We are delighted that over the winter of 2026/27 we will broadcast a programme of four Zoom talks, open to everyone on Thursday evenings (UK time). The programme will be based on the theme of:
“Some of the Great Alpine Plant Genera”
Full details are listed below, along with instructions as to how to join the meetings. The Zoom link will open on the day of the talk, and virtual doors open from 7.15pm (GMT) for the talk to start at 7.30pm.
Donations
These talks are entirely free of charge to both SRGC members and non-members. Our charitable aim is to make this sort of information freely available to everyone, not just our own members. However, these talks do cost us to organise. If enjoy them, we suggest a £5 donation to support our work, but any amount is hugely appreciated. Choose 'Zoom Talks' from the dropdown list below. Then click the orange 'Donate' button and change the £0 to the amount you would like to donate.
You DO NOT need any PayPal account to pay - you can choose the white "Donate with Debit or Credit Card" option, or alternatively pay using your Paypal account:
Thank you in advance for your support.
COMING SOON:
Thursday 5th November 2026 - via Zoom,
virtual doors open at 7.15pm GMT for 7.30pm start
"The Essential Guide to Meconopsis"
with Helen Knowles
Helen is the founder and owner of Tinnisburn Plants, an RHS Gold Medal winning nursery that she runs from her home at Upper Millsteads, Canonbie in south Scotland.
Helen worked in a range of sectors before realising a long-held dream to focus on her life-long passion for plants and established the nursery in 2009 where she grows truly hardy perennials, alpines and shrubs.
She holds National Plant Collections of Scilla (Chionodoxa), Meconopsis (George Sherriff Group) and is President of The Meconopsis Group.
In The Essential Guide to Meconopsis Helen aims to dispel many of the myths surrounding these captivating plants in addition to introducing the audience to the dazzling diversity of the genus and of course she shares some of her secrets on the successful propagation of Himalayan Poppies.
The Zoom link will be posted here on the day of the talk.
Thursday 3rd December 2026 - via Zoom,
virtual doors open at 7.15pm GMT for 7.30pm start
"Travels in Central Asia from above the snowline"
with John Mitchell
John is the Alpine and Woodland Manager at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and has worked there for over thirty five years.
In this time he has been very fortunate to travel extensively through Central Asia including Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, both on expeditions and leading tours.
In Travels in Central Asia from above the snowline John will look at the diverse range of bulbous species each ‘stan’ has to offer, the different species he has seen and he will also include some endemic species and also show what a beautiful and Botanical hotspot this area is.
The Zoom link will be posted here on the day of the talk.
Thursday 7th January 2027 - via Zoom,
virtual doors open at 7.15pm GMT for 7.30pm start
"Cyclamen - From Seed Pod to Show Bench"
with Diane Clement
Diane is an active member of the Alpine Garden Society from the West Midlands and has been managing the AGS seed exchange for more than 25 years. She is a member of the RHS Alpine Expert Group and has taken part in several RHS plant trials. She specialises in hepatica, cyclamen and woodland plants, and also grows a wide range of other hardy plants.
She enjoys seeing plants growing in their natural environment and has travelled to the Alps for over 45 years. Since retirement, she has gone further afield to China, Japan, Colorado, Turkey, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Patagonia, Armenia, and many parts of Europe. In 2024 Diane was awarded the Lyttel Trophy, the premier award from the Alpine Garden Society, “for an outstanding contribution to the world of alpine plants, and in advancing the knowledge of alpines to a wide audience”.
Cyclamen - From Seed Pod to Show Bench is an in-depth look at this popular genus which includes species that every gardener should grow. Myths, mysteries and misconceptions involving cyclamen will be discussed.
The talk includes cyclamen in the wild, with a detailed look at the species, forms and varieties, including how to sort out the identity of some of the tricky species. There will be practical information about how to grow cyclamen from seed, how to grow on, repotting and round the year care.
The Zoom link will be posted here on the day of the talk.
Thursday 4th February 2027 - via Zoom,
virtual doors open at 7.15pm GMT for 7.30pm start
"Asiatic primulas: in the wild and in the garden"
with David Rankin
David and Stella Rankin live in the relatively dry East of Scotland, just south of Edinburgh, and have been on more than 20 expeditions to the mountains of Asia. They have seen where many Primula species occur, have grown a lot of them - and have failed to grow many more.
Asiatic primulas have a reputation: to see them, you have to trek for weeks through pouring rain; to grow them, you must live in an equally wet part of the country. Not true! It is easier than that, and in Asiatic primulas: in the wild and in the garden David will explain why and how.
The Zoom link will be posted here on the day of the talk.
THE ABOVE EVENTS ARE ALL COMING SOON
Donations
These talks are entirely free of charge to both SRGC members and non-members. Our charitable aim is to make information freely available. However, these talks do cost us to organise.
If enjoy these Zooms, we suggest a £5 donation to support our work, but any amount is hugely appreciated. Choose 'Zoom Talks' from the dropdown list below. Then click the orange 'Donate' button and change the £0 to the amount you would like to donate.
You DO NOT need any PayPal account to pay - you can choose the white "Donate with Debit or Credit Card" option, or alternatively pay using your Paypal account:
