Carnivorous Plant Weekend

Wack’s Wicked Plants is run by Peter Walker, who has been involved in horticulture for more than 30 years. He did his initial training in the Netherlands (where he met his glamorous assistant), had his own gardening business in Yorkshire (including a short break as garden designer in Azerbaijan) until he found his feet as plant grower and seller, specialising in unusual plants. On a busman’s holiday about 15 years ago he was introduced to carnivorous plants and the seed was planted so to speak. Wack’s Wicked Plants is now in it’s 6^th commercial year as a specialist carnivorous plants nursery. It has grown from a small back yard nursery in Knaresborough to one of the largest carnivorous plants nurseries in the north of England. Last year the glamorous assistant (Helleentje Walker) joined the business full time. Last season was the best one so far, winning gold and large gold awards for our displays at almost all the shows, and best in show at Holker Hall. At the end of the year we were invited to attend 2 RHS shows, and we won silver gilt awards at both. Our website lists the shows we will attend this season. For us the ones standing out are Chatsworth Flower Show, RHS Harlow Carr Flower Show and the carnivorous plants weekend at Harlow Carr in August
 
Stephen Morley had always wanted to grow carnivorous plants after seeing pictures in books as a child; after years of searching, he eventually started growing them after finding a Venus fly trap in a garden centre nearly 40 years ago!  He was lucky enough to spend his teenage years in the botanical paradise of South Africa, where he saw many carnivorous plants in the wild, and even discovered a new cultivar of bladderwort whilst there.  He has a medium-sized collection of plants, and grows representatives from almost all carnivorous plant groups, although has a particular interest in growing and hybridising pitcher plants (Sarracenia).  He has produced and published several new cultivars over the years, including Sarracenia 'Victoria Morley' which recently received an RHS AGM award.  As a professional ecologist, has a particular interest in peat-free cultivation, and has been growing all his plants in "alternative" growing media for at least 25 years.  He opens his greenhouse and garden to carnivorous plant enthusiasts every year on behalf of the Carnivorous Plant Society; this year it is open on 8th July 12-5pm, in Fangfoss (nr York).