Professional gardener, Michael Jack, told the January meeting of the Kirkcudbright Gardeners’ Society how a chance reading of a newspaper article ten years ago changed his career path. Working in accounting at the time, he happened to see an article about Threave and decided that gardening was what he really wanted to do. During Mike’s course at Threave, he went on a trip to the Chelsea Flower Show and the RHS gardens at Wisley. He was impressed by the practical nature of the training offered at Wisley and in September 2002 he enrolled on the 2 year Diploma Course. Students are required to spend 3 months in each of the eight departments of Wisley, gaining invaluable experience in all aspects of horticulture.

Mike started in the Floral Department which is responsible for all the colourful borders and terraces which greet Wisley's 700,000 plus visitors each year. This was followed by a spell in the Propagation Department which supplies all the plants needed on the Wisley site. His time in the Rock Department coincided with the renovation of the top section of the rock garden, when a Japanese expert was brought in to advise on the plantings and the placing of rocks. Local lad, Colin Crosbie was in charge of the Woody Department during Mike's time there. The Fruit Department followed, with the training and pruning of over 700 fruit trees. The Estate Department is responsible for maintenance of the estate, including repair and upkeep of all the lawn areas, all necessary irrigation and the maintenance of machinery. Wisley is justly proud of its Glass Department where constantly changing displays are created in the cool, temperate and hot areas of the glasshouses and exotic plants such as bananas, cannas and abutilons are provided for the sub-tropical borders. Lastly, Mike worked in the Trials Department, where plants are assessed by RHS committees throughout their growing season before they can be awarded the coveted Award of Garden Merit.

As well as keeping a diary of his 2 years, Mike also had to do coursework, weekly plant identification, case studies a dissertation and several science projects. Master classes in various horticultural techniques were held in the appropriate seasons and students were also able to attend the RHS shows in Westminster, a particular highlight being the RHS Bicentenary display at Chelsea and a study tour to Dublin Botanic Gardens. Mike’s hard work was rewarded when he received the Englefield Trophy for the student with the best overall horticultural ability and the Wilkinson Sword Poniard for the student with the highest marks.

The amateur gardeners in the audience could not fail to be impressed by the thoroughness of Mike’s training and his continuing enthusiasm for his chosen career path.

The next meeting will take place on Sunday 20th February at 2.30pm in the Lesser Town Hall, Kirkcudbright. The club’s seed potato swap will take place at this meeting and members are asked to bring an egg box containing 6 named varieties, marked 1^st or 2^nd early or main crop. The speaker will be Dr. Deborah Long from Stirling, the conservation Manager of ‘Plantlife Scotland’, a body which campaigns for the preservation of Scottish wild plants and fungi.

2010

Sunday 19th September:             A Wander Through My Garden by Brian Davidson

Sunday 17th October:                 Wyoming from Yellowstone to the Tetons

Sunday 21st November:               The Making of Claymoddie Garden by Robin and Mary Nicholson

2011

Sunday 16th January                   How I gained a Wisley Diploma by Mike Jack

Sunday 20th February                 Plantlife Scotland by Dr. Deborah Long

Sunday 20th March                    Annual General Meeting (at 2.00 p.m.) followed by:-

                                               The Story of Threave - Bill Hean (1st Head Gardener at Threave