Helwyr Planhigion

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-Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones

-are plant hunters.

-They're never happier than when

-looking for plants, out in the wild.

-They travel the world looking for

-the seeds of rare exotic plants...

-..to grow, and sell in Wales.

-He's like a pig.

-He finds things no-one else does.

-I don't know how he does it

-but he does.

-We have to do everything.

-We have to go out into the wild,

-find these plants...

-..gather them, bring them back.

-We have to learn how to grow them,

-as no-one has before.

-Now, Bleddyn is famous

-not only for the nursery...

-..but also for collecting these

-plants from all over the world.

-It's exciting.

-It's contemporary plant hunters.

-You don't find too many of them.

-It's great to think he's Welsh.

-Bleddyn and Sue's home

-is Crug Farm, near Caernarfon.

-When not abroad plant hunting...

-..they're here, growing

-and caring for their plants...

-..until they're ready to sell.

-There are ten huge polytunnels...

-..ten staff members...

-..and over 2,000 different

-plant varieties here.

-It's one of Britain's largest

-specialist nurseries.

-Its growth has been amazing when one

-considers that only 13 years ago...

-..Bleddyn and Sue were beef farmers

-thinking of diversifying.

-I remember Bleddyn asking me

-how I'd feel...

-..about opening the gardens

-to the public.

-I didn't want to do that at all.

-I didn't want people coming here.

-But now, thousands

-of people come here!

-I enjoy...

-..meeting people.

-..meeting people.

-

-Yes, I like talking to people.

-Today, only Crug Farm

-and Kew Gardens, near London...

-..have a special licence

-to import seeds and plants...

-..to Britain from abroad. They have

-both learnt from experience.

-We went on holiday back in 1991.

-All the family.

-We collected seeds.

-Nothing came of them,

-except for one plant.

-They survived for a short while

-but there's only one here now.

-Ten years later,

-they grow a variety of plants...

-..that can't be found

-in any other nursery.

-Before releasing them

-to the public...

-..every plant is grown at Crug...

-..to ensure they're suitable

-for Britain's environment.

-Sometimes, Bleddyn

-and Sue discover new plants...

-..that have never been

-described in scientific works.

-Geranium Crug Strain.

-This is the first plant

-we put our name to.

-Right, we'll do these two now.

-Crug has 150 different

-varieties of Geraniums.

-Many have been named

-by Bleddyn and Sue.

-Because it's small, I named it after

-my mother. She isn't very tall.

-So the name we use is 'Menna Bach'.

-But it doesn't like a lot of heat,

-unlike my mother!

-They don't sell plants by mail,

-so every customer must come to Crug.

-Some very important people order

-plants from us. Look at this.

-This came from the Queen,

-from Buckingham Palace.

-This is the second time

-they've ordered from us.

-It's a very good order too.

-Their gardener will come here

-to get the plants.

-It's spring, and there are

-special visitors at the farm.

-The cameras and crew of America's

-most famous daily show...

-..Martha Stewart's show, are here.

-With them is the US's most

-important plant hunter...

-..a great friend of Bleddyn

-and Sue, Dan Hinkley.

-Over the last decade, Dan,

-Bleddyn and Sue have travelled...

-..and discovered a lot together.

-This is my, gosh, seventh,

-eighth time to visit.

-It feels like home away from home.

-I will say point blank that

-I've not ever been with anybody...

-..in the field that has

-a better eye than he does.

-It is uncanny, quite frankly, how

-he can find things that I walk by.

-His talent as a plant explorer,

-a plant hunter...

-..I think it's just amazing,

-it truly is.

-Although Bleddyn and Sue are more

-famous in the US than in Britain...

-..Bleddyn remains modest.

-I'm rather shy, really.

-I'm a farmer, a country man.

-It's nice to have a spot of rain.

-After the film crew leaves...

-..it's back to everyday work,

-dealing with the public.

-It must have moisture.

-It must have moisture.

-

-That's alright.

-It doesn't like

-somewhere too dry or too hot.

-Is semi-shade alright?

-Is semi-shade alright?

-

-Yes, that should work.

-Right, OK. Thank you.

-This is Smilacina, a new plant

-we found in Guatemala.

-It probably doesn't like

-the weather here.

-It does!

-No charge for the umbrellas!

-Crug opens its gates once a year...

-..to members of

-the Royal Horticultural Society.

-It's a chance to buy plants

-and to hear stories...

-..about collecting those plants.

-Bleddyn lectures

-and shows his slides.

-This time, it's about Nepal.

-We came across good stands of this,

-Tricyrtis macropoda. Lovely plant.

-The best places to find seeds are

-often remote and hard to reach.

-In Nepal, they also had to cope

-with riots, bombs and bad weather.

-It gets really hard work here.

-You set one foot

-in front of the other...

-..and you're absolutely exhausted.

-As he collects the seeds, Bleddyn

-sees the plants' natural habitat.

-We've learnt a lot.

-If you go out to the wild

-and see plants growing naturally...

-..you learn things you could

-never learn at school.

-You see how it grows in the wild

-and you learn from that.

-No-one can teach you that.

-After the lecture, Bleddyn and Sue

-show people around the garden.

-People see the plants

-at their best...

-..see what they'd like to buy

-and hear more stories.

-As the saying goes,

-Bleddyn does have green fingers.

-Almost every seed he plants grows.

-It's surprising

-how much he knows about them.

-Not many people across the country

-know that much about these plants.

-After seeing and hearing about them,

-now there's a chance to buy plants.

-Sue takes the money.

-It's July, time for the Tatton Show,

-a very important occasion for Crug.

-The show is known

-as the Chelsea of the North.

-Smilacina salvinii.

-We only do one show

-every year, Tatton.

-We're not set up like other people.

-The weather this year

-has been very difficult.

-We had a very hot spring,

-no rain for six weeks.

-Recently, it's been windy...

-..and a temperature of thirty.

-So it's very difficult!

-Twenty, one tray.

-This is one of the busiest times

-for Bleddyn and Sue.

-It's quite important to remind

-people we're still here...

-..and to show the new things

-we've got for sale.

-We bring in many

-new plants every year.

-Between 200 and 300 new additions.

-No-one else does it on that scale.

-That's it.

-We'll be off first thing.

-In typically British weather...

-..Bleddyn and Sue are

-busy at work at the Tatton Show.

-As well as running the stall...

-..they also show

-their plants for the RHS.

-We have the blue one here as well.

-I don't know if you've seen that.

-Today's the first day, Members Day.

-It's quite busy. We get the keen

-people here the first day.

-They're looking for unusual plants.

-As well as the public...

-..another group of people are

-very interested in the Crug plants.

-The competitors!

-When we arrive, they're all

-here to see what we've got.

-Everyone wants to buy,

-before we open in the morning.

-That's a good thing.

-They buy the plants from us,

-go home and propagate them.

-Next year, we'll see our plants

-on the other stalls!

-Other nurseries are Crug's biggest

-customers in Tatton.

-So it's important to have a crop of

-new plants every year to keep ahead.

-One of the people who appreciate

-Bleddyn and Sue's stall in Tatton...

-..is the popular gardening

-presenter, Diarmuid Gavin.

-Here in the Plant Society marquee...

-..there are people

-who go to extremes...

-..to find us new

-and exciting plants.

-He's looking for unusual,

-striking plants for his garden...

-..at next year's Chelsea Show.

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-Crug arrange special days

-during the year.

-This is the Spring Fair.

-1.50 for boxes of six.

-It's the busiest day of the year.

-We get more people through the gates

-on this day than any other.

-We invite other nurseries

-from all over...

-..especially North Wales,

-to sell plants here.

-We call it a fair.

-We come from Glan Conwy, but all the

-plants are grown in Betws-y-coed.

-We meet a lot of friends

-here every year.

-It's mostly the same people who

-come. I think everyone's ready now.

-We're just waiting for people

-to come in once the gate opens.

-I'm sorry, we're not open until ten.

-Before opening, the yard

-must be cleared.

-Hello!

-We have to be very strict

-about this, I'm very sorry.

-Oh, we'll go home, then.

-Oh, we'll go home, then.

-

-I'm sorry...

-We've come quite a long way.

-This is ludicrous, hanging

-around until ten o'clock.

-Unbelievable how rude

-some people can be, isn't it?

-Welcome to the Plant Fair.

-I'm supposed to be taking

-money as well.

-'Morning.

-A lot of people pay to come in.

-But who will be the first to buy?

-For once, Bleddyn doesn't have to

-travel far to discover new plants.

-I can't go everywhere!

-It's a chance to do some shopping.

-I never go to nurseries

-in this country.

-This is my favourite nursery.

-And when more people come here

-to sell too, it's even better.

-These days are vital

-for Crug's business.

-They're only open for seven months

-but staff must be paid all year.

-It's very busy.

-People are buying a lot of plants.

-The day's going very well.

-It's autumn, and Diarmuid

-has come personally to Crug...

-..with his own film crew.

-He's accepted the big challenge

-of competing in Chelsea next year.

-He's very keen

-to impress the judges.

-He's going belly up!

-I want to do something

-that's a bit of fun.

-I haven't a clue

-about some of the gardens.

-I just know about plants,

-I'm afraid.

-Well, one doesn't really

-exist without the other.

-Diarmuid loves the new plants...

-..that Crug will be releasing

-to the public next year.

-That is amazing!

-This is a Tetrapanax.

-It's very exciting for you,

-as you're about to release it.

-Yes.

-That's going to be

-one of our best introductions.

-With the light coming

-through the leaves.

-Diarmuid wants Crug's plants...

-..as they can't be found

-anywhere else.

-He'll be back in spring

-to collect the plants.

-It's gone all misty, hasn't it?

-I needed to clean

-the lens at some point.

-After Diarmuid leaves,

-Crug begins to prepare for winter.

-The nursery closes

-at the end of September.

-Some of the staff

-will work all winter.

-But this is the time Bleddyn

-and Sue prepare to go hunting.

-This year, to Taiwan and Vietnam.

-This is the most interesting part

-of all Bleddyn and Sue's work...

-..and the most important.

-Taiwan is an island

-off the coast of China.

-It's Bleddyn and Sue's favourite

-hunting destination.

-Eleven years ago, they were the

-first plant and seed hunters here...

-..since the first collectors

-a century ago.

-Up the Taroko Gorge.

-It's one of the best places

-for us to find plants...

-..right at the top end.

-This road has changed a lot over

-the years we've been coming here.

-It was just a narrow lane.

-Soon, they're in the mountains.

-Bleddyn doesn't want

-to lose any hunting time.

-He begins even before

-getting to the hotel.

-Autumn's the time to collect seeds.

-It can be difficult

-to recognize some plants.

-But it's no problem for the expert.

-You see that dark bit?

-Those are the seeds.

-Monkshood.

-I have to watch how I pick it,

-or all the seeds will spring out.

-That's it.

-Aconitum.

-Those dark ones are seeds.

-Each seed is labelled with its name

-and the altitude where it was found.

-Altitude...

-..3,060 metres.

-Must be three times

-the height of Snowdon.

-Oops!

-Even the keenest hunters must eat.

-Before going to the hotel,

-they visit the local supermarket.

-3 for that.

-Biscuits.

-Oh!

-Oh!

-

-The next day, back to work.

-Over the years, Bleddyn has

-discovered that the climate...

-..on mountains in warm countries

-can be similar to Wales's climate.

-It's an evergreen tree, which

-we try to find in every country.

-Many have never been

-grown in our country.

-They're very valuable trees...

-..for a gardener,

-as they're evergreen.

-Although they're right by the road,

-it isn't easy to collect the seeds.

-But Bleddyn and Sue

-are a natural team.

-You don't want to get

-that bloomin' powder over you.

-Bleddyn and I have been

-together now for 29 years.

-We're used to being

-together every day.

-So for us, it isn't a problem

-to travel together.

-We know how the other one thinks,

-so it isn't a problem for us.

-Tetrapanax papyrifer,

-rice paper plant.

-They make rice paper out of the pith

-in the middle of the tree.

-Paper?

-You see this powder?

-It's called indumentum.

-It's like small hairs,

-but star shaped.

-If you breathe them, they're very

-itchy, a real irritant.

-For the eyes too.

-Yes. That's why we gave

-a woman's name to the plant we have.

-Don't hold the leaves,

-or you'll get powder over you.

-Hold this.

-Both of us are completely different

-when we're out hunting.

-It's the same with our work at home.

-Sue looks more

-at the design of things.

-I look more at the practicalities

-of growing plants.

-I'll hold the tree, you just cut it.

-I look for the plant, and Sue maybe

-looks at the plant's appearance.

-So we'll collect something

-that looks better...

-..than another collector,

-who might just want the plant.

-Everyone back now, in case...

-Move out of the way,

-or you'll get this stuff over you.

-Right, it'll go like a catapult.

-Another advantage

-of collecting in the wild...

-..is that Bleddyn and Sue see

-the plants in their natural habitat.

-This means that they succeed

-in growing the plants back home...

-..where others have failed.

-It is a good plant in the garden.

-Very dramatic.

-Architectural, as they say.

-Architectural, as they say.

-

-Architectural!

-What's that in Welsh?

-Mm?

-Mm?

-

-Don't know.

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-For the next month, Bleddyn

-and Sue travel throughout Taiwan.

-Sometimes they pick plants

-by the roadside...

-..other times at high altitudes.

-Whatever the weather,

-they must go out to hunt.

-It can take days

-to find a certain seed.

-People think that travelling

-for three months...

-..is a nice, glamorous holiday.

-But they don't see the other side

-of travelling, as we do.

-Ouch!

-Brambles.

-Don't complain! Come on.

-We're looking for Acer, maple seeds.

-This only grows in Taiwan.

-It grows very slowly.

-A tree like this

-is hundreds of years old.

-That's all we've found so far.

-I hope we'll find more.

-A hundred.

-A hundred.

-

-OK.

-A hundred and twenty.

-Even after getting back

-to the hotel, the work isn't over.

-I'm trying to work out the names

-of the plants we've collected.

-I've got this clump of seeds.

-And a few leaves.

-I'm trying to work out

-what its name is...

-..from these books we borrowed

-in Teroko, headquarters.

-I know it's a clematis.

-But there are more

-than fourteen varieties.

-Eighteen in Taiwan.

-It's quite a job to work out

-which one it is.

-I think I've got it now,

-with Sue's help.

-I'm cleaning the seeds

-we collected today.

-We must do this tonight.

-There's a load of things

-we must do before going to bed.

-You need a lot of patience

-to clean the seeds.

-Especially when you're tired...

-..and have been walking

-in cold rain all day!

-This is one aspect I don't enjoy.

-Nearing the end

-of their visit to Taiwan...

-..Bleddyn and Sue look for the seeds

-of a very special plant.

-The seeds of this plant were first

-collected ten years ago.

-It's taken this long

-to get the seed...

-..to grow into a plant in Wales.

-They're keen now

-to get a fresh stock of seeds.

-This is Schefflera taiwaniana.

-We're going to release

-this plant next year.

-It's going to be an excellent

-plant for us.

-We've grown it in the garden

-for ten years.

-We're going to release it during

-the Chelsea Show week next year.

-It's our Number One plant, I think.

-I hope it will bring us

-a bit of money!

-This is the hardest species

-we've grown so far...

-..of these Scheffleras.

-People are used to seeing

-Scheffleras in houses.

-This is hardy enough

-to grow outside.

-We're quite high here,

-just under 3,000 metres altitude.

-That's quite hardy enough to grow

-throughout most of Britain.

-Scheffleras are very fashionable.

-This is the plant gardener Diarmuid

-Gavin wants for the Chelsea Show.

-I'll throw more of the fruit down.

-Right?

-Right?

-

-Right.

-There's three of them. Catch!

-The hunting is over

-for another year.

-Before leaving, they visit Taiwan's

-Museum of Natural Science...

-..in Taichung, to discuss

-their work with the experts.

-Bleddyn has examples

-of dried plants to show them.

-You can put the specimens here.

-Right.

-We can also return plants

-that originally came from Taiwan.

-We came here to collect

-seeds years ago.

-After disasters like earthquakes...

-..they almost lost some plants.

-So we can return plants to them.

-Bleddyn's field work

-enables the museum...

-..to reintroduce some rare

-plants to the wild.

-This is an important

-personal incentive for him.

-Back in Wales, winter beckons.

-It's time to get things in order.

-Right, we've got some

-pressed specimens here.

-It's a record in a way,

-like pressed flowers.

-I dry them here,

-after returning home.

-Then we keep them

-as a reference.

-Things like this will last

-for hundreds of years.

-I've got another very important

-plant this year.

-I was looking for this.

-It's called Sarcococcus,

-or Christmas Box.

-I collected this twig

-with fruit on it...

-..another twig with flowers

-and another with buds.

-Bleddyn has collected dried

-specimens like these from the start.

-I found these in India last year.

-A complete, correct

-record is essential.

-A number of the plants haven't been

-described in scientific books.

-Poring through the books,

-Bleddyn often discovers mistakes...

-..and corrects them.

-That's the Latin name.

-A few days after returning

-from Taiwan...

-..the plants arrive in the post.

-Our second parcel

-from Vietnam has arrived.

-It's come quickly too, in 3 days.

-The only thing is,

-the wrapping has torn a little.

-I'm in rather a hurry to see

-if everything's still here.

-I'm not allowed to open it

-without taking it to our quarantine.

-It's under lock and key.

-They're very strict about this.

-I'll just open this.

-I must wear a white coat here

-and disinfect my shoes.

-It's got an awful smell.

-Right, the plants.

-That looks very fresh.

-Lovely.

-Each plant and seed

-must be carefully unpacked.

-The whole collection must stay

-in the quarantine room...

-..until the official from the Plant

-Health Authority releases them.

-Bleddyn has one particular plant

-he wants to develop...

-..for this year's market,

-Sarcococcus, the Christmas Box.

-This is top of the list.

-That's why I've gone

-to so much trouble.

-I've got cuttings - and seeds too.

-I did get some seeds eventually.

-But we had to search for four days.

-It costs thousands of pounds

-to maintain the quarantine room.

-It's very important to comply

-with the strict regulations...

-..so they can keep

-their valuable importing licence.

-Any spare old leaves

-which we remove from things...

-..must be put in these bags.

-They're frozen

-for a week, then burnt.

-Not even water goes out of here.

-Quarantine is necessary to protect

-plants in Britain from disease.

-But conditions in the quarantine

-room aren't ideal for plants.

-Our main problem

-is keeping them cold.

-We try to collect plants from

-mountain tops, where it is cold...

-..so they can grow outdoors here.

-Trying to get them used to

-the outdoors is the next hurdle...

-..after six months in here.

-I'll just lock it.

-That's it.

-A few weeks after

-returning from Taiwan...

-..the official from the Plant Health

-Authority, David Warren, calls.

-Hello, David, how are you today?

-Hello, David, how are you today?

-

-Not bad.

-He's here to check if there

-are any diseases or insects...

-..on the plants

-from Vietnam and Taiwan.

-It's an anxious time for Bleddyn.

-He can't release the plants

-without David's permission.

-Thank you.

-If he found something wrong,

-we'd have to burn the plant...

-..and everything with it,

-pot and soil.

-Then we'd have

-to start quarantine again.

-Or burn them all!

-Bleddyn can't do anything

-now but wait...

-..and hope.

-David comes out -

-there is a problem.

-He's found an insect...

-..on the leaf of Bleddyn's most

-important find...

-..the Christmas Box.

-This is disastrous news.

-These plants are from the other

-side of the world...

-..in similar climatic

-conditions to the United Kingdom.

-And so therefore

-there's a strong possibility...

-..that any pests and diseases they

-may be carrying could survive...

-..in this climate.

-Our worst fear is alien insects...

-..very similarly or closely related

-to our own native species...

-..because these are quickly spread.

-All that Bleddyn can do now is wait

-while the Plant Health Authority...

-..carry out their experiments.

-If there's an insect, or traces

-of insects, on the plants...

-..they'll all have to be destroyed.

-They'd lose years of sales

-of the Christmas Box.

-A great personal

-and financial loss.

-At last, the call comes.

-It's bad news.

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-The worst possible news came

-from the Plant Health Authority.

-There's a problem

-with Bleddyn's most important find.

-They've found a new insect

-they've never seen before.

-So we've got to burn everything now.

-Bleddyn doesn't only discover

-new plants for science.

-He's discovered a new insect too.

-Unfortunately,

-it's on his favourite plant.

-They all have to be burnt.

-Luckily, we collected seeds

-from this plant...

-..Christmas Box, Sarcococcus.

-That was the main plant

-we looked for in Taiwan.

-The plants have gone now.

-But we've got a few seeds.

-I hope we'll be lucky with those.

-We lose two or three years

-until we have enough plants...

-..to produce more of them.

-But the work must go on.

-With winter approaching,

-Bleddyn must be watchful.

-He must get up early

-every day to do the rounds.

-That was yesterday at nightfall.

-Temperature is important.

-Frost can kill young plants.

-Bleddyn isn't the only busy person.

-Everyone has important work

-this time of year.

-It's January now and it's cold.

-We're preparing for the new season.

-Today, we're repotting

-a lot of the stock plants.

-We try to do that once a year.

-Most of these plants have never

-been grown in a nursery before.

-So it's essential to get

-the conditions right.

-Only Bleddyn can do this,

-as he's seen the plants in the wild.

-They must have plenty of air.

-This time of year,

-that's the main thing they need.

-That's why we redid this tunnel,

-to raise it.

-Now air can circulate

-around these young plants.

-It seems to be working well.

-Everything looks

-healthier this year.

-There are thousands of plants here,

-each with its own needs.

-There are only three weeks before

-Crug reopens to the public.

-By then, this sales corner

-has to be full of new plants.

-But winter isn't quite over.

-In February,

-there's an unexpected snowfall.

-Great for the dogs,

-but not for the plants.

-Only a week before opening,

-it's impossible to work.

-Only one staff member

-could get to work.

-It's important that the roots

-of young plants don't freeze.

-That's what we look out for most.

-We'll use the brushes.

-In early spring,

-the effects of winter can be seen.

-We've had a very mild winter.

-Everything was beginning

-to come out very early.

-The new growth was very early

-and was hit by frost.

-Some of these have frozen.

-All these Hydrangea

-buds have frozen.

-It's quite possible that things

-like this won't bloom this year.

-Pity, but there we are.

-We have to learn to live with it.

-It's April, and a big day at Crug.

-It's the launch

-of Schefflera taiwaniana.

-People swarm to buy it -

-and at a price of 50 each.

-Bleddyn and Sue first collected

-its seeds ten years ago.

-It's taken since then

-to grow enough plants to sell.

-Now, there's great

-anticipation to see the plant.

-And the Schefflera

-can only be bought at Crug.

-If they found something

-like this in Holland...

-..they'd start producing

-thousands of them.

-They can grow plants

-from test tubes.

-It's called micropropagation.

-We can't do that.

-We have to grow things

-like this from cuttings.

-You can't get a lot of cuttings

-from a plant like this.

-Or you can grow it from seed.

-So we have to wait until

-the plant grows big enough...

-..to produce its own seeds.

-It's done that.

-You can see that people

-will like this very much.

-The way the leaves fall.

-It's one of the best plants

-we've brought to this country.

-I've been looking forward

-to this one for a while.

-The launch attracts

-people from near and far.

-Plants are Bleddyn's life,

-but one has to earn a living.

-It's been a very successful day.

-A week later, and Diarmuid's back

-to collect his plants.

-He knows exactly what he wants to

-see first - the Schefflera.

-That is very beautiful.

-That is very beautiful.

-

-It's the whole mood of the time.

-Yes.

-Can we dig this one up

-and show it in Chelsea?

-It's amazing, absolutely amazing.

-I love them.

-I love them.

-

-Should be hardy to minus fifteen.

-Wow. OK, well,

-London town's no problem.

-You're used to this one, Mellifera.

-Everywhere.

-The Chelsea Show

-is only six weeks away.

-So, down to the plastic tunnels

-to choose plants.

-You've got the foliage on these.

-You've got the foliage on these.

-

-Absolutely, yes.

-By next week I would hope

-they'd be coming down to us.

-It's nice for us that Diarmuid sees

-plants here for the first time.

-Plants he's never seen before.

-He hasn't got an idea what they are.

-He's very excited about them.

-That's Tilifolia. It's from a little

-island off the coast of Korea.

-They're fantastic!

-They're fantastic!

-

-Yes.

-Would you have ten of them?

-Probably more than that.

-They're very passionate

-about their plants...

-..and they have very unusual plants.

-It's not like going to an ordinary

-nursery. It's very, very different.

-It's exciting.

-It's contemporary plant hunters,

-and you don't find too many of them.

-Gardening style is changing.

-People want the plants we grow.

-People are looking for leaves now.

-Flowers aren't as important.

-People look at the shape of the

-leaves. They want structure now.

-It's quite good really,

-isn't it, to get from here...

-..a little place like this,

-to Chelsea.

-Don't you think so?

-How's that?

-After Diarmuid leaves, the staff

-sort out the plants he chose...

-..for his garden at the show

-in Chelsea.

-We have to look after the leaves

-as if they were flowers.

-It's a relief as well

-to get them out of the way...

-..so that somebody else

-can look after them for us.

-While loading,

-Sue gets some good news.

-We've been invited by the president

-of the RHS for drinks at Chelsea.

-Good lord!

-Have we? What for?

-I'm very excited!

-Brilliant, isn't it?

-Well, it is.

-Fabulous.

-When's that?

-When's that?

-

-The 25th.

-I'll have to get a new frock now!

-He's taking a dozen of these.

-At 75 for a large Schefflera...

-..a lot of money

-is going out of the doors.

-It's very special to receive

-an invitation like this...

-..to meet the president at Chelsea.

-It's something you can't buy.

-The big day has arrived.

-We're going to Chelsea tomorrow.

-I've decided to take

-the white linen skirt...

-..and a small white top.

-And this, if it's cold.

-But I've bought one new thing,

-a handbag.

-I thought it was a bit of fun, to go

-to Chelsea with a handbag like this.

-I've got shoes to match.

-A bit of fun, for Chelsea.

-Down at the big show...

-..Diarmuid is working on his garden

-until the last minute.

-But he's glad of one thing.

-Do you see the new plants?

-We only know them as house plants

-in this country, the Scheffleras.

-This is a Schefflera Taiwanese.

-Come here, have a look at it.

-You have to see this.

-It's never been seen.

-They're the bees knees,

-the big kahuna.

-Diarmuid gets a lot of attention

-at the Chelsea Show...

-..as much for the colourful balls

-as for the plants.

-Finally, the adjudication.

-The trees are exceptionally good.

-He wins the Silver-Gilt Medal.

-Sue and Bleddyn

-visit Diarmuid in his garden.

-We enjoyed Chelsea, didn't we?

-We enjoyed Chelsea, didn't we?

-

-Yes.

-A day out.

-We saw how the other half live!

-It's been a very busy

-and important year...

-..for Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones.

-The launch of the Schefflera

-was successful...

-..and the gardens look superb.

-Bleddyn and Sue have spent 13 years

-travelling around the world...

-..collecting plants.

-Now, people from all over the world

-travel to Wales to buy them.

-I'm sure we'll just carry on.

-Travel as much as we can,

-for as long as we can.

-For twenty more years, I hope.

-We'll see.

-If we have our health.

-If we have our health.

-

-Let's hope so.

-Or I'll go in a chair one day,

-to look for things!

-And send you to get them.

-And send you to get them.

-

-LAUGHTER

-We're very lucky.

-We're very lucky.

-

-Yes.

-We enjoy what we do.

-We enjoy what we do.

-

-Yes.

-It would be good to make more money.

-But we earn a living.

-Better than when we farmed,

-which is most important.

-We're happy.

-We're happy.

-

-Yes.

-S4C Subtitles by:

-GWEAD