SEPTEMBER 2019 THE ENGLISH GARDEN 75Clockwise from left
Lady Christine
Skelmersdale; the
indigo buds of ‘Royal
Velvet’; agapanthus
at Broadleigh Bulbs
in Somerset; vivid
blue ‘Super Star’;
new bicolour cultivar
‘Twister’, which has white
flowers with a blue base
and holds an AGM.
entrusted these agapanthus seeds to her parents
and, on her return, was greeted by an abundance of
vigorous plants. When she and her husband bought
Broadleigh Bulbs, these agapanthus became an
integral and ongoing part of the nursery.
Additional cultivars, including several of the
‘Royal’ Series from John Bond at The Savill Garden,
helped swell Christine’s growing collection of largely
outdoor, fully-hardy cultivars. Stock plants were
increased by division and seed was collected from
the very best cultivars and sowed on. Finally, her
dream of discovering choice new variants among the
throng of agapanthus was realised, and Christine