The new site is situated in the Gironde Department of France in the region of Aquitaine. Some 30/40 minutes from the city centre of Bordeaux (10 minutes from the town of Libourne) and in the heart of the most famous Bordeaux wine growing region 10 minutes from the vineyards of St Emillion and Pomerol. The area is connected to all Europe by the superb AutoRoute motorways and is accessible from the main A10 and A89 motorways. The site is extremely close to the main North South motorway routes to Spain and Portugal and the South Western axis route to the French Mediterranean coast via Toulouse and Montpelier. 

The climate here is one of short cold winters with temperatures falling this winter 2005-2006 to -7c on several nights in exposed parts of the nursery site but less against protected walls. Evidently we have much to learn as in this region of France as every garden has the obligatory Oleander and Acacia dealbata and also woody Lagerstroemias 

None seem the worse for the freezing winter days and I am sure that the wood is ripened here like clay in a hot kiln. The possibilities are endless and we are already trialing many borderline climbers and shrubs against the many protected walls and sheltered sites. The big danger seems to be winter sun falling on frozen unhardened woody stems transported fresh from the mild UK. Dregea sinensis and Mandevilla laxa endured the winter only when frozen all day but the stems split like pea shells if exposed to early morning strong winter sun on freezing clear blue days. Spring is short and the area is famed for the hottest spring in Europe, which suffice to say is short. Summer is long and hot with minimal rainfall except the obligatory occasional monstrous downpours from continental thunderstorms. Summer seems to almost fade into autumn with temperatures holding until sometime in October. This will enable us to flower many late flowering shrubs and plants which often we saw loose their buds as SW England temperatures started to fall dramatically on Dartmoor, Devon at the end of August.

The site will be watered entirely by drip irrigation controlled by computer. The water comes from three deep wells and is held in huge galvanized tanks and a back up pond. It is also supplemented by the roof gutter run-off. With most rain falling in late November/December and then (after the cold period of January February) in March we have had to re think the whole nursery irrigation system. Even the timing of twice daily watering during the hot summer must minimize evaporation. The new display glasshouse contains a propagation section in an area separated by a glass wall. The remainder of the 85% of space  will be entirely devoted to a display of rare tropical climbers and other plants. We are keen to make sure that the vast majority of plants displayed will be available in no other nurseries in the UK or France and the rest of Europe. The whole house will be heated with the most cost effective under floor heating and when necessary warm air heating on the coldest winter days. The roof ventilation will be controlled by temperature. We will at last be able to flower and enjoy many of our rarest collections and look forward to sharing these treats with visitors.     

Although it will be some months before we open the site to the public and much building, planting and landscaping has yet to be done, we will be posting a photo diary to show our progress.