Planting for the shade
Win a pair of new look Backdoor Shoes
The night shift in your garden
High summer gardening events in Hampshire
Hampshire ISSUE NO 116 AUGUST 2019 FREE
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Up Front!
“Every now and again there is a hot, high summer morning in the garden when you feel nothing can go wrong with the world” – John Cheever
OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GARDENING CALENDAR OVER THE COMING WEEKS IN HAMPSHIRE
Regency dress for Jane Austen’s gardens
Regency dress is actively encouraged when the gardens and grounds of Jane Austen’s House Museum open on Saturday, July 27th from 10am to 5pm for a special birthday party to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the museum. The gardens and grounds will be decorated and prepared for lots of family activities including live music, Regency garden games to play and pop up drinks and food stalls. Visitors can head into the house for the dedicated anniversary museum. Jane Austen’s House Museum, Chawton, Alton, GU34 1SD.
Kitchen garden planning at Gilbert White’s House If you are looking for some insights in sowing and growing vegetables then there’s a one-day Kitchen Garden Course being held at Gilbert White’s House in Selborne on Saturday 24th August from 10am to 4pm. The day will be spent learning how to plan, prepare and sow your own vegetables and the course covers crop planning, soil, preparation within the historic 18th century kitchen garden. Those attending will have planted seeds a to take away with them as well as additional seeds to sow in their own gardens. Gilbert White’s House & The Oates Collections, The Wakes, High Street, Selborne, GU34 3JH.
Thirty acres of showground set to welcome show visitors There is always a strong gardening theme at the New Forest and Hampshire County Show at Brockenhurst from Friday, 30th July to Sunday, 1st August. Again showcasing the best of the New Forest and Hampshire and there’s 30 acres of showground to enjoy including show gardens, flowers, vegetables and over 600 trade stands. Entry prices available at www.newforestshow.co.uk Brockenhurst, S042 7QH.
Sunday opening days at Longstock Park Water Gardens The spectacular water gardens at Longstock Park on the Leckford estate in Stockbridge are holding special open days every Sunday through to 15th September. The water gardens covers around seven acres and were originally created by the Beddington family during the early 1900’s. The water gardens became part of the estate in 1942 and since then the gardens have been nurtured and developed. The open Sundays are from1pm to 4pm. Park Water Garden, Leckford Estate, Stockbridge, SO20 6EH.
Artlook exhibitor back at Harold Hillier Gardens Sir Harold Hillier Gardens hosts a summer exhibition, ‘Artlook ‘ from Saturday, August 3rd until Sunday, August 18th from 10am to 5pm. Artlook is a group of artists based in Hampshire and Wiltshire and their work covers a wide range of landscapes, still life and abstract in a collection of watercolours, acrylics, oils, pastels and prints. Entry is free. On Friday, 16th August the gardens also host a garden botanicals tasting event where you can stroll around the gardens enjoying a sampling of food and drink including apple schnapps, sloe gin, limoncello and other selected botanicals. Entry is £25 to include all food and drink. Booking is essential. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyn’s Lane, Ampfield, Romsey, SO51 0QA.
The September issue of Country Gardener will be available from Friday, 23rd August www.countrygardener.co.uk
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We’re looking for volunteer ‘Champions’ to help reduce the amount of food and household waste thrown away in the county. You’ll help us spread the word on how families can save as much as £60 per month by making the most of the food they buy, throwing away less and trying out home composting. As a Champion you’ll get full training and support to help you pass on tips and advice at events and in your local community. Find out more at: hants.gov.uk/smartliving Email: waste.prevention@hants.gov.uk Phone: 01962 845595 or 01962 832286
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A LOOK AT NEWS, EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS IN HAMPSHIRE
P lant Heritage honours sweet pea expert Chichester based sweet pea expert Roger Parsons has been awarded a major prize for his cultivation and research into the plant in over 30 years. Roger is the holder of the national collection of Lathyrus and the Brickell award recognises the plant conservation work undertaken by collection holders to secure plants in cultivation, through rediscovery and propagation. Roger began growing sweet peas in 1985 and started collecting Lathyrus species in 1991. Recognised as a National Plant Collection in 1993, it was initially based at Hotham Park, Bognor Regis, when Roger was Head of Parks and Landscapes at Arun District Council. He started adding Lathyrus odoratus cultivars to the collection in 1998. Following retirement from Arun District Council in 2005 Roger and his collection moved to Bracklesham Bay. The collection, which originally numbered in the hundreds, now covers approximately 69 species and 1400 cultivars.
This has been achieved by sourcing material from across the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Europe (particularly Latvia) and the UK. different cultivars over several growing seasons. Roger believes that the Roger Parsons best way to conserve a cultivar is for people to grow it. He therefore offers the largest selection of cultivars in the world and promotes types of sweet pea not available elsewhere. Lathyrus ‘Prince of Orange’, a variety introduced in 1928, was thought lost to cultivation. The name had been used for an earlier cultivar grown by the Hemus family at Holdfast Hall, Worcester, a century ago. Roger managed to obtain seed thought to be this variety from a source in Canada and has subsequently been able to confirm its identity.
Art in the Garden at Harold Hillier Gardens The Sir Harold Hillier Garden, set over 180 acres of rolling Hampshire countryside continues to host a fascinating ‘Art in the Garden’ exhibition through to October 13th. The exhibition opens daily from 10am to 5pm and is free but garden admission prices apply. It features award winning local, new and established British sculptors and artists from overseas. It is a selling exhibition and a great opportunity to buy a unique piece of sculpture for your garden. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyn’s Lane, Ampfield, Romsey SO51 0QA.
Chawton House hosts Plant Fairs Roadshow Chawton House is hosting a second Plant Fairs Roadshow on Sunday, 21st July opening at 11am and running through to 4pm.It is a return event at the Hampshire ‘Great House’ referred to in Jane Austen’s letters, which has now been sensitively restored. Thirteen specialist nurseries will be on hand to sell high quality plants, perennials, herbs, trees and shrubs-all backed up with expert planting and growing advice. Entry is ÂŁ5 and includes garden admission. Refreshments will be available for purchase in the tearoom. There will be an additional ÂŁ5 charge for visitors wishing to explore the house. Chawton House, Chawton, Alton GU34 1SJ. www.countrygardener.co.uk
5
GARDENERS’ CUTTINGS IN HAMP SHIRE
Summer foraging at Queen Elizabeth Country Park Two summer foraging courses with Wild Foods UK takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park just north of Waterlooville on Friday, August 2nd and Saturday, 24th August. With over 2000 acres of downland and woodland, Queen Elizabeth Country Park is in the South Downs National Park and is a great base for foraging. The course begins with a short introduction on what to look for and an outline of the countryside codes and how they apply to foraging. Then there’s a two and a half hour walk and search around the park teaching you how to forage and identify the different summer shoots, plants and hopefully mushrooms. There’s a break along the way for homemade refreshment. There are limited spaces. The August 24th forage starts at 11am and finishedsat 2.30pm and the August 24th forage starts at 12 and finishes at 3.30pm. Queen Elizabeth Country Park, South Downs Way, Waterlooville PO8 0QE.
THE PERFECT DAY OUT AT RHS GARDEN ROSEMOOR If you’re looking for an inspirational day out for a group of friends, family or perhaps your local WI, social or gardening club, the idyllic RHS Garden Rosemoor near Torrington in North Devon ticks all the boxes. One of four – soon to be five – RHS gardens around the UK, it offers the combination of a beautiful garden setting with a year-round calendar of events. Visitors who are travelling as part of a group of ten can benefit from discounted group rates as well as options for private garden tours or special catering packages. Spread across 65 acres, in the Torridge Valley, RHS Garden
Damerham fair a big attraction for gardeners Damerham Fair is one of the most popular village fairs in Hampshire and one which has always maintained a strong horticultural link for gardeners to enjoy. Over 2,000 people are attracted to the event which is held this year on Saturday, 27th July and which features a traditional horticultural show, main arena events, plant and crafts stalls, live music and a fun dog show. Admission is £4 for adults and children go free. Open from 11am onwards with proceeds going to village charities and Damerham Church. Sports Field, Damerham, Fordingbridge SP6 3HQ.
Rosemoor is a hidden gem. Voted one of the best places in the country to see roses, and home to the only RHS Flower Show in the southwest, it offers an opportunity for seeing world-class horticulture. New for 2019 is a Cool Garden created by award-winning designer Jo Thompson, featuring subtle blues, whites and silver colours, all enhanced by water. The calendar of events offered includes flower shows and specialist plant weekends, Artisan Food Fairs, a Real Ale and Gin Festival and Rosemoor ‘Live’ events with theatre and live bands. A group of ten or more qualifies for discounts for travelling together. Visit www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor or call 01805 626810.
WILDLIFE DAY AT GILBERT WHITE’S HOUSE Gilbert White’s House and Gardens in Selborne is encouraging children with an interest in wildlife and the outdoors to join in a wildlife holiday day camp from Monday to Thursday, 5th to 8th August. Aimed at children between eight and 12 years of age, the camp will use all of the 30acre Hampshire site and neighbouring woodland. Activities will include pond duping, habitats building, butterfly hunts, animal tracking, bat box building and Bushcraft. Gilbert White’s House and Gardens, the Wakes, High St, Selborne, GU34 3JH. 6
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Mark Hinsley
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Flower
power! by Gill Heavens
In the latest in her hugely popular series on how plants work, Gill Heavens gets to the dramatic part - the production of flowers, the reproduction organs of plants
There are various aesthetic, environmental and life affirming reasons for choosing to tend and toil in the garden. For many of us the main objective is to grow flowers. Flowers are magnificent in their variety and beauty, and to admire them is one of the simplest of life’s pleasures. Unless of course you have Elton John’s extravagant taste, making it a rather expensive pleasure! What gardener hasn’t studied a reluctant plant, willing it to form a flower bud and then watch with great interest, and a certain amount of trepidation, as it begins to swell and unfurl? Flowers provide colour and charm for us to savour and admire, but they are so much more than mere ornament for the benefit of humankind. First and foremost flowers are the reproductive organs of plants. The male portion of a flower is known as the stamen and is made up of filaments and anthers. This is where 8
the pollen grains are produced. The female structure, consisting of a sticky stigma to catch pollen, a style and an ovary, is known as the pistil. In some plants the male and female parts are housed in the same flower; these are hermaphrodites. Species that have two differently sexed flowers on the same plant are known as monocecious, literally meaning “one house”. Members of the cucumber family fall into this category. It is common practice to remove male cucumber flowers to prevent the resulting fruit becoming bitter. Dioecious species, “two houses”, have distinctly sexed plants. In order to enjoy the berries of a skimmia you must have male and female specimens in close proximity. This is further complicated by the introduction of self-pollinating varieties! The process of cross pollination, known as allogamy, ensures genetic variation. Most plants naturally avoid self-fertilisation, or autogamy, as this produces less diverse Country Gardener
offspring. Those are the mechanics, but the plant still has to transport the pollen from one plant to the ready recipient. This is achieved in two ways. The first is bribery. Plants entice pollinators to be their couriers by providing a food source in return for conveyance. Special glands called nectaries produce nectar which is both sweet and nutritious. The flowers must tempt the pollinators in and they do this in the very same way that they attract us, by utilising scent and sight. Appearance is a crucial factor. The decorative part of a flower is made up of several components. Sepals form a protective outer coat and fold back as the flower opens. Petals make up the main corolla in one or more layers. Lastly there are tepals, modified leaves with the appearance of petals. Guide lines, like runway lights, can be found at the entrance to some flowers, directing the pollinator to just
where the prize lurks. Plants are hot wired to flower at particular times. This can be stimulated by day length or temperature or a combination of both. It would be literally fruitless to put all your energy into producing pollen when there is no other plant ready to receive it, or active pollinators to distribute it. Once lured into the flower, pollen is brushed onto the body of the visitor which is subsequently transferred to the stigma of the next flower it visits. Plants have developed with specific pollinators in mind. Long tongued bees and butterflies take advantage of the deep blooms of foxgloves and aquilegia, whilst flies, wasps and beetles, sup at the shallow flowered cow parsley and geraniums. Insects are not the only pollinators; red hot pokers are visited by sunbirds in their native South Africa, and ants, hummingbirds and bats all have their roles to play. The other form of attraction is scent. Winter flowering shrubs, such as Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postil’ and Viburnum x bodnantense, often have small flowers but are highly scented. At a time when insects are few and far between a heady perfume is the perfect clarion call. Night scented flowers, such as evening primrose and honeysuckle target nocturnal moths.
“What gardener hasn’t studied a reluctant plant, willing it to form a f lower bud and then watch with interest, and trepidation, as it begins to swell and unfurl?” How flowers are arranged on a plant is varied. There are individual blooms, and multiple flowers in formations such as racemes and umbels. Composites, such as sunflowers, have a myriad of tiny individual flowers surrounded by sterile ray florets. In pre-DNA days, flowers were used by botanists as the principal method of categorising plants. Cross pollination has led to many natural hybrids and, over the millennia, new species. Plant breeders have followed this example. By careful selection of parent plants we have produced many new varieties and cultivars to grace our gardens. We have also utilised flowers in the kitchen and medicine cupboard. Balms and tinctures can be made from marigolds and arnica. Healing teas can be brewed from chamomile and hibiscus, and perfumes distilled from rose and lavender. Recently there has been a fashion for edible flowers, such as violas and nasturtiums, adding colour and flavour to salads.
Not all flower fragrances can be bottled and sold at the perfume counter of John Lewis. Plants that specifically attract flies tend to smell of rotting meat, these are the carrion or corpse flowers, including the curious Stapelia gigantea and the monstrous Amorphopallus titanum.
The most valuable of all however are the golden stamen of Crocus sativus, the saffron crocus, more expensive by weight than gold!
The second way that plants can be pollinated is by the wind.
The aptly named cruel plant, Araujia sericifera, is a case in point. When a moth inserts its proboscis into the flower it will sometimes hold onto it for several hours to ensure pollination. It does not always end well for the moth.
These are the ones to blame for our seasonal hay fever, caused by an allergic reaction to the pollen laden air. As it is not necessary to attract pollinators they don’t need to produce showy flowers or delicious scents. All they need to do is to ensure their flower spikes are held high enough for the breeze to catch them, to both distribute their pollen and receive the same from another. Yew trees can be seen to produce clouds of pollen from their tiny cones at the merest gust.
Bee pollination
The wind as an aid to pollination
Although often a thing of great beauty, the flower’s main role is as a “come hither” to pollinators. And their urge to procreate is relentless. Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postil’
Once pollination has taken place the pollen tunnels its way down into the ovule where fertilisation occurs with the female egg cell. Then the ovum begins to swell, the fruit begins to form... www.countrygardener.co.uk
Vibernum xbodnantese 9
The gourmet basil garden
Thai Basil
Elizabeth McCorquodale urges you to grow your own basil, give it a little respect, plenty of sunshine and your culinary options will start to thrive It hasn’t taken long for basil to become an essential ingredient in British cuisine. Twenty years ago the staples of the British herb garden and spice rack were the old favourites thyme, sage, rosemary and parsley. These days basil figures high on the list of most popular herbs and it ranks near the top of the list in supermarket fresh herb sales – however it still lags behind as a herb garden favourite and it is rare to find basil plants in nurseries or garden centres.
if they are given a little respect. To keep them happy indoors set them in a very bright spot and never let them get chilled by cold temperatures or draughts. Rather than giving your plant a severe haircut with scissors, harvest the leaves by pinching out the growing tips of each stem just above a joint. For every growing tip you pinch out, two new stems will grow. With this in mind, and if you use a lot of basil, three plants on a windowsill should supply you with basil for many, many months.
The one place you can always find it is the supermarket, but these plants are grown as perishables, to be bought, sheared off and discarded. Attempts to keep supermarket basil going for longer than a couple of weeks often end in disappointment and this adds to the impression that basil is tricky to grow. Supermarket basil can indeed be difficult to keep going on the kitchen counter or windowsill, but when you consider how it is planted - densely sown in a small pot, transported in a dark lorry and held in a refrigerated stock room - it isn’t at all surprising. Basil won’t tolerate being wet or cold. It will, however, shrug off the occasional drying out - a good soak for an hour and the wilted plant will pick up and recover with no lasting ill effects. In short, basil will live happily for months on end 10
Country Gardener
Basil loves the heat
Basil in hanging planter
Most garden centres steer clear of basil as the losses are too great to make stocking it worthwhile, so there are only two basil varieties that are routinely available as plants in the UK – Genovese basil (aka sweet basil) and, rarely, Greek basil, and these are largely confined to supermarket shelves and specialist nurseries. There are, however, a delicious, tempting array of other varieties that are readily available
as seeds and they are easy to start off and easy to grow. Most of the tastiest varieties and cultivars belong to the species Ocimum basilicum. Several varieties have hints of the flavours of other plants and most of these are varieties of the common Sweet or Genovese basil. Cinnamon basil (O. basilicum ‘Cinnamon’), several varieties of lemon basil including O. b. Mrs. Burn’s Lemon, lime basil (O. b. Lime) and liquorice basil (O.b.Liquorice) all belong to this group, as do the purple leaved varieties such as O.b. Purpurenscens and O. b. Purple Ruffles. Even the large leaved ‘lettuce leaved’ basil O.b.Crispum belongs to this group despite it’s very different appearance, while at the other end of the scale O.b. Minimum has tiny leaves and grows in a dense bush.
Sadly, African Blue is sterile and is unable to set seed . Plants are always in great demand, so if you come across a specimen in a specialist nursery it is well worth snapping up. Once you have found a plant it is easy to grow and easy to propagate from softwood cuttings. As with all basils, it is frost tender and will need to be lifted and stored inside over winter, with those softwood cuttings providing extra insurance for repeating the show the following year. Given a spot on a sunny windowsill or in a sheltered, nourishing, sunny spot in the garden all the basils will repay you with colour and flavour for months on end. Basil will even flourish under LED lights indoors. As with so many other annuals, if given a consistently warm, bright spot, and regular pinching out of
This last one is the variety that goes by the common name of Greek basil or Globe basil. It’s tiny leaves are highly flavoured and very aromatic. All of the varieties display subtle differences in their flavours, but are particularly different in their appearance. The purple basils are particularly pleasing as a contrast plant in a potager or edible flower garden and they add a lovely splash of colour to salads. The often delicate differences in the flavours of some of these varieties - the lemons and limes, for instance - are best appreciated when they are used as flavourings in drinks and salads. Lemon and lime basils make wonderful additions to a fruit cup and have become an essential ingredient in many cocktails, and liquorice basil is perfect as a garnish in eastern dishes or wherever the flavour of anise is welcome. Some of the very prettiest, and perhaps the most worthwhile basils to grow if space is at a premium, are the spicy varieties such as Thai basil, Siam Queen, Horapha Rue and Lavender Spires. These varieties stand out in the flower and herb gardens, but are at their very best in pots where their leaves and beautiful flowers can be fully appreciated. Once you have experimented with all the different flavours and flowers of the truly edible basils, it will be difficult to resist the delight of the African Blue or Camphor basil. This is a real stunner in the garden and what it loses in flavour, it gains enormously in beauty. African Blue is larger than most other varieties, growing to a generous 75 cm height, with its purple-blue spires reaching a further 10cm above that. This giant among the basils is a perennial and can be grown in a generous pot which is sunk in the ground through the summer and then lifted and overwintered indoors.
the growing tips and removal of any flowers, basil will continue to be productive for much longer than it’s natural one year life cycle. The trick to encouraging it to keep on putting its energy into producing a constant supply of new leaves is to prevent it from flowering and setting seed. If however, you are growing some of the varieties that are grown for their flowers, allowing stems to grow on to maturity is essential, even if it is only at the end of the season. Basil is native to India and North Africa and this is reflected in its need for warmth. In warmer climates many species of basil are perennials but in the UK they will be cut down by the gentlest of frosts. To grow a gourmet basil bed outside, start seedlings off indoors and transplant them outside when the soil is properly warm in the spring and if you are feeling particularly generous give the young plants a little shelter in the form of a cloche. Toward the end of the season, before even a hint of the first frost, dig up your favourites and transplant them into pots to overwinter indoors where they will keep on providing you with colour and flavour long into the winter months. www.countrygardener.co.uk
Images left to right: Transplanting supermarket basil; Greek basil; basil pesto
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Country Gardener
GARDENING JOBS
F OR AUGUST
JOBS IN THE GARDEN
There’s lots of pruning, deadheading and harvesting to be done in August, so if you’re off on your holidays make sure you get some help for your garden or plan ahead. Of course take time to enjoy the garden but gardeners never stop and it may be high summer but it’s also time to start preparing for the autumn vegetable patch and start to sow flowers for next spring.
Time for more broad beans?
Deadhead as much as you can A key task for the month is to deadhead to try and keep all the colour blooming in the garden. You will be able to keep roses going with daily heading and that has to be a bonus. Sweet peas, pelargoniums and cosmos will keep blooming if you deadhead them very regularly, thwarting any signs of a midsummer fade. When you go out watering take a bucket with you and get used to throwing in tired blooms.
It is possible to get a second crop of broad beans especially if the summer is good. In late July and early August, when the broad bean plant has finished, cut down the stem close to the ground about 15 cms near a growing point and give it a feed. On a good year it will re grow and produce a second, lighter smaller crop, but perfectly acceptable producing fresh broad beans in late summer/early autumn. It doesn’t cost you anything and with decent weather extends the season considerable.
WASP ALERT Wasps are a nuisance only late in summer when their queen stops rewarding them with sugary treats so they set out to find other sources, usually picnic-based. The rest of the year they are brilliant predators of garden pests. But if they are becoming too troublesome you can try a wasp trap from trapawasp.co.uk to draw them away from your picnic.
ITS CRUNCH TIME FOR CARING FOR YOUR TOMATOES August is often a critical time to make sure your tomato harvest is the best it can be. Damp weather can see blight appear and too often neglected tomato plants are allowed to waste their energy by producing masses of unnecessary leaves. On going tomato care is really important as the plants start to fruit. Even after pinching out the growing points to stop the tomato growing any taller, as tomatoes grow vigorously if allowed, you will need to keep on pinching out all top growth. The plant will keep growing, keep pinching out and removing leaves so all energy goes to the fruit. This is also the most important time for regular watering and feeding to ensure a good crop of sweet tasting tomatoes. Without the right amount of water and feeding, there will be tomatoes, but of poor quality. www.countrygardener.co.uk
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Mint cuttings for the winter Take root cuttings of mint to keep you in indoor mint through the winter. Tip out of their pots and pull away a length of the thick white root that is snaking around the edge. Snip lengths a couple of inches long then lay them across the surface of a pot of compost, covered with a little of the same. Water and grow on a sunny cool windowsill.
MOW A MEADOW
Keep lavender at its best
Summer-flowering meadows can be cut now that knapweed, devil’s bit scabious, selfheal, lady’s smock and others have flowered and set seed. You need to plan for next spring’s show so cut everything down to cut to a height of around three inches. Leave what you’ve cut for a couple of days to dry and drop any seed, then rake up hay and remove it. Low fertility is key to success, so never mulch with grass clippings.
Give lavender plants a light trim all over as soon as the flowers are past. This is important to keep the plant heavy and not too woody. Like all silver leaved, Mediterranean shrublets they hate to be pruned back into dead wood, so you need to keep them trim and neat with an annual going over. Use shears and take off just an inch or so of this year’s growth, to stimulate bushing out from below.
Dry out onions properly If there is a decent dry spell, onions and shallots can be left on the ground to dry. It is important that before you put onions into storage they are bone dry. If they are even a little damp they will rot very quickly. The greenhouse is idea for drying them off as you can leave them on slatted shelving which is perfect for the job. Onions and garlic will store for 12 months in the right dry environment so it is important to get they really dry.
There’s still planting to be done Plant foxgloves, sweet rocket, sweet williams and pernennials so the roots have time to establish themselves and put on lots of growth before the autumn. Plant out your leeks and brassicas and you can also squeeze in a final sowing of spinach and chard in the first couple of weeks of August. Sow salad leaves under cover, or out in the open if in warmer parts of the UK. Another problem to keep an eye out for is blossom end rot on your tomatoes. This is first spotted on the fruit itself, as a brown or black spot that grows in size and gradually becomes sunken and flat. The risk of blossom end rot can be prevented by frequent watering – the disease being caused by the plants not receiving a sufficient quantity of calcium. Do a last sowing of beetroot – a patch of a purple variety such as ‘Boltardy’, a stripy pink and white, such as ‘Candy Stripe’, and an orange such as ‘Burpee’s Golden’. 14
P LUS
• Watering is key. Keep on top of this daily, making sure you water in the morning or late afternoonevening to prevent the heat evaporating all the water before it reaches the plant roots. • Continue mowing but reduce frequency and raise blades if the weather is hot and dry. Keep watering new lawns; established lawns will soon recover when it rains. • Now is the time to look at your borders and note any gaps/congestion that you’ll want to rectify later in the season when everything has gone over, ahead of next year. • Order spring flowering blubs. Stock of popular varieties may not be available later in the season. You can start planting bulbs such as narcissi, alliums and hyacinths from September. Order autumn stock of perennials to get them settled before the winter.
Country Gardener
August gardening
ADVICE
ADV ICE
Our gardening queries from Country Gardener readers this month range from an old favourite in how to deal with tomato blight to drying herbs and getting plum trees to produce fruit. I would like to enter my dahlias into a competition this year. It is the first time I’ve done this and I need to understand more about disbudding and ensuring I get fewer, but better show class blooms. More and more dahlia growers end up wanting to see what it would be like to grow a very large specimen bloom, worthy as you say perhaps of entering a competition. There is a method of making the flower heads grow considerably larger than normal called ‘disbudding’. Disbudding is the process of removing surplus buds on the stem of the plant as they appear. If you were to leave the plant and not disbud, no harm would come to it. In fact, you will end up with many flowers on a single stem, but they would be small compared to a disbudded, single stemmed dahlia. It is not uncommon for three or four buds to appear on a dahlia stem. Disbudding works by channeling the plant’s energy into making the one, single bloom, hence it will grow to become very big. This process does not affect the colour of the resultant flower either, meaning that disbudding can be an excellent way of producing a very impressive focal point in the garden when the dahlia comes into bloom. To disbud a dahlia, care must be taken to not damage the main bud that you wish to keep. As flower buds start to develop in July and August, just disbud by taking out the smaller buds below the central flower on a stem. It is very easy to inadvertently snap off the bud you had intended to nurture, so pinch very lightly. Pinch off the side buds cleanly where their stalk reaches the main stem of the plant, this will normally be butting up to a leaf.
Helen Duigan, Poole
I have a very prolific lavender hedge and will again try and dry some for the winter. My attempts have not been very successful so far and I often get mouldy, rotten dry stems which soon disintegrate.
Melissa Kirk, Bath
Lavender is one of the most rewarding herbs you can grow but getting perfectly dried lavender needs care and attention. Deciding when to begin harvesting the flowers needs to be given some thought. The weather conditions and humidity will play a role as to when you may begin harvesting lavender for drying. If you have had dry weather for a few days go ahead and start cutting flowers. Morning or evening is fine as long as it’s dry. Remember when you prune lavender bushes always leave some green leafy growth. It won’t regrow from woody stems so if plants become woody and straggly you should replace them. It may be that your problem in terms of drying lavender is trying to dry the herb in too large a bunch. The best results are often achieved in smaller bunches when especially in the early days of drying air can get into the middle and dry evenly. Also don’t dry in direct sunshine which will dry the flowers too quickly and they may start dropping. Hanging the bunches upside down for drying which will allow for air to reach all sides and to prevent the flower tops from curling over. You can use an old coat hanger and clothes pegs to hang several bunches. Place your drying lavender flowers in a cool dry spot, away from sunlight and check on their progress every few days.
My wife and I have a regular discussion about how often the hedges in our garden - box and hawthorn - need cutting to make sure they stay healthy and don’t get too big. It isn’t something we seem to be able to agree on. Whatever hedge you grow the principles of keeping it in trim are largely the same. A hedge that has reached its desired full size effectively just needs all of this year’s growth cutting off. Otherwise logically it will just get bigger and bigger. If however your hedge is still growing to its full height and width just shorten side-shoots to about a third to encourage bushier growth and leave the top until it has got as high as you need it. This is just a basic rule however and there are variations to the answer depending how often different hedge species need cutting back.
Andrew Collis, Barnstaple
Box for instance should be cut twice –once in June and then again in September. Coniferous hedges again need twice a year attention in May and then again in August, pruning any later is inked to brown patches appearing. Ilex (holly) only needs a once a year cut as does yew and lavender. Hawthorn with its often-ferocious growth spurts needs cutting back every June and September. Check any hedge for nesting birds before clipping, as it is an offence to disturb them. The main nesting season is between March and August. www.countrygardener.co.uk
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All my tomatoes grown in a raise bed got blight in less than 48 hours. Should I destroy the plants and what can I do about the soil in the raised beds? Can I sterilise and grow other vegetables and most important of all please what can I do to avoid getting blights in the future? Tomato blights is a very common disease when the weather is damp especially from June onwards so there’s a warning sign here this year after the weather we had over most of June this year. It is caused by the same pathogen that’s responsible for potato blight. Outdoor tomatoes are more prone it than greenhouse tomatoes. Normally blight is seen in the south west spreading rapidly from airborne spores originating in gardens, allotments and particularly adjacent to commercial potato crops Currently there are no chemicals that amateur gardeners can use to treat blight so cultural methods have to be used. Infested plant material should be removed as fast as possible, Ideally burn it but it can go into a green waste collection bin. You don’t need to sterilise the soil –just turn it over to a depth of more than 18 inches and you’ll be fine. More gardeners who are fed up with the threat and often reality of blight are turning to blight resistant varieties which are not guaranteed to take the problem away but are certainly worth trying.
Bryan Potter, Cullompton
MY PLUM TREE ISN’T GOING TO PRODUCE ANY FRUIT THIS YEAR. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE BLOSSOM AND NONE OF THE FRUIT SEEMS TO HAVE SET. WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE THE PROBLEM? Nigella Oakley, Taunton
Plum tree problems range from age-related issues to disease and even pest issues. Extreme cold during flowering will cause the blooms to drop too early the cold weather during April seems to have hit some fruit crops Low temperatures before blooms open will also kill the flowers. Without flowers, you will have no fruit. Insects that chew the terminal ends, shoots and flowers will also cause no fruit on plum trees. One of the most common causes of plum tree problems is the lack of a co-pollinator. Plums are not self-fruitful and need another of the same species nearby for pollen transfer. This is done with bees, moths and other pollinator’s help. Pruning at the wrong time and too late in the spring removes the buds necessary for flower and then fruit. There are steps you can take to prevent the problem. Keep weeds and grass away from the base of a tree. Provide good irrigation and especially on young trees fertilisers high in phosphorus will help with blooming and fruiting. Bone meal is a great source of phosphorus at the base of trees. Also remember heavy bearing trees may not produce fruit the next year. The plant’s reserves are depleted and you will just have to wait a year for it to rally. Fixing plum trees with no fruit sometimes just requires patience and good stewardship.
My greenhouse cucumbers are growing to about three inches long and then shrivelling and dying quite dramatically. The leaves turn a mottled light green and white. I can’t see any obvious problem with them.
P hilip Davison, Petersfield
It may be the problem is red spider mites, a garden pest that affects a wide variety of plants, which most commonly affect azaleas and camellias but can also have a deadly affect on cucumbers. A plant that is infested by too many red spider mites will start to look unhealthy and will have a dusty appearance to the undersides of their leaves. Close inspection will reveal that the dust is actually moving and is in fact the spider mites. The plant may also have some webbing on the underside or on the branches of plant. You cannot easily make out the details of red spider mites with the naked eye but a simple magnifying glass can make the details more visible. A red spider mite will be all red. You can also use organic sprays to safely eliminate red spider mite but the best way to eliminate them is to make sure you don’t get them in the first place. Work to keep plants healthy and the areas around the plants free of debris and dust to keep red spider mites away. Also, make sure plants have enough water. The water will help keep the red spider mites away as they prefer very dry environments.
The leaves at the base of my grape vine are turning yellow. Is there anything I can do and is this the start of a more serious problem? The leaves at the base of your vine will be the oldest and will be the first to change colour and shed in the autumn. However this is all a bit too early for this to be happening and it should raise some alarm bells. For the time being and it might be an idea to give the vine some extra care to make sure there is nothing slowing down the development of the grapes. Apply a control release general fertiliser and mulch with a deep layer of well rotten manure to give the whole plant a bit of a pep up.
Annie Dillon, Cheltenham
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Country Gardener
SUMMER HOLIDAY IDEAS for days out for gardening lovers If you are looking for a holiday day out with a gardening theme then we’ve some ideas for day trips for those gardeners who want to take a break from their own gardens It is holiday time and for those who plan to stay at home it’s the chance to enjoy some garden themed days out. August is a great time for agricultural shows, days which the west country is famous for as all round family days out. And gardens will be still be full of colour and beauty and the high summer days offer the chance to travel that bit further afield to see a garden, plan a trip to a horticultural show, visit one of the many NGS gardens open this month or linger later on a particular visit.
It’s theatre time at Hartland Abbey During the children’s holidays the lawn at Hartland Abbey will be bursting with fun and theatre! It makes a family day out to combine the house with its fascinating interiors, the gardens and their winding paths to explore, the walk to the beach and the huge thuja plicata to climb on. For those wishing peace and quiet, Hartland Abbey has many relaxing corners in the gardens. A new, exhibit ‘A Victorian Honeymoon’ will be on display adjacent to the popular ‘Filming on the Hartland Abbey Estate since 1934’ exhibition. The tea room will be producing homemade lunches and cream teas. Theatre productions are ‘Ali Baba’ on Wednesday, 31st July, ‘The Legend of King Arthur’ on Friday, 2nd August, 'Gangsta Granny’ on Monday, 5th August, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ on Thursday, 15th August, and ‘Frankenstein’ on Thursday, 22nd August. There will be a barbecue and Pimms Bar at the events. Hartland Abbey, Hartland, Nr. Bideford, N. Devon EX39 6DT. Call 01237441496/234 or www.hartlandabbey.com
Friars Court combines history with horticultural beauty
Friars Court, located in rural West Oxfordshire, is an imposing 17th century farmhouse with three acres of gardens enclosed within the remaining arms of a 16th century moat. Level walks guide visitors past formal and informal borders, some of which are divided into ‘garden rooms’, a lily pond and 50-foot living willow tunnel. The grounds extend beyond the moat and include a woodland walk. A small museum displays the history of the Friars Court and the Willmer family who have lived in the house for over 100 years. The gardens are open every Tuesday and Thursday in July and August, from 2.00pm - 6.00pm, admission £4 adults, under 14’s free. Homemade cakes and cream teas available. Private garden tours on request. Friars Court, Clanfield OX18 2SU Call 01367 810206 or visit www.friarscourt.com
Dahlias provide August highlight at Cadhay Dahlias promise to be the highlight this August at Cadhay House in Ottery St Mary. Some years ago Paul Kiddle had one of the Cadhay House allotments where he grew a prize-winning collection of dahlia collarettes. When he retired he donated a lot of his collection to the house. Since then the head gardener has developed the collection further, growing many from seed, and it promises to be a kaleidoscope of colour and a fitting tribute to Paul who has since died. Visitors can see the collection and the vast array of lilies. The gardens are open every Friday afternoon from 2pm until 5pm. See cadhay.org.uk for further details. Cadhay House and Gardens, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1QT.
Melplash Agricultural Show - a celebration of rural life The Melplash show on Thursday, August 22nd brings together the best of West Dorset to celebrate all aspects of farming and rural life by the sea. There is an exciting timetable of attractions for the family to enjoy including this year’s main attraction - the freestyle motocross rider Jamie Squibb and his team. Local farmers will be competing in the livestock classes while other members of the local community will be vying for prizes in the handicraft, home produce and horticulture classes. There are over 400 exhibitors and trade stands offering a wide range of products and produce. Entry is free to children 16 years and under. On the day £17 for adults or in advance £15. Advance tickets can be bought at www.melplashshow.co.uk the show is open from 8am to 6pm. Melplash Show, West Bay, Bridport. DT6 4EG.
GILLINGHAM AND SHAFTESBURY SHOW A MECCA FOR GARDENERS Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Show takes place on Wednesday, 14th August and with 73 of the 200 classes devoted to fruit, vegetables and flowers, the horticultural marquee is a mecca for gardening enthusiasts. The fragrance and atmosphere is very special. Entries are staged on the morning before show day and judged that afternoon, so that the marquee is open for visitors all day at this traditional one-day agricultural show. Gillingham & Shaftesbury Agricultural Show, Turnpike Showground, Motcombe SP7 9PL. For schedules call 01747823955 or email enquiries@gillshaftshow.co.uk
www.countrygardener.co.uk
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GREAT P LACES T O V IST: AUGUST
Cotswold Garden Flowers will offer inspiring ideas for your garden
Boscrege, a breath of Cornish fresh air
Visitors can enjoy many new and traditional garden favourites in the borders at Cotswold Garden Flowers at Badsey near Evesham. It’s a chance to review your own borders and think about adding some new plants, for example phlox, with their magic scent, come in many colours. It’s best to choose the varieties that are looking good ‘in situ’ in the garden. Campanulas or bell-flowers come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and colours including blue. You can use these to add some height and colour to your border. Contrast these with day lilies available in various colours including yellow and orange. For whites and creams why not consider leucanthemums or shasta daisy, another traditional plant but now available in new varieties. Cotswold Garden Flowers Sands Lane, Badsey, Evesham, WR11 7EZ. Tel: 01386 833849 Email: info@cgf.net Website: www.cgf.net
Arlington Court and The National Trust Carriage Museum
flowers for the house. An abundance of wildlife is avaialble to discover including two species of bat roosting in the cellars, an ancient heronry and a bird hide, to view nature at its best. The Carriage Museum in the stables has a vehicle for every occasion from cradle to grave. Currently on loan from the Houses of Parliament is the Speaker’s State Coach, a glorious, gilded carriage with over 300 years of history. Arlington Court – National Trust, Arlington, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4LP. Tel: 01271 850296 arlingtoncourt@nationaltrust.org.uk
Boscrege Caravan and Camping Park in Cornwall is a peaceful and picturesque park, set at the foot of Tregonning Hill amongst Cornish lanes in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The park, open all year through, is situated close to the wonderful Cornwall coast and only a few minutes drive to Praa Sands, one of Britain's best beaches. So if you are looking to take a holiday in Cornwall in a self-catering caravan, camping, or even purchasing your own holiday home then contact Boscrege Caravan and Camping Park. New this year is an exciting development of twin lodges available to buy with a 20-year site licence. Boscrege Caravan Park, Boscrege, Ashton, Cornwall. TR13 9TG. Tel: 01736 762231 www.caravanparkcornwall.com
Arlington Court is an unexpected jewel on the edge of Exmoor, a complete family estate held by the Chichester family for over five hundred years. The collection consists of treasures for all tastes, from model ships to shells, collected over several generations. There is a formal Victorian garden with conservatory rebuilt in 2012, planted with exotic species and walled garden providing produce for the tea room and
BOSCREGE CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK Ashton, Cornwall TR13 9TG
THURS 22nd AUG
Small, peaceful and picturesque site open all year round Luxury holiday homes and lodges for sale and hire Used static caravans for sale offsite
WEST BAY, BRIDPORT DT6 4EG
the best of agriculture by the sea
01736 762231
www.caravanparkcornwall.com
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Country Gardener
Children 16 and under Go FREE www.melplashshow.co.uk
Hartland Abbey & Gardens Enjoy a day out and outdoor theatre in the beautiful Hartland Abbey valley Visit this fascinating, historic house, in the same family for generations, with its stunning architecture, collections and exhibitions. Beautiful walled and woodland gardens leading to the beach. * Dogs welcome * Holiday Cottages * * Light lunches & cream teas * * Hartland Quay 1 mile * Outdoor Theatre * House, Gardens and Café: open until 29th September, Sunday to Thursday 11am - 5pm (House 2pm - last adm. 4pm)
For all information and events see www.hartlandabbey.com Hartland, Nr. Bideford EX39 6DT 01237441496/234
GILLINGHAM & SHAFTESBURY
AGRICULTURAL SHOW ‘The Show where town & country meet’
Wednesday 14th August 2019 8.30am - 6.30pm Attractions include: Events & Displays in Three Rings Over 500 trade stand including 14 tractor dealers Competitive classes for Dairy & Beef Cattle, Sheep, Poultry, Grain & Fodder. K.C. Dog Show Huge Horticulture, Home-Handicraft Marquee including Fruit & Veg, Flowers & Floral Decoration, Photography, Honey, Cookery, Handicraft, Wine & Cordial - With many classes especially for children Held at the Turnpike Showground SP7 9PL 2 miles north of Shaftesbury - Free Car Parks Tickets (pre-show prices in brackets) Adult £16 (£14) Child (5-16yrs) £4 (£3) Family ticket (2 adults + 3 Children) £39 (£33)
Disabled facilities - Dogs on leads HOUSE, GARDENS & TEAROOM Open every Friday 2pm - 5.30pm until 27th September Also late May & August Bank Holiday weekend - Saturday, Sunday & Monday
HOUSE & GARDENS: adult £8, child £3 (last guided tour 4pm) GARDENS: adult £4, child £1, season ticket £12pp Member of Historic Houses
CADHAY, OTTERY ST. MARY, DEVON, EX11 1QT 01404 813511 www.cadhay.org.uk
CALL: 01747 823955 EMAIL: enquiries@gillshaftshow.co.uk WEB: www.gillshaftshow.co.uk FACEBOOK: GillandShaftshow
Cotswold Garden Flowers Easy and unusual perennials for the flower garden Delightful gardens to inspire you Plant and garden advice Mail order and online ordering available, or pop along and visit us at the nurser y
Groups welcome by appointment Open 7 days a week from 1st March to 30th September Weekends 10am - 5.30pm, Weekdays 9am to 5.30pm
Sands Lane, Badsey, Evesham, WR11 7EZ 01386 833849 info@cgf.net w w w.cgf.net www.countrygardener.co.uk
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The steps towards PERFECT TOMATOES Too many gardeners are not brutal enough and waste their final crop by letting greenery take over, and forgetting to care for the crop in the vital few weeks before harvest Growing tomatoes can be a tricky business. We have no idea if we’ll have a sweltering summer like last year or if rain will come and encourage blight. Or perhaps we’ll have an Indian summer to nudge what you thought would never get there into perfect ripeness. You may think its all in the lap of the gods but there are things you can do to take a few steps to improve your chances of a perfect crop. At this critical time of the season don’t let all the strength and goodness go into growing lots of greenery. It is easily done and it is amazing just how quickly tomato plants can transform from poor week looking plants to overgrown top heavy and leaf heavy ’monsters’. So be brutal and focus on the fruit. Snip away the large heavy leaves which can cover up the flourishing fruit- they can put a brake on your crop. Remove any yellowing leaves as you go along, and as the fruit starts to ripen you can start to remove the lower leaves of cordon plants to speed up the process, as they take up valuable nutrients as it makes it way up the plant. Generally don’t let the plant grow more than five or six feet. The simple rule to follow is cut off the top of plants, certainly of outdoor ones, when six trusses of fruit set - this helps to focus the plant’s energies. Even at this stage of the season every week or so from when flowering starts, give your plant a seaweed or comfrey feed the developing fruit will love the potassium. Your plants will need support to grow strongly - use canes 20
for tall varieties and/or netting for bushes. You may need to re stake as the final weeks go past and the fruit expands Watering can be critical in terms of the quality of your final fruit Water the soil, not the plant - tomato leaves and stems hate getting wet. Water little and often - it encourages steady growth and helps to avoid split fruit. You can try and sink a pipe vertically into the ground when you plant out. Tomatoes have two sets of roots: some at the surface that feed and lower ones that drink in water. The pipe gets the water down to where it counts quickly. Tomatoes are riskier grown outside rather than in a greenhouse or polytunnel - if you’re thinking of chancing it then go for cherry tomatoes which ripen more quickly outside than others. Grow your tomatoes in a location that has as much direct sun and shelter from winds as you can. Bring any tomatoes that are still shy of ripeness at the end of the summer indoors and put a banana with them - the ethylene given off by the banana helps them ripen. Pick leaves off around the tomatoes when they’ve reached full size but have yet to start changing colour - this gets the sun to the fruit, increases airflow, and minimises disease. The most important thing is to grow some and take your time around harvest. A perfectly ripe home-grown tomato, eaten sun-warm from the bush, really is unrecognisable from the ones you buy in the shops.
Country Gardener
TIME TO APPRECIATE
tomatoes Words and pictures by Kate Lewis
There is nothing like the taste and quality of the home-grown fruit. If you are growing tomatoes again this summer this is the year to really make the most of them We all know the importance of buying seasonal food when it comes to flavour, environmental concerns and the need to support local producers. Yet more than 75 per cent of tomatoes eaten in the UK are imported. But those of us who are lucky enough to grow tomatoes at home know only too well that these summer gems are seasonal fruits and are best eaten fresh and from the vine. Tomatoes have a relatively long season in the UK with the height of the harvest from June to August and it is in these months that you are most likely to end up with a glut. Thankfully it is possible to preserve the magic of summer all year round by preserving them in various guises.
HARVESTING AND STORAGE Leave the fruit on the vine for as long as possible. A ripe tomato will be firm but with a tiny bit of give, very red (if a red variety, yellow if a yellow variety etc) and even in colour. When harvesting try to leave the calyx (the green sepals attaching the fruit to the vine) intact. If the fruit falls off the vine before they are ripe put them in a paper bag and store in a cool, dark place. Tomatoes don’t take well to being kept in the fridge, the cold affecting both their texture and flavour. Instead store them in a cool larder. Freezing is a good option to keep the taste of summer throughout the winter months. Some people freeze tomatoes whole in freezer bags but they are more likely to be used if you freeze them in the form that they will be used – try cubes, slices or sauces. Freezing in cubes is a good option for cooking at a later date. For best results skin the tomatoes, www.countrygardener.co.uk
cut into small cubes and strain. Spread out on a baking sheet and freeze. When frozen pack into airtight freezer bags and label. Frozen sliced are a very useful standby for topping gratins and pasta bakes.
IN THE KITCHEN When picked in high summer and straight off the vine, perhaps the best way to enjoy tomatoes is the simplest way – sliced, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. Add some basil leaves and mozzarella and you have the most famous of Italian antipasti– caprese salad. Large quantities of tomatoes can be used up in a delicious roasted sauce that can later be used in curries, stews, chillies, soups and lasagnes. There is no need to be precise with quantities – simply toss tomatoes with thyme, olive oil, chopped garlic, salt and pepper in a roasting tin and roast at 200 °C/gas 6 until bubbling and soft. Press through a sieve to collect the sweet pulp.
Health benefits of tomatoes
• Tomatoes contain lycopene which gives them their red colour. Research suggests that lycopene can reduce cholesterol and cardiovascular disease and is good for eye health. • Contain high levels of vitamins and antioxidants. They contain high levels of vitamin C and also vitamin E and vitamin K. • Research suggests that tomatoes prepared with olive oil offer greater health benefits • There is evidence to suggest that the high levels of beta-carotene and antioxidants can help to prevent cancer. 21
Oven roasted tomatoes
Tomato, chickpea & spinach curry
Serves 6 INGREDIENTS: 4 – 6 bunches cherry tomatoes 1 whole bulb garlic, cut in half 6 bay leaves 200ml olive oil Crusty bread warmed, to serve METHOD: 1. Heat the oven to 150°C/fan 130°C/ gas 2. 2. Put the tomatoes and garlic in a baking dish, tuck in the bay leaves, and season well. Pour over the olive oil and cover with foil. 3. Bake for 1½ hours, then serve warm with crusty bread.
Serves 6 INGREDIENTS: 1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 3cm piece root ginger, grated 6 ripe tomatoes ½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp turmeric Pinch chilli flakes 1 tsp yeast extract (e.g Marmite)
METHOD: 1. Put the onion, garlic, ginger and tomatoes in a food processor or blender and whizz to a purée. 2. Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add the spices, fry for a few secs and add purée and yeast extract. Bubble together for two minutes, then add lentils and coconut cream. 3. Cook until the lentils are tender, then add the broccoli and cook for four mins. 4. Stir in the chickpeas and spinach, squeeze over lemon and swirl through the sesame seeds and cashew nuts. Serve with brown rice.
Cherry tomato tart (See pic at top of page opposite) Serves 6 INGREDIENTS: 1 pack fresh ready-rolled puff pastry 3 tbsp olive oil 2 large onions, halved and finely sliced 2 garlic cloves, crushed 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
100g gruyère, grated 50g Grana Padano, grated (alternatively use parmesan) 300g cherry tomatoes, halved Handful torm basil leaves Handful black pitted olives, halved
METHOD: 1. Roll the pastry to the thickness of a 20p coin. Score a two cm border from the edge. Place on a baking sheet and chill for 30 minutes in the fridge. 2. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan. Add the onions and a good pinch of salt. Gently fry for 20-30 minutes, until soft and golden. Add the garlic and cook for another couple of minutes. Cool and mix in the mustard and cheeses. 3. Heat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas 6. Bake the tart shell for 15 minutes then take out and cool. 4. Spread the cheesy onions over the base of the tart. Sit the tomatoes on top in a single layer, cut-side up, and season. Keep the filling within the scored border of the pastry. Put the tart back in the oven for another 15 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and the tomatoes are slightly golden. 5. Sprinkle the basil and olives on top and serve slightly warm. 22
4 tbsp red lentils 6 tbsp coconut cream 1 broccoli head, broken into small florets 400g can chickpeas, drained 100g bag baby spinach leaves 1 lemon, halved 1 tbsp toasted sesame seed 1 tbsp chopped cashew nuts
Country Gardener
Tomato salsa INGREDIENTS: 6 medium tomatoes, peeled & finely chopped ½ red onion, finely chopped 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 2 jalapeno or green chillies, finely chopped 1 – 2 limes, juiced 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Small bunch coriander, roughly chopped (stalks and leaves) Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper METHOD: 1. Mix all ingredients together. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 2. Refrigerate until needed.
Crugsillick Manor, Truro
GARDEN Visits THE BEST GARDENS TO VISIT compiled by Heather Rose
Here’s a wide selection of gardens opening for charity during August in the areas covered by Country Gardener, with everything from a sunken garden in a former stone quarry in Dorset, to a large Cornish garden with exotic flowering trees and shrubs, walled kitchen garden and hot border, from a plantsman’s garden on the Somerset Levels, to an old vicarage garden in Devon that has a brook with a waterfall flowing past a summerhouse. We advise checking before starting out wherever possible as circumstances can force closure in private gardens. www.ngs.org.uk
CRUGSILLICK MANOR Ruan High Lanes, Truro, Cornwall, TR2 5LJ A two-acre garden, substantially relandscaped and planted. A wooded bank drops down to a walled kitchen garden and hot garden beside the 17th/18th century house; there are sweeping yew hedges, lawns and broad mixed borders; exotic flowering trees and shrubs surround a large pond on the lower terrace. Open for the NGS on Sunday 25th August, 11am-5.30pm. Admission £5, children free. For more details contact Dr Alison Agnew & Mr Brian Yule on 01872 501972 or email alisonagnew@icloud.com
We’re introducing a key to facilities on offer at the gardens: Refreshments available Plants usually for sale Wheelchair access to much of garden Partial wheelchair access
Unsuitable for wheelchairs Dogs on short leads Visitors welcome by arrangement Coaches welcome consult owners
SQUAB HALL FARM Harbury Lane, Bishops Tachbrook, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV33 9QB Located on a working farm and sitting alongside a re-developed farmhouse, a garden which reflects the owners’ unique creativity and over 40 years of loving attention and natural evolution. Marilyn’s Gallery provides a unique opportunity to view photographic artwork of Marilyn Monroe. Open for the NGS on Saturday 31st August, 11am-4.30pm. Admission £5, children free. For more details contact email bec@squab.co.uk
WOODLANDS FARM Rushley Lane, Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, GL54 5JE A one and a half acre garden with generously sized garden rooms, and borders with colourful, harmonious planting schemes. A tall hornbeam hedge creates a dramatic vista to a stone monolith and long contemporary pond; new prairie style border and cottage borders. Open for the NGS on Sunday 11th August, 10am-4pm. Admission £7, children free. For more details contact Mrs Morag Dobbin on 01242 604261 or email mdobbin@btinternet.com www.countrygardener.co.uk
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THE BEST GARDENS T O V ISI T IN AUGUST
THE OLD VICARAGE West Anstey, South Molton, Devon, EX36 3PE A croquet lawn leads to a multi-level garden overlooking three large ponds with winding paths, climbing roses and overviews. A brook with waterfall flows through the garden past the summerhouse. A benched deck overhangs first pond; large collection of hydrangeas. Open for the NGS on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August, 12-5pm. Admission £5, children free. For more details contact Tuck & Juliet Moss on 01398 341604 or email julietm@onetel.com
SPRINGFIELD HOUSE Seaton Road, Colyford, Devon, EX24 6QW A one-acre garden featuring numerous beds full of colour, vegetable garden, fruit cage and orchard with ducks and chickens and a new large formal pond. Wonderful views over the River Axe and bird sanctuary. Open for the NGS on Saturday 24th August, 10.30am5pm. Admission £4, children free. For more details contact Wendy Pountney on 01297 552481 or email pountneys@talktalk.net
BABBS FARM Westhill Lane, Bason Bridge, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4RF Three-quarters of an acre plantsman’s garden on the Somerset Levels, created out of fields surrounding the old farmhouse. Trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials planted in big flowing borders. Various ponds (formal and informal), box garden, patio area and conservatory. Open for the NGS on Sunday 25th and Bank Holiday Monday 26th August, 2pm-5pm. Admission £5, children free. For more details contact Sue & Richard O’Brien on 01278 793244 or visit www.babbsfarm.co.uk
FERNHILL Whiteball, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 0LU A delightful garden of nearly two acres with a myriad of unusual plants and features. Intriguing paths leading through English roses and banks of hydrangeas. Scenic views stretching up to the Blackdowns and its famous monument. Truly a Hide and Seek garden for all ages. Open for the NGS on Sunday 18th August, 2pm-5pm. Admission £4, children free. For more details contact Peter Bowler on 01823 672423 or email muldoni@hotmail.co.uk www.sampfordarundel.org.uk/fernhill 24
Country Gardener
THE HOLLOW 25 Newton Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 2EA Wander around this dramatic sunken garden, formerly a stone quarry. Stone terraces with unusual shrubs and grasses form a harmonious pattern of colour and foliage attracting butterflies and bees. Pieces of medieval London Bridge lurk in the walls and steps have elegant handrails. Open for the NGS on Wednesday 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th August, 2pm-5.30pm. Admission £3 children free. For more details contact Stuart & Suzanne Nutbeem on 01929 423662 or email gdnsuzanne@gmail.com
HILLTOP Woodville, Stour Provost, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 5LY A gorgeous riot of colour and scent, the old thatched cottage barely visible amongst the flowers. Unusual annuals and perennials grow alongside the traditional and familiar, attracting abundant wildlife – and there’s a gothic garden loo. Open for the NGS on Sunday 4th, 11th & 18th August, 2pm-6pm. Admission £3, children free. For more details visit www.hilltopgarden.co.uk
OLD CAMPS Newbury Road, Headley, Thatcham, Hampshire, RG19 8LG A breath-taking garden set over an acre, with panoramic views of Watership Down. Traditional herbaceous borders through desert/ prairie planting, an enchanted knot garden, potager to exuberant subtropical schemes; featuring bananas, cannas, hedychiums and more. Open for the NGS on Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th August, 10am-5pm. Admission £6.50, children free. For more details contact Mr & Mrs Adam & Heidi Vetere on 07720 449702 or email gardens@oldcamps.co.uk www.oldcamps.co.uk
THE HOMESTEAD Northney Road, Hayling Island, Hampshire, PO11 0NF A garden of just over one acre surrounded by working farmland with views to Butser Hill and boats in Chichester Harbour. Trees, shrubs, colourful herbaceous borders and a small walled garden with herbs, vegetables and trained fruit trees, large pond and woodland walk with shade-loving plants. Open for the NGS on Sunday 11th August, 2pm-5.30pm. Admission £4, children free. For more details contact Stan & Mary Pike on 02392 464888 or email jhomestead@aol.com www.homesteadhayling.co.uk www.countrygardener.co.uk
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READER’S STORY
Kissing under your home grown mistletoe!
Diane Howe explains how she is now the proud owner of her own home grown mistletoe bush, successfully propagated a few years ago wit h a little research and perhaps a lot of good fortune Every year I chase around trying to find mistletoe a few days before Christmas. My parents loved it to be a part of their festive decorations and I and my sister have kept up the tradition but every year it seems to be getting more difficult to find and more expensive. A couple of years ago I read how easy it was to grow your own and guess what, so it is and I wonder why I didn’t try it before. We’ve a big-ish garden with enough trees to try it out. I thought I would just share the experience as while I am not an expert at least I feel I know what to do. First and obviously mistletoe is a parasitic plant which needs another tree to live on. This means it absorbs everything it needs from the branches of its host tree, but unlike most parasites, mistletoe doesn’t kill the host plant. It may weaken the host, but the two plants can live in happy harmony as long as you keep it under control. I spent a few anxious weeks worrying that in order to create one plant I was about to destroy another but apparently that is not likely. So as the saying goes – first choose your tree. Apple is a common host tree but lime and poplar also work well. Mistletoe needs lots of sunlight to get going so I was advised try to find a tree that gets plenty of light throughout the day. Then obviously you need a mistletoe berry for the seeds you will implant. We opted in the end for an old apple tree which was in the garden when we bought the house 15 years ago. You then must choose a branch on your host tree that is at least 10cm thick and very high up, so it gets lots of light. Make a shallow slice in the branch to lift up the bark. Remove the mistletoe seed from the berry and place it underneath the bark flap. Keep the cut as small as possible to avoid getting an infection in the wood. Sow several seeds as only one in ten will germinate. Wrap the flap with sacking or hessian to seal it and protect the seed from being eaten by birds. Then wait... and wait and watch and wait some more. We (as in my husband and I) struck lucky. One of the seeds had produced a shoot which then over the following months flourished. It is now five years later an ‘appendage’ to the 26
tree about a metre tall and I sometime feel a bit of remorse that I have saddled this apple tree with what might be an unwanted host, but still. The species I’ve grown is the one most common to England Viscum album and commonly grows on apple, limes, sycamore, hybrid black poplar, and rarely on common oak trees. I spent some time researching all this so your readers might like to know that birds, usually blackbirds or thrushes, can propagate mistletoe, eating the sticky white berries and depositing the seeds on a new host. A great many people have tried to propagate mistletoe, by collecting their own seed and planting it on a suitable host tree with little or no success. No doubt there is something, either in the birds digestive system, or the fertiliser from their droppings, that triggers germination.
Mistletoe is a parasitic plant which needs another tree to live on
But I did something right as it worked first time. Incidentally, the name mistletoe is thought to come from the Missel Thrush, or Mistle Thrush, now not so common as it once was. The mistletoe plant has been around for a very long time. The ancient Greeks believed it had mystical powers. The Druids held any mistletoe which grew on oaks with a special reverence, separating it from the tree in a ceremony using a golden knife. They believed it had great powers to protect them from evil, as well as miraculously having great creative powers. Perhaps the belief of the powers of mistletoe was so deep seated in our ancestors, that we still retain a little of that today, without knowing why. We still believe it brings good luck and happiness. And anyway what harm can it do? With a bit of luck like me, you’ll be kissing under your home grown mistletoe next Christmas!
Country Gardener
Illustration: holly@hellopaperclip.co.uk
SPEAKERS’ LIST 2019/20
Welcome to Country Gardener’s annual guide to gardening speakers and lecturers offering their services to gardening clubs societies and organizations.
We have full details of each speaker including a synopsis of their areas of expertise and the subject matter of their talks and lectures.
Our guide which has proved to be so popular with readers is aimed at providing ideas and options for the thousands of garden clubs across our readership area as they look for speakers to entertain their clubs. This year’s guide includes a number of new speakers.
If you come across speakers who have not been listed in this guide please let them know about it so we can include them in a later edition or update our information online.
It provides new options, new ideas and possibilities as you plan your meetings. £A Price band £0-50
£D Price band variable
£B Price band £51-100
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£C Price band £100+ £C
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Price band expenses only Slide presentations included
APPLEGATE, SUE
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We hope this Country Gardener specialist service helps you to find the right speaker on the right subject for your garden club or society perhaps offering someone different for your meetings over the next 12 months.
q 01458 250666 E susannah.applegate@btinternet.com
1. Peonies and Irises - As a commercial grower of Peonies and Irises, my talks include practical advice about propagation and husbandry of Peonies and Irises to optimise the flowering potential of these lovely plants. Talks include a slide presentation of flower types and cultural operations lasting about 45 minutes, followed by a practical “Hands-On” demonstration of how best to plant and care for Peonies and Irises to achieve years of rewarding flowers from a single plant.
2. Plant to Plate - Is an illustrated talk of the work within the UK Fresh Produce Industry to supply Farm Assured food to Farmers Markets and Supermarkets. Challenges of the future such as Food Security to provide for a huge increase in World Population Growth, Climate Change and Efficient Management of Water are also identified. A selection of Seasonal, UK grown produce may be available for sale following the talk. Susannah Applegate of Hurst Brook Plants, as featured on Gardeners’ World, has been growing Peonies and Irises since the 20th century and delivers an informative and entertaining talk with testimonials available from gardening and horticultural societies.
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Radius covered up to 50 miles
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BARBOUR, ROSS Old Court Nurseries, Walwyn Road, Colwall, WR13 6QE q 07896 309494 E oldcourtgdc@btinternet.com Ħ www.autumnasters.co.uk
Looking forward to Winter Bulbs for the unusual Gardening for tomorrow Flummuxed by Ferns? Succulent Success – The not so prickly customers
BEASLEY, KAREN Little Acre, Dyers Lane, Iron Acton, Bristol BS37 9XW q 07816 530270 E karen.beasley1@icloud.com
1. Planting up of seasonal containers - baskets and general landscape advice for small and large gardens.
2. Garden QA - With quiz to include the
competition and container/basket prize. Completed many local talks for WI, Probus and Mothers Union groups. Feedback is always very positive and delegates always enjoy.
www.countrygardener.co.uk
£B
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CANDLIN, BEN 32 FEATHERBED LANE, EXMOUTH, DEVON, EX8 3NE
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q 07763 348148 E ben@adventurousplants.co.uk Ħ www.adventurousplants.co.uk
1. 2. 3. 4.
The fascinating world of Aroids UK Subtropical Gardening Plants of the Canary Isles Wildlife Friendly Gardening
Please visit website for more titles and info.
£B
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CARL WOODMANS WORLD 1 BroomHill Cottage, Broom Hill, Huntley GL19 3HA q 01452 830 258 E woodmansworld@live.co.uk
1. Trugmaking by a miserable old trugger - I think that’s what the wife called me
2. Besoms and Gypsy Flowers 3. Bees and their products 27
SPEAKERS’ LIST 2019/20 £B
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CHEEK, ROY 35 Wembdon Rise, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 7PN
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q 01278 451814 / 07788593674 E rvcheek@btinternet.com
2. Irresistible garden plants for butterflies - e.g. Bringing them winging in with just five new plants.
3. Insectivorous plants - Discover new hardy year round attractive ones for the garden or the windowsill.
Treetops, 11 Stony Riding, Chalford Hill, Stroud, Glos, GL6 8ED
£C
1. Wildflowers of the Cotswolds Remedies, myths and legends 2. Gardening for butterflies and moths 3. The fascinating story of Britain’s wild orchids
FITZGERALD, ROSEMARY Beggars Roost, Lilstock, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 1SU
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q 01453 882127 E sue-smith@11treetops.co.uk
1. Chelsea Flower Show - Creating 20
very different exhibits from bronze to gold.
DODD, SUE & SMITH, SUE
q 01278 741519 E ro@lilstock.eclipse.co.uk
Talks on how wild and garden plants interact. Lovely slides from UK, Ireland, and countries including Morocco, Iceland, Sweden and south-west China. Contact me to discuss ideas!
4. Plan your garden holiday..? - Choose from 50 destinations from Cornwall to Costa Rica.
5. Holly & Ivy - Entertaining Winter Talk. Many other talks, ask for details. Widely experienced and qualified, Roy progressed from Gardener to Director of parks and gardens around Britain. As senior lecturer and curator of gardens in Somerset he amassed ten thousand different plants, ten national collections and created new hybrids, diverse gardens and gold medal exhibits at Chelsea. Now Chairman of an RHS trials forum, international tour leader, judge, advisor, designer and writer.
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COX, MYRA q 01278 784110 / 07896 351693 E coxmyra20032000@yahoo.co.uk
1. Transforming a bunch of flowers while explaining the work and my life as a Cinnamon Trust Volunteer 2. Reminiscing with Flowers and/or Vintage Memorabilia 3. Christmas Cracker fun with Flowers
£C
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DOWN, FELICITY Former owner of Cleeve Nursery q 07739 977431 E downtoearthfd@gmail.com Ħ www.down-to-earth.co.uk
1. Encourage wildlife to your garden. 2. Fill those pots! 3. Plan it, plant it. Informative talks to inspire both the beginner and the experienced gardener.
£B
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EDMONDSON, ALAN
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CROUCH, KATHERINE 2 Pound Cottages, Donyatt, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0RT q 07594 574150 / 01460 53284 E crouchee@aol.com Ħ www.katherinecrouch.com
1. New tricks for old gardeners 2. First time at Chelsea - and winning Gold! 3. Winning BBC Gardener of the Decade 4. Plants That Should be Better Known 28
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q 01590 610292 E alan@bowercotgardendesign.co.uk
FLINTHAM, BECCA 39 Regents Park, Exeter, Devon, EX1 2NY q 07717 846814 / 01392 437792 E becca.redkite@gmail.com Ħ www.rowanleaf.co.uk
1. Wildlife Gardening - Attracting beneficial wildlife to your garden
2. Water, Water Everywhere - Ponds, bog gardens and water-wise gardening
3. Food For Free - A guide to foraging for wild foods
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30 Belmore Lane, Lymington, Hants SO41 3NJ B
FOLLIS, JANE 3 Prospect Cottages, Ditcheat, Somerset BA4 6PW q 01749 860850 E jane@janefollis.com Ħ www.janefollis.com
1. Primulas & Auriculas 2. Gardening with native plants 3. The shady garden
1. A Year in my Garden - Offers
Other talks available.
2. Introduction to Garden Design
insight into a designer’s palette of plants with sales of more unusual varieties.
- Offers tips and ideas to help design a space with before and after images and loads of useful information.
4. Roses grow on you flower demonstration
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FISHER, SUE Yelverton, Devon, PL20 7BY
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q 01822 841895 / 0781 775 7446 E suefisher@talktalk.net Ħ www.suefishergardens.co.uk
Sue offers a range of talks in Powerpoint form, fully illustrated with her own photographs. Topics include container gardening, wildlife, growing edibles, small gardens and climate change: please see website for more details or contact for further information. Practical demonstrations also available which are ideal for events such as garden shows.
Country Gardener
The Speakers List is our comprehensive annual guide to gardening and gardening speakers and lecturers. If you would like to be part of our hugely popular Speakers List next year contact Ava Bench on 01278 786139 or email ava@countrygardener.co.uk
£A Price band £0-50
£D Price band variable
£B Price band £51-100
£E
£C Price band £100+ £C
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Price band expenses only Slide presentations included
GARRATT, JONATHAN FRSA Jolliffe’s Cottage, Stour Row, Shaftesbury, SP7 0QW
q 01747 858697 E jonathangarratt82@gmail.com Ħ www.studiopottery.co.uk
1. “Back to Nature? Some of us never left.” (My own story, current work) 2. Breaking the Rules. Container gardening with a twist. 3. Sensory gardens. 4. A history of the flowerpot. 5. Landscapes. 6. Sculpture in gardens and green spaces.
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Radius covered up to 50 miles
Plants or items for sale
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HINCHLIFFE, ANN
www
11 Quarry Cottages, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 9UR
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q 01935 472771 E thedancingmaster@outlook.com
1. Six centuries of English dance: from Geoffrey Chaucer to Jane Austen. Can cover whole period or
focus on one historical era; always illustrated with literary references, live music and some audience participation.
2. Why Music in Prison
£B www
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Jonathan has 35 years experience of making woodfired terracotta pots and has come to know a wide variety of “players” in the gardening scene.
HINSLEY, MARK ARBORICULTURAL CONSULTANT Office F11, 10 Whittle Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH21 7RU
£B
HUTCHISON, ADRIAN 2 Westwell Lane, Theale, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4SW
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q 01934 712729 or 07779 072292 E adrian@nzzone.net
1. Weeds and their Control (including identification) 2. Wild Flowers in the Dolomites 3. Plants for Shade (in conjunction with Long Acre Plants) 4. Plant poisons and potions 5. Wild flowers in a land of fallen Giants 6. Pests and diseases A qualified Horticulturalist formerly involved in weed research and has led walks in the Dolomites. Please telephone or e-mail for details.
q 01202 876177 E enquiries@treeadvice.info Ħ www.treeadvice.info
1. The Churchyard Yew 2. Trees in your Garden 3. Trees and the Law Please contact us to discuss requirements.
£B
HAIG, GAVIN FRCS The Castle Lodge, Castle Street, Bampton, Devon, EX16 9NS
£C
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HOFFNUNG, MARGIE Netherfields, Frog Lane, North Nibley, Glos GL11 6DJ
q 01398 332419 E gavinhaig@googlemail.com
q 07876 196074 E margiehoffnung@gmail.com
1. Creating a Wildlife Garden 2. The Healing Garden 3. Celebration of Devon/Somerset Wildlife 4. Trials and tribulations of being a Surgeon
1. Rosemary Verey 1918-2001 - Her
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Practised as Surgeon and Doctor with a passion for attracting wildlife to our gardens. Developed award-winning Wildlife Garden at Tiverton Hospital. £A
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HAZELL, GILL 17 Valley View, Clutton Bristol BS39 5SN q 01761 452036 E clutton.glads@btinternet.com
1. 2. 3. 4.
Growing and Showing Sweet Peas Classic, Rare and Unusual Bulbs So you think you know Gladiolus! Illustrated On-Screen Flower and Vegetable Quizzes
Other talks in relation to the above can be tailored to suit your society.
Contribution & Legacy to C20 gardening
2. Garden Visiting - a very British Tradition - A lighthearted look at the many different aspects of why we visit gardens
3. Blaise Castle - A Stranger at Blaise – the development of the park & landscape with particular reference to Humphry Repton
£B
www
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HOPE, NICOLA 4 AVON ROAD, MALMESBURY, WILTSHIRE, SN16 0DL q 07711285447 E info@nicolahope.co.uk Ħ www.nicolahope.co.uk
1. Organic Gardening ~ happy plants, happy minds 2. Tales from the Potting Shed ~ where gardening magic begins! An organically trained gardener, Nicola has over two decades of experience working in prestigious public and private gardens. She is passionate about organic gardening.
www.countrygardener.co.uk
£D
www
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JAMES, ADRIAN Langdale, Church Street, Offenham, Evesham, Worcs. WR11 8RW q 01386 424880 / 07535 537137 E ajames@waitrose.com Ħ www.adrianjames.org.uk
1. Gardens of Paradise. The history,
design & symbolism of Persian style gardens.
2. Three West Country Gardens 3. Through The Garden Gate Please see website or contact me for a complete list of garden talks. Travel radius over 50 miles is by special arrangement. £B
www
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KEARNEY, HELEN
Elder Farm, Greenham, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 0JY q 01823 674386 E helen@elderfarm.co.uk Ħ www.elderfarm.co.uk
1. Hedgerow Medicine - Learn how to 2. 3.
recognise common plants and make useful medicines. Kitchen remedies - Find out the amazing properties of some of the herbs and spices in your kitchen. Medicinal Herb Farmer - Learn about my off grid 5 acre small holding and my work as a Medical Herbalist.
Covers Devon and Somerset. 29
SPEAKERS’ LIST 2019/20 £B
LOGUE, VICTORIA
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Whitehall Farmhouse, Sevenhampton, Cheltenham, Glos, GL54 5TL
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1. 2. 3. 4.
q 01242 820772 / 07711 021034 E victoria@wfplants.co.uk Ħ www.wfplants.co.uk
Practical Propagation Getting the Most from your Garden Vegetable Gardening Wildlife Gardening
My talks are based on practical experience and observation. I am also a beekeeper.
£B
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MIGNOTTE, NATHALIE 1 Stanley Cottages, Blaisdon Longhope, Gloucestershire GL17 0AL
£B
PHILIPPS, LOIS
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Meadow Cottage, 42 Rivar Road, Shalbourne, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 3RL q 07740 636455 / 01672 871265 E l.philipps@btinternet.com
1. Down to Earth - Learning to look after
and love your soil – from testing to feeding!
2. Green Manures, Catch Crops and Cover Crops - What’s the difference and what are the benefits?
3. The Art and Science of Compost making - The gardener’s friend!
Gardens of Versailles Islamic Gardens Medieval Gardens Landscapes of Vietnam and Cambodia 5. Seasonal Colours in the Garden 6. Le jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh - NEW. Please contact me for more information on travel charges and a full listing of my talks which are all based on personal experience and travel.
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2. Plant Heritage Others by request. Mike & Edna are long time members of Plant Heritage and are widely travelled with long involvement in RHS Shows. The garden is open for groups.
£B
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Old Court Nurseries & The Picton Garden, Walwyn Road, Colwall WR13 6QE
www
q 01684 540416 E oldcourtnurseries@btinternet.com
1. Daisy Days - Michaelmas daisies the rise, fall and renaissance
2. A Plantaholics Paradise 3. It’s not time for bed yet -
Rethinking autumn in the English Garden
£A
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RENDELL, PAUL The Coach House, Tramlines, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1EH q 01837 54727 E paul.dartmoor@virgin.net Ħ www.paulrendelldartmoor.co.uk
1. Devon’s Water Wildlife 2. Wild Plants Of Devon 3. The Secret Wildlife On Dartmoor The speaker can offer over 40 talks about history, wildlife and landscapes of Devon and Cornwall. All talks are illustrated and last about one hour.
q 01404 822118 E feebers@btinternet.com
1. Feebers Garden
PICTON, HELEN
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SQUIRES, MIKE & EDNA 1 Feebers Cottage, Westwood, Broadclyst, Devon, EX5 3DQ
£B
q 077 66 197 129 E nmignotte@aol.com
1. 2. 3. 4.
£A
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STAPLEY, CHRISTINA 38 Wenhill Heights, Calne, Wilts, SN11 0JZ q 01249 821087 E christina.stapley@tiscali.co.uk Ħ www.heartsease-herb-books.com
1. Herbs in the Kitchen Garden 2. Herbs to Aid the Gardener 3. Wild Plants of the Scilly Isles
£C
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STEPHENS, HARVEY Windsor Great Park q 07824362135 E Prof_Gardener@outlook.com t @prof_gardener
1. The Gardens of Windsor Great Park: A personal presentation looking behind the scenes of the Savill Garden. 2. The Great Gardens of Russia 3. Barking up the wrong tree 4. Plants worthy of Garden Merit
£B
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PAKENHAM, CAROLINE The Old Manor, Rudge, FROME, Somerset BA11 2QG q 01373 830312 E carriepakenham@gmail.com
1. The cultivation and uses of unusual herbs 2. Getting ready for winter Money from the talks is donated to the Wessex Therapy Center for Multiple Sclerosis. I always bring a large variety of herbs for sale and demonstration plus my book Making Jellied Preserves and the jellies. 30
£B
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SHELDRICK, CAROLINE Middle Path, Keble Road, France Lynch, Stroud GL6 8LN q 01453 884092 E cjsheldrick@gmail.com Ħ www.carolinesheldrickmedicalherbalist.co.uk
1. Medicinal Garden Plants 2. Flowers in Healing 3. Hedgerow Pharmacy Caroline is a qualified medical herbalist in practice in rural Gloucestershire.
Country Gardener
5. The Wonders of Chile’s National Parks Harvey is an award winning garden manager with a wealth of International experiences. He trained at Kew and is a Chairman and panel member of various RHS plant trials. He is currently Deputy Keeper of the gardens within Windsor Great Park and played his part in selecting and cutting material for two Royal Weddings. Informative, enthusiastic presentations accompanied by quality slides.
£A Price band £0-50
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q 07546874083 E andrew@atpgardening.co.uk Ħ www.atpgardening.co.uk
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Radius covered 0-25 miles
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Radius covered 100+ miles
Contact Ava Bench on 01278 786139 or email ava@countrygardener.co.uk
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White Fan Talks, ‘Starshine’, 15 Half Moon Court, Buckfastleigh, Devon TQ11 0GA
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1. 300 years Tribute to Gilbert White, 1720-2020 2. Gardening with Jane Austen Both talks have powerpoint presentations. Long journeys can only be undertaken in the summer months, from April till October.
UNDERHILL, TERRY MHORT Fairlight, Mill Cross, Rattery, South Brent, TQ10 9LA q 01364 72314 E terry@terry-underhill.co.uk Ħ www.terry-underhill.co.uk
Mountains to the Garden Mediterranean Garden Plants Autumn Colour Being a TV Gardener
USHER, DAVID 10 Rowbarton Close, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 7DQ
1. Gertrude Jekyll - Her Plants & Designs. 2. The Restoration of Hestercombe Gardens 3. Bedding Plants for your Gardens 4. Care and management of trees & shrubs 5. The history of our gardens 6. The answer lies in the soil 7. Herbaceous Plants David, a professional gardener for over 40 years, was Head Gardener at Hestercombe for 18 years. He is interested in all aspects of ornamental gardening and has given talks to a wide variety of groups. Contact him for a brochure about his talks.
WILSON, JEREMY 17 Seymour Drive, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 8PY
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q 07964 824673 E info@garden-together.co.uk
1. Camellias 2. The Scented Garden 3. Blood, Sweat and TEA Ex Head Gardener of private estates and now specialist camellia grower of over 250 varieties.
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WRAY, NICK Curator, University of Bristol Botanic Garden q 01179 629220 E n.wray@blueyonder.co.uk
q 01823 278037 E dave.usher@hotmail.com
q 01364 644028 / 07792517145
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Plants or items for sale
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TOWNSEND, PENELOPE
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1. Off the beaten track, hidden gems 2. Glorious gardens, a gardeners choice 3. Art of Topiary & Ornamental Hedges 4. Stumperies, ferns & shady friends
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TOLMAN, ANDREW Minehead, Somerset
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Fully illustrated lectures by well known speaker including:
1. The development of the new University of Bristol Botanic Garden 2. Flora of the Western Cape of South Africa 3. Evolution of Flowers 4. Garden plants and their pollinators 5. The gardens and landscapes of Sicily 6. Darwin the botanist and his travels aboard the Beagle
Many other talks. Highly qualified, wide experience including TV, Radio and Magazines. See website for more titles.
The Speakers List is our comprehensive annual guide to gardening and gardening speakers and lecturers. If you would like to be part of our hugely popular Speakers List next year contact Ava Bench on 01278 786139 or email ava@countrygardener.co.uk
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WESTONBIRT, THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8QS q 0300 067 4873 E lyndsay.ball@forestryengland.uk Ħ www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/groups
Bring Westonbirt to you with ‘The Wonders of Westonbirt’ talk, covering the seasons, events and future direction at the beautiful National Arboretum, presented by knowledgeable volunteer speakers.
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WYNNE-JONES, DAVINA Herbs for Healing, Barnsley Herb Garden, Near Cirencester, Glos GL7 5EE q 07773 687493 E davina@herbsforhealing.net
1. Herbs for Healing - practical uses of plants for good health 2. Herb Gardens, historic and modern. 3. The influence of my mother, Rosemary Verey, on me and others. 31
READER’S STORY
HOW CAN MY GARDEN
ADD VALUE TO MY HOME? Country Gardener reader Ian Bradley has been finding out how much he can boost the value of his property by investing time and effort into his garden In case my wife or members of my family read this, I am not planning to sell my Dorset home and up and move on. But a couple of my colleagues have finally sold their properties this year after a stressful time and it seems the advice they were given when it comes to the importance the state of their garden has when it comes to what price they might achieve, could surprise some people. It certainly did me and got me thinking about those times when the conversation turns to what our property might be worth. I am always optimistic by the way and my wife annoyingly, I am sure, nearer the mark with a £50,000 lower figure. So spending time with these guys and listening to them endlessly trying to think of ways of adding value has got me into some research into the ‘garden factor ‘ and I’d be delighted to share it with the readers of your excellent magazine. Gardens, it seems from the advice handed out by the estate agents involved in the transaction of the houses owned by my workmates, are a huge selling point for potential buyers. A wellmaintained garden is seen as an extra ‘room’ for your property, boosting its value by up to 20 per-cent or an impressive £60,000 based on the current UK average house price. The trick is to make subtle changes which won’t divide opinion and help house-hunters see the potential of your garden. I am told if you need to spruce up your garden for a viewing quickly and cheaply, it’s the small details that count. Make sure the lawn is mowed, the washing line is down, any wooden surfaces have a fresh lick of paint or stain and any weeds are pulled up. If your garden looks cared for, it’ll be much more attractive to buyers who will be able to see its potential. That seems pretty obvious but none of it would apply to anyone looking at my garden at the moment strewn with toys, goalposts washing lines and unweeded borders. 32
If your garden is overly wide or long, it seems you need to break it down into distinct areas, helping buyers see for themselves how they can use and enjoy it. One ‘hot topic’ is privacy and security. Even if your home is overlooked by other houses or gardens, you need to invest in simple steps to block prying eyes. A wooden or bamboo screen or trellis closes close any gaps where foliage or trees may be missing, which climbers such as wisteria, clematis and ivy can wrap themselves around over time to create a “green border”. This adds privacy and makes it harder for intruders to get into your garden too. You can also make your garden feel more secure by installing outdoor lighting features, particularly ones which are motion sensitive. Then there’s true gardening themes –like creating different ‘rooms’ in the garden, keeping a good amount of lawn alongside a decked or paved area for relaxing and entertaining, flower bed borders and a growing area with raised beds or a greenhouse. If your property doesn’t have a garage (mine does thank you very much!) buyers may be put off when thinking about where to store their garden tools, lawn mower, barbeques and summer furniture. A shed is the best option, tucked away in a corner away from your entertaining space. If you already have one, make sure it looks cared for with no broken windows and a fresh lick of paint. If you’re tight for space, there’s always bench seating with a hinged lid, which can double up as a storage box for smaller tools and soft furnishings. While a swimming pool or even hot tub might come to mind if you had to pick a “wow” item for your garden, in reality, it’s not possible for many of us and I don’t like them anyway! You probably don’t want to over-invest in garden features which you can’t take with you, so cheaper things like a fire pit, bird bath, pergola, or an olive or bay tree entice viewers without such a high price tag. So there it is. This weekend I am getting to work -adding £60,000 to the value of my home –or perhaps less. It will be worth it. I think.
Country Gardener
ALL A BIT
fruitless This is the time of year when some gardeners look and see no fruit on their fruit trees which makes for a disappointing harvest to say the least. What is likely to have gone wrong? If your fruit trees are proving to be mystifyingly unproductive this year – whether it’s a case of no flowers, flowers but no fruits, or only tiny fruits – then it’s time to for a little detective work. The problem is normally one of just five reasons. LACK OF POLLINATION The prime suspect in most cases is a lack of pollination. This can happen for a number of reasons, the most common being a lack of insect activity. Bees and other pollinators are reluctant to go on the prowl for nectar when the weather is windy, rainy or cold. During bad weather insects are more likely to be active within a sheltered garden than an exposed one. If you’re able to provide screening – for instance by planting a hedge – then this is worth trying. Most fruit trees need a ‘pollination buddy’ to set fruit successfully, so make sure your tree has a compatible partner-in-crime nearby. It goes without saying that avoiding the use of pesticides will greatly improve your trees’ chances of successful pollination. SOIL CONDITIONS Fruit trees tend to be tolerant of most soil conditions so, while it’s tempting to give them a boost of fertiliser to encourage a bumper crop, this often has the opposite effect. Quick-release fertiliser can result in weak, soft growth that is produced at the expense of flowers and fruits, and that can prove attractive to opportunistic pests. Homemade compost, or manure from a trusted source are the best options for building soil fertility. They release nutrients at a steady rate and improve soil structure, promoting good, honest growth and fruiting. You can cloak the soil surface around your trees with compost or manure at any time, but the best time to do this is in spring or autumn.
BAD PRUNING Pruning is often regarded with some trepidation, but a few judicious cuts can really invigorate a struggling tree. Over-pruning stimulates lots of lush new growth at the expense of fruits. The key is to only cut out what are known as the ‘3Ds ‘– diseased, dying and dead wood – plus any crossing branches or branches that point inwards. PEST ATTACKS There may be no fruit thanks to diseases and insects. Those that attack leaves may just make them unsightly, but may weaken the tree over time. Those that attack the fruit may make them inedible. Those that attack the blossoms prevent fruit from even forming. ONE GOOD YEAR, ONE BAD YEAR Some trees, often apples, are ‘biennial bearing’-- they bear heavily one year and little the next. This tendency varies with variety. Since flower buds for one year actually are formed during the previous summer, an especially heavy crop one year can lessen the flowers (and so fruit) the following year. If a fruit tree seems to be bearing biennially, try early and heavy thinning of fruit during the summer they are producing the most. During early summer remove all but one fruit per cluster. Fruit trees may also not bear when too young. The time between planting and bearing will vary with the tree type, variety, and rootstock. Trees grafted onto dwarfing rootstocks generally will begin bearing one or two years earlier than those on standard rootstocks. Apples may take two to five years to bear fruit from planting, sour cherries three to five years, sweet cherries five to seven years, and four to six years for pears and plums.
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33
SPECIALIST TREES
learn from the trees?
What can we
Mark Hinsley considers a few of the lessons we can learn from trees about how to survive and succeed on this planet without making it uninhabitable According to scientists, the first of the genus Homo appeared on planet earth about 2.8 million years ago, whilst the first trees evolved about 360 million years ago. So, for about 357 million years, the planet had trees but no people. For most of the last 360 million years one could also argue that, on land, the most dominant and most successful organism was the tree. Only in the last few thousand years have humans reached a position of technology and population whereby the tree is dominated by them. When we think of our co-inhabitants of this planet, we tend to think of other animals rather than plants. We are concerned about elephants, gorillas, rhinos and whales. But even these creatures are ‘Johnny-come-latelies’ compared to the trees. The planet that Homo sapiens ‘inherited’ from the trees was a healthy, lush, fruitful place. It abounded with life and lived in balance with itself. In short – as the dominant organism and therefore the de facto custodians of the planet, the trees did a pretty amazing job. They managed the soil, they managed the passage of water through the system and in so doing they prevented drought and they prevented floods. They managed air quality and air temperature and they created an incredible variety of habitats for their fellow plants and creatures. As far as I am aware the trees never caused the extinction of a single species - although they would have liked to get rid of that pesky grass! So, what can we learn from the trees? They live within their means – if a tree is growing in a lush, sheltered, well-watered valley with a deep fertile soil it will grow fast and large. The same species growing in a restricted pocket of soil on the exposed face of a stony hillside, with 34
restricted access to water, will grow small and slowly. Both will develop to the extent that their environment allows and no more – they do not behave in a reckless manner – they don’t take out loans that they can’t pay back! They are ruthless with any part of the organism that costs them more than it makes – the mechanisms by which they do this are not part of this little article, but, if a twig or branch costs the tree more in stored energy to grow new leaves than it will get back in new photosynthesised energy from those leaves, it shuts it down. The trees have not read Beatrix Potter and therefore have not forgotten that ‘Mother Nature’ is not a fluffy benevolent presence but a harsh set of rules that are brutal on the weak. They recycle everything – any part of the tree that is redundant, including ultimately most of the timber inside the trunk, will end up being decayed by fungi and released back into the soil to be used again. In the end the whole tree will be so decayed and recycled for the next generation – absolutely nothing is wasted. They adapt to their environment – if a tree lives in a part of the world that experiences short days and low light levels for part of the year, it will have a dormant period, in some cases involving the discarding of all its now inefficient leaves, rather than run through the low period at a loss. In areas where the days are even, such as near the equator, they grow all year round. These are, I think, just a few of the lessons we can learn from the trees about how to succeed on this planet without ultimately rendering it uninhabitable. Mark Hinsley is from Arboriculture Consultants Ltd. www.treeadvice.info
Country Gardener
Blooming lovely
ROADSIDES Over the next few years the summer view as you travel down roads throughout the southwest could look a lot more floral. A long-running campaign encouraging councils to let neatlymown grass verges become mini meadows where wildflowers and wildlife can flourish appears to be building up a head of steam. And areas of the southwest are leading the way. Since 2013, Plantlife, the wild plant conservation charity has been telling local authorities the move could help them save money and boost their green credentials. Several have taken the message on board and this summer for the first time flower meadows have started to appear on roadsides. Plantlife’s campaign highlights the fact that over 700 species of wild flower grow on the UK’s road verges – nearly 45 percent of our total flora. And where wild flowers lead, wildlife follows with a multitude of bees, butterflies, birds and bugs. All enjoyed by 23 million road commuters. However, road verges are under considerable pressure. Priorities for safety and access, alongside budget constraints, a desire for ‘neatness’ and difficulties with the collection of litter and grass clippings all mean that enhancing their wildlife value is often low on the list. Plantlife wants flowers to be allowed to flower so pollinators can work their magic and seeds can ripen and fall to the ground. In this way, the floral display will become better and better every year. Plantlife started this campaign in 2013 in response to protests from the public horrified by wild flowers being mown down. A few roadside nature reserves is not enough. They want to transform the entire network. There are nearly 500,000 kilometres of rural road verge in the UK. This is equal to half of the remaining flower-rich grasslands and meadows: their potential is enormous.
A magnificent wildflower display can be seen along the A38 in Devon thanks to a scheme to increase biodiversity and help provide wildlife habitats
Highways England is also committed to a national biodiversity plan which is supported by a £30 million investment programme over five years. The plan recognises road verges and adjoining land can be managed to provide areas of wildlife habitat, relatively free from human access. These road verges can also be used to connect fragmented areas of habitats, enabling plant and animal populations to move and interact, and so become stronger and more resilient. The wild flower scheme on the A38 was started last year when seeds from over 20 variety of flowers, including cornflowers, oxeye daisies, yellow rattle and poppies were sown over five hectares of roadside verge between Ashburton and Ivybridge, adding to the ten hectares that have recently been created along the A38 and A30 in Devon and Cornwall. Highways England senior ecologist Leonardo Gubert said: “This is the third wild flower scheme we have delivered in the south west and we’re delighted it’s proving so successful. “The scheme will add to the diverse mosaic of habitats along the A38 and will support a number of pollinators and other invertebrates, including five rare species of beetles and a whole host of other wildlife we recorded at the site before the work was undertaken. “We’re already looking forward to carrying out a full survey next year to see just how many benefits have been brought to our verges and we’re proud to be delivering such an important programme on roadside land. “We are also planning more wild flower areas and a number of schemes are being designed for verges on the M5 and M4 in the future. Plantlife said a “cut less, cut later” approach by councils and highways authorities could significantly improve the health of the UK’s verges. It said: “We want flowers to be allowed to flower so pollinators can work their magic and seeds can ripen and fall to the ground. In this way, the floral display will become better and better every year.”
Wildflower glory off the A38 in Devon
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35
The night shift
Your garden at night has a very different cast list to the daytime inhabited and busy with bats, moths, hedgehogs, toads and more Bats are a sign of a green and healthy environment
There’s little that can beat sitting out in the garden on a late summer evening as the sun goes down. The birds fall quiet the temperature drops and its time to go indoors. As the daylight in the garden dies it is time for wildlife to take over. It’s a very different cast from the birds, butterflies and bees which dominate the daytime world but none the less captivating and thrilling. It is another life, another world which for the most part goes unseen if not unheard. Night is the time for mammals of all shapes and sizes to be out and about with foxes and badgers now on the prowl. And if all these hunters are out at night, then it must be the time for finding a meal. The after dark menu is rich and varied, with all sorts of
small and tasty creatures for the bigger animals to find. Take the bats for example. Their diet is a crunchy protein mix of moths, flies and beetles, plucked out of the sky. It is astonishing to think they do this by effectively shouting at a very high pitch and then listening for the tiniest of echoes bouncing off their insect prey. For other predators it’s time to root around on the garden floor where they can find worms, beetles and woodlice. For these creepy crawlies, darkness makes it harder for the predators to see them, but the real reason many come out at night, is because they would not be able to cope with the rays of the sun. So it is no wonder your vegetable patch comes under attack from sun shunning slugs and snails. That’s where a wildlife friendly garden comes to the rescue. Hedgehogs enjoy a slug or two as do frogs and toads.
SEEING IN THE DARK
Moths at night 36
You can of course get a much better view of what’s going on in your garden at night with night vision technology. Night vision binoculars - These boost the faintest light signals and project them as green images. They do not have the same magnification levels of ordinary binoculars as their job is to intensify images. They typically cost £200 or more. Red Torches - Most wildlife will run a mile from bright white light so you could try a torch with a red filter or even tape red cellotape to the front. Night cameras - You can strap a box camera to a tree or post near where you suspect interesting wildlife. The movement of larger animals triggers the camera. Prices range from £100.
Country Gardener
grounds or foraging habitats to find food and commuting habitats to travel between roosts and foraging habitats. These habitats are vital for bats, which is why the Bat Conservation Trust is working to make more of the landscape bat friendly and is appealing to gardeners to make their gardens more bat friendly. From July onwards, female bats form maternity colonies and give birth to a single pup which will be able to fly after around four weeks. In autumn, males defend their territories and attempt to attract mates using ‘song flights’, a series of singing social calls around their roost. Bat Conservation Trust www.bats.org.uk
TOADS AND FROGS We tend to think of toads and frogs as pond creatures but during the summer they are effectively land animals, hiding under cover by day and venturing out at night when you are not looking. By dawn they will be back under cover. They devour moths, mosquitoes, slugs, grasshoppers, dragonflies and flies but are a prey for geese and foxes. Natterjack toad
BATS Bats are in full swing come summer, and insect-rich gardens are their hunting grounds. They are one of the first to fill the night sky, often clearly visible in the fading night. These small and fascinating creatures often live in close proximity to us, using our gardens as an important source of food, water and shelter. As their natural habitats become scarcer, our gardens are playing a more important role in securing a future for bats. Bats are a sign of a green and healthy environment, so creating a garden that’s good for bats will also be good for people. All UK bat species eat insects, so they look for places with lots of insects to hunt. The more eco-friendly your garden the more likely you are to attract bats.
MOTHS Moths are the most common of the nocturnal insects that visit your garden. Moths are often neglected or ignored in favour of their cousins, the butterflies, when considering which insects we want to encourage into our gardens. However, with around 2,500 species in the UK, moths can be extremely diverse and interesting. Moths are hugely important for the food chain and can provide pollination services, but there is increasing evidence that Britain’s moths are in decline. The good side of moths is that they are nocturnal pollinators, and some plants are adapted for nocturnal pollination. Squashes are such a plant. Moths appear to complement the work of bees and can carry pollen over greater distances, as they don’t have the same ties to a particular part of the landscape. So again it’s very worthwhile encouraging them into your garden.
Bats use a variety of landscapes or habitats throughout the year as they feed, roost and travel. They use hunting
WHO’S EATING WHO IN THE FOOD CHAIN AT NIGHT • Hedgehogs eat slugs, worms and insects. • Foxes eat mice, grass snakes, birds, eggs, worms, fruit and berries. • Frogs eat moths, mosquitoes, slugs, grasshoppers, dragonflies and flies • Slugs eat fresh and decomposing vegetation. Hedgehogs enjoy eating slugs, worms and other insects
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37
CLASSIF IED Accommodation
Shepherd Hut Winchcombe North Cotswolds AONB Sleeps 2, En-Suite, Central Heating. Wood Fired Hot Tub. Central for Cotswold Attractions. Views and Excellent Walking. Tel: 01242 604189 www.pinnockwoodfarm.co.uk
Lazydaze Holiday Chalet. Nestled Between the Quantocks, Exmoor & Blue Anchor Bay. 5 Miles from Minehead. Sleeps 3. Private Enclosed Garden. Dogs Welcome. Phone Jan For Brochure & Details On 01984 641321 Hampshire coast, New Forest, Milford on Sea. Village centre holiday apartment sleeps 2-3, private parking. Wonderful walks, lovely all year round. Tel: 01590 644050 pamela_hutchings@hotmail.com www.littleegretmilfordonsea.co.uk
Secluded cosy cabins & lodges in wooded valley running down to Wembury Bay & SW Coastal Path
Creekside Cottages, Near Falmouth, Cornwall Waters-edge, Rural & Village Cottages Sleeping 2-8. Peaceful & Comfortable. Available year round. Dogs Welcome. Open Fires. Call us on 01326 375972 for our colour brochure www.creeksidecottages.co.uk
Plymouth, Dartmoor & lovely South Devon Villages & Towns in easy reach. Pets welcome. Short Breaks available.
www.churchwoodvalley.com info@churchwoodvalley.com 01752 862382
Accommodation Abroad Peace, Privacy, and Stunning Views!
Carmarthen Bay South Wales Seafront chalet situated on estuary. Sleeps up to 6. Seaview. Well Behaved Dogs Welcome. Open from 1st March - 31st Dec. For brochure Tel: 01269 862191 Enchanted Woodland Setting for Special Events and Rustic Weddings Call Woodland Ways 01271 850245 or email woodlandwayz@gmail.com for more information Glorious North Devon. Only 9 cosy caravans on peaceful farm. Wonderful walks in woods & meadows. Easy reach sea, moors & lovely days out. £125395pw. Discount couples. Nice pets welcome. 01769 540366 www.snapdown.co.uk Cornwall, near St Just. Chalet, sleeps 4, heated indoor pool, open all year – near gardens/coast, golfing nearby. Prices from £300 pw. 01736 788718 Bosworlas near Sennen/St Just, Cornwall. Cosy Cottage, rural views, Sleeps 2-4 01736 788709 www.bosworlas.co.uk 38
Beautifully romantic cottage for two In sunny SW France just 30 mins from Bergerac airport. www.maison-bb.com
4* Delightful cosy cabin for 2, nestling between Wye and Usk Valleys. Shirenewton village and pubs closeby. Wonderful walks, splendid castles and bustling market towns. Perfect for all seasons. Tel: 01291 641826 lynne@bryncosyn.co.uk www.bryncosyn.co.uk
Accommodation Holiday Cottages Devon. Tamar Valley. Pretty cottage sleeps 2-4. Wood burner, garden, small dog welcome. 02073 736944/ 07940 363233 www.northwardshippon.co.uk Padstow house, 4 + baby, gardens, parking, Wi-Fi, Camel Trail, beaches 07887 813495 holidaysat55@gmail.com Self-catering cottages in countryside near Lyme Regis. Japanese food available. 01297 489589 www.hellbarn.co.uk Country Gardener
Pembrokeshire, Wales 4 star luxury cottages in idyllic surroundings. Fully equipped, open all year. Children & pets welcome. Tel: 07410 390252 www.valleyviewcottages.co.uk
CLASSIF IED Fertiliser/Plant Feed
SEAWEED CONCENTRATE Plant Growth Enhancer
Three Cotswold Barn Conversions
A natural bio-stimulant made from sustainably hand-harvested seaweed in Dorset.
Sleeps 4-10 people. Visit England Four Stars In between Upton House, Hidcote and Chastleton
www.ascott-barns.co.uk or Karen on 01608 684240
Wye Valley/Forest of Dean. Fully equipped 4-star single storey cottage. Two bedrooms both en-suite. Central heating/bedlinen provided. Rural retreat with shops/pubs one mile. Short breaks available. Warm welcome. Tel: 01594 833259 www.cowshedcottage.co.uk Blackdown Hills peaceful self contained country cottage two adults + infant. Tel: 07974 215887 www.applecottageholidays.co.uk info@applecottageholidays.co.uk
Near Stratford-upon-Avon Lovely self-catering cottage in peaceful location: Large garden, Sleeps 2. Perfect for famous gardens, NT properties & Cotswolds. Tel: 01789 740360 www.romanacres.com
Bed & Breakfast
Explore west Devon & be spoilt, traditional farmhouse hospitality & baking! 2 nights DBB £210 per couple www.eastraddon-dartmoor.co.uk 01566 783010 Somerset 5* Restaurant with Rooms. Close to many NT Gardens, Houses and Accommodation with Dorset Coast. Sculpture by the lakes in Beautiful Gardens North Devon near Clovelly. 3 delightful Dorset. Pet Friendly 01935 423902 www.littlebarwickhouse.co.uk cottages situated in 12 acres of idyllic countryside. Sleeps 2-4. 1 Wheelchair Huxtable Farm B&B friendly. Prices from £190 p.w. Brochure: 01237 431324 www.foxwoodlodge.co.uk Escape to this beautiful award winning 16th
- Promotes Flowering and Fruiting - Stimulates Root Growth - Increases Nutrient Uptake - More Resilient Crops www.dorsetseaweeds.co.uk Free delivery on all orders
Fruit Trees
Adam’s Apples Bare Rooted Fruit Trees Over 200 varieties grown to suit your farm, garden or smallholding Westcountry varieties and Cider Apples our speciality. Many other fruit bushes. Good discounts for larger orders. Advice given.
Tel: 07870 576 330 / 01404 841166 sales@adamsappletrees.co.uk www.adamsappletrees.co.uk
Fruit/Veg Cages
Century farmhouse, with quality en-suite B&B accommodation (Wi-Fi), log fires, panoramic views, walks and wildlife on its doorstep. Ideal hideaway for exploring RHS Rosemoor, Marwood Hill, Castle Hill, Tapeley Park, Clovelly, Docton Mill Gardens and NT Arlington Court
Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 0SR Tel 01598 760254 www.huxtablefarm.co.uk
Penrice Castle Gower 16 holiday cottages on an 18th century Estate on the Gower Peninsula with beautiful Grade I listed historic park and gardens. Tel: 01792 391212 www.penricecastle.co.uk
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Garden Services
Cards & Prints A range of over 200 greetings cards and prints from the flower paintings of
ANNECOTTERILL
We sell to both individuals and trade. No order too small. Contact us for your free 2019 catalogue Mill House Fine Art Publishing, Bellflower Gallery, Market Place, Colyton, Devon EX24 6JS
Tel. 01297 553100 info@millhousefineart.com
www.millhousefineart.com www.countrygardener.co.uk
Yenstone Walling Dry Stone Walling and Landscaping Patrick Houchen - DSWA member. Tel: 01963 371123 www.yenstonewalling.co.uk 39
CLASSIF IED Garden Plants/Accessories
Specialist Nurseries & Plants
THE GARDENER’S BLACKSMITH jonne@jonne.co.uk 07770 720 373 Artist blacksmith with a forge in Axminster designing and manufacturing garden plant supports, structures and furniture. Commissions welcomed.
www.thegardenersblacksmith.co.uk
Polytunnels FREE BROCHURE
Established 1984
Free Guide & Catalogue on request
Discover the Diversity of Hardy Geraniums!
We stock up to 200 varieties throughout the year
Contact Gary: 01684 770 733 or 07500 600 205 Gary@cranesbillnursery.com www.cranesbillnursery.com
DORSET WATER LILY COMPANY The Uk’s largest selection of established pot grown water lilies for public and landscape supply.
Speciality hardy marginals and moisture loving bogside.
Wholesale Nursery Tel 01404 41150
Looking for young, hardy garden plants to grow or plant?
Try
Trimplant Nursery, Combe Raleigh, Honiton, Devon sales@trimplants.co.uk www.trimplants.co.uk
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Catalogue available or visit us MON/ FRI or SAT 9 - 4pm, Yeovil Road, Halstock BA22 9RR
Polytunnels from £399 available to view by appointment
Consultation/Design & Landscape Service Tel: 01935 891668
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Seed Specialists CERTIFIED ORGANIC VEGETABLE PLANTS Visit us at Kitley Farm, Yealmpton, PL8 2LT Or order plants at
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n o i t i t e C omp
STYLISH WIN A PAIR OF SUPERSOFT,-F LOPS
IP BACKDOORSHOES FLON WE’VE 20 PAIRS TO BE W
Backdoorshoes® have won themselves a second to none reputation amongst gardeners for their colourful range of slip on gardening clogs and flip-flops. What makes the whole range stand out is their colourful, decorated and unique patterns that include everything from chilies to dogs to sunflowers, poppies and vegetables. It’s a range which has become very popular and in demand with gardeners. In our August competition we have 20 pairs of Backdoorshoes® colourful range of flip-flops to win. The women’s and men’s flip flops are a perfect accessory for any outfit. Sizes are available from 3-13 each pair features a cool pattern to make sure your footwear is looking great. Choose any pattern from the unique range including meadow, poppy, grass, tree camo and more! Sole made from a rubber/eva compound for maximum comfort and the bespoke colour strap is made from a soft compound rubber. Backdoorshoes® are well known for the huge range of slip on gardening clogs perfect for those that love the outdoors. Lightweight, stylish and practical, our waterproof garden shoes are available in all popular sizes for men, women and even the kids. They may look strange
To enter just answer the following question... Who came up the concept of Backdoorshoes? Put your answer on a postcard and sent to: Backdoorshoes Competition, Country Gardener Magazine, Mount House, Halse, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3AD. Closing date for entries is Friday, 30th August. The competition winners will be announced in the next available edition of Country Gardener.
at first, but you’ll be amazed at the comfort and practicality of thier gardening footwear. Easy to put on and take off, Backdoorshoes® waterproof outdoor clogs are designed to keep your feet dry whilst removing the hassle of repeatedly tying and untying laces. Not only will these garden shoes stop your socks from getting soggy, their unique foam construction makes them washable and reusable for years at a time. The company is British, its story is fun and the shoes are certainly light, comfortable to work in. Stephen Avery had the idea: he needed a pair of shoes to get down the garden without putting on wellington boots or getting his indoor footwear dirty. A medical friend offered him some white theatre clogs to try out… Stephen decided to funk them up and transformed them into the fun shoes that they are today, using computer-generated images. In the beginning there were only five designs now there’s a huge range with more on the way.
Everyone needs a pair of
Step out in Style? Lightweight, waterproof, durable outdoor/garden clogs featuring unique prints. Sizes range from UK 3-14 with prices starting from £22 including free standard postage. There is something suitable for everyone from our entire collection, Garden Clogs, Chelsea Boots, Storage Bags or Flip Flops!
To see our full range visit www.backdoorshoes.co.uk
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41
TIME Off
COMPILED BY KATE LEW IS DIARY EVENTS FROM CLUBS AND ORGANISATIONS AROUND HAMPSHIRE
Our hugely popular Time Off section is a regular free opportunity for gardening clubs, associations, societies and organisations to publicise their events to Country Gardener readers. Here’s a selection of gardening events to look out for during the next few weeks throughout Hampshire. If you are a garden club or association looking to promote an event then please send us details at least eight weeks before publication and we will publicise it free of charge. Make sure you let us know where the event is being held, the date and include a contact telephone number. We are always keen to support events and we will be glad to publicise talks, meetings and shows held during the year where clubs want to attract a wider audience, but we do not have space for club outings or parties. It is much easier for us if garden clubs could send us their diary for the year for events to be included in the relevant issue of the magazine. Please send to Country Gardener Magazines, Mount House, Halse, Taunton TA4 3AD or by email to timeoff@countrygardener.co.uk We take great care to ensure that details are correct at the time of going to press but we advise readers to check wherever possible before starting out on a journey as circumstances can force last minute changes. All NGS open gardens can be found on www.ngs.org.uk or in the local NGS booklet available at many outlets.
JULY 16th HOLFORD GARDENERS GROUP GARDEN MEETING Details on 01278 741130 17th HARDY’S COTTAGE GARDEN PLANTS, WHITCHURCH SUMMER FLOWERING PERENNIALS WITH ROSY HARDY Details on 01256 896533 18
th
BARTLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ‘WILDLIFE IN YOUR GARDENS’ – PHIL SMITH Details on 023 80812217
20th
28th
BRANSGORE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, VILLAGE HALL SUMMER SHOW
COPTHORNE NURSERY & GARDENS, FAWLEY VILLAGE OPEN DAY Details on 023 80894998
25th IBSLEY & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ‘ALL WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PONDS’ – SANDY WORTH Email: terryings@btinternet.com 27th SOLENT FUCHSIA & FLOWER CLUB, UNITED REFORM CHURCH HALL ANNUAL SHOW Details on 01329 310124
31st WARSASH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY CHEESE & WINE EVENING
AUGUST 2nd SOUTHAMPTON GARDENING CLUB SUMMER SHOW Details on 01489 784823
Dorset ISSUE NO 162
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Send them into us by email, giving us 10 weeks notice of the event to: timeoff@countrygardener.co.uk or by post to: Mount House, Halse, Taunton, TA4 3AD. Your event can also be listed on: www.countrygardener.co.uk Sign up to add your events today
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Please send us your diary for the year we’d love to include your talks and shows
P lus
garden days
3rd
11th
HOLFORD GARDENERS GROUP HOLFORD FLOWER SHOW Details on 01278 741130
BORDE HILL, HAYWARDS HEATH MUSICAL PICNICS IN THE GARDEN Details on 01444 450326
5th
14th
OAKLEY GARDENING CLUB ‘LOVELY LILES’ – JOHN BAKER
TOTTON & DISTRICT GARDENERS’ SOCIETY ‘FROM JUNGLE TO JEKYLL’ – ROSAMUND WALLINGER Details on 023 80668177
6th ANDOVER FLOWER CLUB ‘READY, STEADY, ARRANGE’ Details on 01264 355335
HARDY’S COTTAGE GARDEN PLANTS, WHITCHURCH SUMMER FLOWERING PERENNIALS WITH ROSY HARDY Details on 01256 896533
24th WEST MOORS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SUMMER SHOW Details on 01202 871536
15th BARTLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ‘THE SPICE OF LIFE’ – RON TAYLOR Details on 023 80812217
28th WARSASH HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ‘WINNING WAYS WITH YOUR GARDEN’ – HILARY GILSON
17th
8
th
CATISFIELD & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB ‘BEES AND THE GARDENER’ – PAUL SUMMERSGILL Details on 01329 286195 WINCHESTER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ‘HOW TO BE A 21ST CENTURY GARDENER’ – TIMOTHY WALKER Details on 01962 866818
BURSLEDON & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB ANNUAL SHOW Details on 02380 402986
WINCHESTER HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY LATE SUMMER SHOW AT BADGER FARM COMMUNITY CENTRE Details on 01962 866818
GRAYSHOTT GARDENERS ‘EXOTICS FOR YOUR GARDEN’ – GRAHAM BLUNT
7th
10th
PURBROOK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ANNUAL SUMMER SHOW AT CROOKHORN COLLEGE www.purbrookhorticulturalsociety.org.uk
ALLOTMENTS & GARDENS ASSOCIATION SALISBURY 13TH SUMMER HORTICULTURE SHOW 1.30pm – 4pm
29th IBSLEY & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ‘UNUSUAL PERENNIALS’ – BRYAN MADDERS
WHITEPARISH GARDEN CLUB WHITEPARISH GARDEN & HOBBIES SHOW Details on 01794 885738 18th KINGSCLERE GARDENING ASSOCIATION, FIELDGATE CENTRE ANNUAL SHOW Details on 01256 781892
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AWARDS
2018
43
Creative
Recycling Britain in Bloom competitors double up gardening with the war on plastic As the war on plastic continues, there’s much you can do in your garden to help make a difference. And many of these planet-protecting ideas are demonstrated in this year’s RHS Britain in Bloom competition throughout the south and south west, where community gardeners put their horticultural skills, community spirit and green credentials to the test. Gardeners go some way to spread the word locally about how to cut down on waste, running beach clean-ups or coming up with creative ways to re-use plastic. Darren Share, chairman of the Britain in Bloom judging panel, says: “Britain in Bloom isn’t just about spectacular floral displays and making our villages, towns and cities beautiful to live in and visit. Many of this year’s finalists are on the frontline of tackling some of the UK’s biggest challenges, such as climate change, plastic waste on beaches, and declining pollinator populations.” So, how can gardeners help to wage war on plastic with a recycling revolution?
1. Get creative In the UK, we use over 35 million plastic bottles every day - but with a bit of imagination, they could find a home in
your garden landscaping and help cut down on waste sent to landfill. One competitor adapted two-litre fizzy drinks bottles to create a spectacular wall of pollinator-friendly planting for bees, by turning the bottles on their side, cutting out an opening and filling with compost and plants such as nasturtiums, aubretia and lobelia. When using plastic bottles or other containers for growing, don’t forget to add a few drainage holes to let air get to the plants’ roots and avoid waterlogging.
2. Turn bottles into cloches Discarded plastic drink bottles also make great cloches, which act as minigreenhouses to protect tender plants from the cold and deter pests such as rabbits, and even urban deer, from nibbling at young seedlings. Simply cut the top off the bottle and place over the plant.
3. Reuse pots Plants bought from garden centres are often supplied in plastic pots, although alternative materials such as coir, paper or bamboo are increasingly available. Consider re-using these for seed sowing
and re-potting, rather than buying new. Just rinse out with warm water and detergent before using again, to kill off any diseases. Wicor Primary School in Hampshire - a school gardening superstar - uses mushroom and tomato supermarket containers as seed trays.
4. Pass things on Think about setting up a plant pot recycling point on an allotment or other community hub, where gardeners and schools can drop off any unwanted pots for others to pick up and recycle.
5. Make it fun Follow the lead of some Britain in Bloomers who get local greenfingered school children involved in transforming rubbish into inventive floral displays, using materials such as broken wheelie bins, to complement their plantings. This year, schools will be creating their displays from washedup plastic collected from the community’s beach clean-ups.
Country Gardener Magazine Editorial Publisher & Editor: Alan Lewis alan@countrygardener.co.uk Tel: 01823 431767
Distribution Pat Eade pateade8@gmail.com Tel: 01594 543790
Time Off: Kate Lewis timeoff@countrygardener.co.uk
Advertising Sales Cath Pettyfer - Devon & Dorset Corina Reay - Cornwall & Cotswolds cath.pettyfer@countrygardener.co.uk corina@countrygardener.co.uk Tel: 01837 82660 Tel: 01823 410098
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The Country Gardener magazines are distributed FREE at Nurseries, garden centres, National Trust Properties, open gardens, garden machinery specialists, country stores and farm shops in each county. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or made available in any form, without the written permission of the copyright holder and Publisher, application for which should be made to the Publisher. Unsolicited material: do not send or submit your only version of manuscripts and/or photographs/transparencies to us as these cannot be returned to you. While every care is taken to ensure that material submitted is priced accurately and completely, we cannot be responsible or liable for any loss or damage suffered. Views and/or opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of Country Gardener or the Publisher.
44
Country Gardener
Arum lilies
to adore
Arum lilies make striking architectural plants with large, glossy foliage which, in late spring and early summer, is joined by large, white, hood-shaped flowers.
The white arum lily is a thing of great beauty. They are known and loved for their magnificent flowers in perennial borders or simply as a houseplant. Always a favourite with florists they have now become more established in the garden where they tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including boggy soils. Their fleshy, arrow-shaped leaves and flowers can grow up to three feet and the plant is quite fast growing if provided with the right conditions. Less well known is the fact there are six species in its genus. The most common and hardiest one is Zantedeschia aethiopica with its white flowers. You will also find yellow, peach, pink or red varieties. The more compact mini calla lily bulbs (‘Little Gem’, ‘Perle von Stuttgart’) are more suitable for smaller flowerbeds and containers. Zantedeschia ,known also as calla lilies, are native to South Africa. They will bear narrow, lance or funnel shaped flowers in the most fantastic array of colours and are particularly effective when grown in groups within a border, or planted in pots and spread out on the patio. There are a wide range of varieties, in sizes ranging from 40cm to 90cm and a dazzling array of colours to choose from. Their exotic looking flowers look particularly striking in cut flower arrangements, giving your bouquets an exciting tropical look. And, if overwintered in a sheltered spot, the tubers can produce a great display for many years. There are many distinctions between the different varieties of lilies but one of the most noteworthy is that some are considered as hardy and some are considered tender. In theory, with our climate in the UK, all the varieties would survive a mild-normal winter. Planting them is an easy process – they like moist, welldrained soil and not to be planted too deep and allow the tops of the tubers to be at ground level. Where possible plant them in a sunnier location as, being from native to Africa, they will really appreciate it. Grow in humus rich soil, in full sun access. Plant the tubers shallow, so top of tubers are slightly exposed. They can be cultivated indoors in loam based potting compost in full
light. Water freely and apply a balanced fertilizer every two weeks until the flowers have faded. One of the added bonuses of planting them in your garden or in patio pots is the absolutely stunning cut flowers they can produce. Each tuber will produce a number of stems as it flowers. Calla lilies don’t require regular pruning, but you should deadhead the flowers as they wilt. Removing parts of the plant should not kill it. Cut them back at the soil level and dispose of any plant debris, and they’ll come back in the spring. Three varieties to try:
Zantedeschia aethiopica (Calla Lily)
Hardy Zantedeschia aethiopica is a wonderful, well known outdoor flowering variety. It looks superb grown in groups within the flowerbed and border, or equally as effective planted and grown on the patio in pots or containers. Calla Lily aethiopica will produce gorgeous summer white flowers from late May through to June, coupled with waxy green foliage.
Zantedeschia Lipstick (Calla Lily)
This variety presents gentle cream spadices, surrounded by contrasting vivid pink spathes which fade to spring green at the floral chamber; where the magnificent flower head is held up by succulent tube-like stems. Broad, wavy foliage in a spring green adorn the base. Flowers from May to October.
Zantedeschia Cantor
(Calla Lily) A very popular variety for contemporary flower arrangements, exotic Calla Lily (Zantedeschia) Cantor boasts the deepest purple of anylily, almost black. Gorgeous waxy spathes in deep aubergine-burgundy surround a matching spadix, giving a mysterious, unusual look.
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45
Stars of
THE SHADE Shady areas in the garden are too often neglected. Almost all of us have an area of full shade in the garden. Far from being a problem, deep shade provides a wonderful opportunity to grow a huge and diverse range of plants that relish it. Found under evergreen trees and hedges, and at the base of north-facing walls, fences and buildings, deep shade can be brightened by plants with different foliage colours, shapes and textures.
A shady spot in the garden can be difficult for plants as it creates a cooler, darker environment but there are so many plants which will love those conditions
This all depends on what’s casting the shade and which aspect your garden has. The ‘aspect’ is the direction your garden faces – north, south, east or west. This affects which areas get plenty of sun and which ones are in shadow for all or part of the day. HERE ARE SOME CHOICES OF PLANTS WHICH WILL BRING COLOUR AND STYLE TO THOSE SHADY AREAS:
Many people imagine that the only way to tackle a shady patch is to turn it into a foliage garden filled with box, ivies or ferns. But too many dark greens can make a shady area in the garden look gloomy.
Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae has lime-green spring flowers and glossy, evergreen foliage, giving this plant a long season of interest. It is the perfect plant for dark areas of dry shade. It is very easy to grow and brings colour into the garden from early June through to October.
Instead, step back and use those areas for background structure and texture, then bring the area alive by making use of pale, pastel colours. White, cream, pale yellow, lilac, light mauve and pale pink show up best in these darker area of the garden.
Dryopteris wallichiana is a strong evergreen fern which is very much at home in the damp shady corners of a garden and will survive the hardest of winters. The subtle bronze of new fronds in spring turn dark green in summer and then flowers in June and July.
There are of course various degrees of shade in any garden and this affects what you can plant. Light shade means slight shade for all or most of the day; partial shade means plants are in sun for some of the day; dappled shade is blotchy shade created when the sun filters through overhead foliage.
Milium effusum ‘Aureum’ is a soft, leafy woodland grass well suited to growing in deep shade, and the golden foliage and sprays of tiny flowers provide a bright splash of summer sunshine.
For shady places with dry or damp soil it pays to be selective – some plants thrive in these conditions. You can even find plants that suit really difficult situations such as shady watersides or areas under large trees whose roots suck all the moisture out of the ground in summer. If you have borders of moist but well-drained and humus-rich soil in light shade, you can grow choice woodland plants which need exactly these conditions. It’s vital to understand what kind of shade you have, so you can choose the right plants. Are you dealing with dry shade or damp shade? And what degree of shade have you got?
46
The shuttlecock fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, is a particularly attractive fern, bearing large, pale green, lacy fronds. It’s an excellent foliage plant for moist, dappled shade and works particularly well when planted in groups. Oakleaf hydrangeas provide large, dense clusters of flowers which last all season, even through autumn and winter to provide lots of interest and texture. They come in a variety of sizes ranging from a few feet tall to eight feet tall. Left to right: Euphorbia amygdaloides; Dryopteris wallichiana; Milium effusum ‘Aureum’; Matteuccia struthiopteris; Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Country Gardener
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