Each year the Trials Department runs special Open Days at RHS Garden Wisley. They provide plenty of additional information about the trial and give you the opportunity to speak to the experts. The days are free once you are in the garden.
12 April
Small Tulips and Some Daffodils Day
A series of lectures by well-known tulip and daffodil specialists took place in the Hillside Events Centre, RHS Garden Wisley.
List of tulip species and cultivars under trial
Throughout May - Rhododendron yakushimanum hybrid trial
The 10-year Rhododendron yakushimanum hybrid trial has finished and the AGMs have been ratified. This was the last chance to see all the entries - including the AGMs - together.
24 and 31 May; 7, 14, 21, 28 June
Evergreen Ceanothus trial
These days gave the opportunity to visit the off-site trial of evergreen Ceanothus in Wisley village.
6 May
Iris Open Day
A series of lectures by well-known pinks specialists took place in the Garden Meeting Room, Hillside Events Centre, RHS Garden Wisley.
14 June
Pinks Open Day
A series of lectures by well-known pinks specialists took place in the Garden Meeting Room, Hillside Events Centre, RHS Garden Wisley.
10.30am: History of garden pinks (Sue Russell, Chairman of Border Carnations and Pinks Trials Committee)
11.30am: Propagation of pinks and carnations (Jim Marshall, Jim Linnell and Vic Borett)
1.30pm: Latest development in pinks breeding (John Whetman of Whetman Pinks and member of Border Carnations and Pinks Trials Committee
2.30pm: Using pinks in the garden (Tim Lamb of Whetman Pinks)
10.30am - 5pm: Visit the British National Carnation Society Show in the Hillside Events Centre
21 June
Hardy Geranium Trials - The Grand Finale! Open Day
Is 'Rozanne' different from 'Jolly Bee'?
Both cultivars were in the last of the three large hardy Geranium trials, which finished this year. There was one final get-together of geranium buffs on Wednesday, 21 June. Many of the nurserymen from Europe and the UK were attending.
There were some short talks in the morning, then a tour of the Stage III and the AGM winners from Stage I and Stage II.
19 September
Autumn Flowers Open Day
Nigel Colborn hosted the day with speakers such as Graham Rice, Fergus Garrett, Bob Brown and Pam Schwerdt; Dahlia champion Jon Wheatley and Chrysanthemum breeder Barrie Machin also attended.
Actaea (Cimicifuga), Eupatorium, Dahlia, Chrysanthemum and Sedum
were the subjects of short talks on the breeding or selection of new cultivars; the preservation of garden cultivars for posterity in liquid nitrogen; how to use them in the garden.
In the afternoon, there were: tours of the trials;RHS Wisley Floral Superintendent, David Jewell led a tour of the autumn and mixed border; RHS Propagator, David Hide and committee members gave short demonstrations of propagation.
21 September
Hydrangea paniculata trial
There was the opportunity to visit the off-site trial of Hydrangea paniculata in Wisley village.
Hydrangeas are a garden stalwart for flower power, structure and impact in late summer. This day was for gardeners and focussed on Hydrangea paniculata cultivars, giving an insight into the exciting current European and UK trials of H. paniculata, with the same plants being grown in France, The Netherlands and Germany. Members of the RHS Woody Plant Committee plus experts Robert Mallet from France, Abraham Rammeloo from Belgium, Ronald Houtman from Holland and Chris Sanders from England, were on hand to discuss the trial and, using their immense knowledge and experience, advised on nomenclature and cultivation. These four also lectured on trial results from the Shamrock Collection in France, the de Belder introductions, and the characteristics and provenance of new cultivars.