Pride & Joy: Jack Hobbs pays tribute to friend and fellow plantsman Terry Hatch for his contributions to New Zealand gardening over the past 50 years

摘要

It's been a great life, playing with plants," mused Terry Hatch as we wandered through his garden a few weeks ago. These words epitomise this remarkable but humble plantsman who has contributed so many great plants to the gardeners of this country.This month is the 50th anniversary of his plant growing in New Zealand. During this half century he has bred and introduced many of our most popular garden plants, as well as sharing his vast knowledge through writing, talks and television appearances. Knowing Terry, he will probably celebrate this milestone in the potting shed.Terry's involvement with plants began at the age of seven in his native London, when he began breeding hellebores, apples and dodecatheons. On leaving school at 15, he worked for Dagenham Parks for five years as a horticultural apprentice. That same year he brought home a bunch of delphinium cut flowers from the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, placed them in sugar water until they set seed and then raised his own hybrids.