What do we want - lots of plants in our nurseries. When do we want them - now!

I came a cross this article today which sent a shiver of fear down my spine!

Apparently there are new European guide lines being introduced about plant labelling that could seriously reduce the numbers of plants available at your local nursery. Each plant sold will have to have an approved description (which is an expensive and time consuming process for each plant)  so small growers and nurseries developing new or unusual variants will be unable to continue. This will disadvantage small horticultural businesses and curtail horticultural diversity. Imagine if there were no more new variants of Heuchera, or Hosta, - it's unthinkable!

Read the full article here: The Guardian Blog. 

It's a frightening thought that lots of unusual varieties of our favourite plants might not be available any more. But it does reinforce the need to take cuttings and collect seeds and share and swap within our own gardening communities. These guidelines will presumably only pertain to the selling of plants, so if we choose to swap or trade them we are safe. It's up to us to keep the diversity of our gardens safe.

So, I'm off to take some more cuttings and collect some more seeds, just in case!

Horticultural Swap Shop anyone?

(I wonder if we could get Noel Edmonds involved, or even Keith Chegwin!)