order,I have bought from them, as I prefer to buy from the breeders if at all possible.....they have an excellent collection.

27 Jun, 2012

Cristina

0))))) lovel d.d ... Anella. )( xxx

28 Jun, 2012

Niverdeen

Thanks DD Good to know:o))

29 Jun, 2012

Dottydaisy2

Your welcome.....

29 Jun, 2012