Helen Picton, The Picton Garden & Old Court Nurseries – ‘It is NOT time for bed yet’

Helen Picton is a specialist grower of autumn flowering asters.   The Picton family operates Old Court Nurseries and The Picton Garden in Herefordshire, England.   The nursery was established by Ernest Ballard, the first nurseryman to popularise autumn-flowering asters.   The Pictons hold the Plant Heritage National Plant Collection of autumn-flowering asters, with more than four hundred forms present in the collection.  Helen joined the business after completing a botany degree at the University of Reading and has since then been working full time with asters.   She also lectures and gives talks throughout the U.K.