General Horticulture, Singleton Rhododendron and other Plants of the Vivians
We are quite lucky to have various detailed looks into the gardens and Rhododendron of Singleton over the years and I have presented many of them here. I have tried to leave all text as it was given at the time of publishing but note that some of the mentioned species have had their names changed since the 1880s. Due to this I have tried to link synonyms where I’ve found them, usually via Wikipedia and Kew Garden related resource.
I have added in photographs of similar plants to those mentioned in the article, but as no plants in the Singleton Rhododendron gardens bare name plates I am not able to say, with any certainty what scientific name belongs to eat plant. Due to this the photographs are provided more for interest and colour, and to somewhat document what has been left to us, in Singleton.
1855 – The Winter Storm of 1853-54
45+ species named, and how it was affected by the severe winter and spring storms of 1853-54
1878 – Article from the Journal of Horticulture, Cottage Gardener and Country Gentlemen
60+ species of plants and flowers named
a tour of the Abbey gardens, the Rhododendron Gardens and the Kitchen Garden
1882 – Rhododendrons at Singleton: A Gardener’s Chronicle article, by John T. D. Llewelyn
an in depth look at the Rhododendrons of the Singleton gardens
15 species of Rhododendrons mentioned
1882 – Rhododendron woodcut
possible evidence for Louis van Houtte sending seeds
1883 – from an article in the Cambrian Newspaper; Glamorganshire Gardens: Singleton
article covers the Kitchen Garden, the Pine Pits and the Peach Houses
1884 – From an article in the Cambrian Newspaper; A Peep at the Singleton Rhododendrons
a brief and unspecific look at Singleton under Henry Hussey Vivian
1885 – A Look at the Entire Estate, from the Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener
a very detailed look at the estate
covering the Abbey Gardens, the “American ground”, the Kitchen Garden,
the Peach Wall & House, the Rhododendron, Azalea and Orchid Houses
Mr. Harris & the Vines
70+ species named and/or described
1905 – The Rhododendrons at Singleton, from the Gardener’s Chronicle
a shorter look at Singleton in the waning days of the Vivian’s ownership
1911 – Rhododendrons and Azaleas by William Watson mentions seeds that are said to have been sent from the Himalayas by Colonel Sykes, who sent them to the Director of the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, who shared them with Sir Hussey Vivian.
R.Thomsonii – 20ft
R.barbatum – 33ft
R.Hodgsonii – 12ft
R.Falconeri – 30ft
Some specifically mentioned plants/fruit from various sources
