Home & Gardens

Home & Garden Gardening...

...with botanist Dr Dave Aplin

Plants are often thought of as living in isolation with insect, fungi or bacteria being detrimental to their health. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Plants often rely on a range of different organisms for survival. The most well known, of course, are pollinators that busily visit flowers for a nectar reward while inadvertently taxiing pollen from one bloom to another. While we instinctively think of insects as pollinators, they are not confined to this animal guild, mammals, birds and even reptiles can perform this vital role for some plants. More intimate associations occur between plants and other organisms beyond the scale viewed by our naked eyes. Gardeners are likely to be familiar with nitrogenfixing bacteria living on the roots of legumes (peas, beans, clover). These bacteria inhabit specialised root swellings and fix atmospheric nitrogen, which the plant can utilise. Less well known, but ubiquitous in the plant kingdom, are interactions with fungi, called mycorrhiza. Mycorrhiza are associated with over 85% of all plant species. They attach to roots a bit like a hosepipe connects to a tap. Once connected the root-like structures of the fungi, known as mycelium, extend far and wide to cover an area far greater than the plant’s roots alone. The mycelium intercepts nutrients and delivers them to the plant, in return the plant gives the fungus carbon from photosynthesis. Often the fungus is connected to multiple plants giving rise to the phenomena known as the ‘Wood Wide Web’. Garden shops sell mycorrhiza in packets and market them as important additives when planting new trees and shrubs, although these type of fungi are normally ubiquitous in the soil. Believe it or not, microscopic fungi are also found in the internal structures of leaves. For those plants that have been investigated, it is not unusual to discover ten or more different fungal species colonizing a single leaf, although with the naked eye you would never know they were there. Their roles are complex and research into their purpose is in its infancy. Some are believed to help deter herbivores by subtly changing the plant’s chemistry. Bacteria can also inhabit leaves, although seldom investigated. One that has involves naturally occurring bacteria in coffee plants that promotes healthy growth. Sometimes intimate interactions between plants and other organisms are at the visible scale. A good example is the ant-plant (Myrmecodia). This plant grows as an epiphyte on trees in tropical countries. It has a swollen stem that comprises hollow chambers, which ants use for food and shelter. Incredibly the chambers are completely natural and not caused by the ant. Chamber walls are either smooth or rough depending on their location in the swollen stem. The smooth walled chambers are used by ants as nursery areas to raise young whereas the rough walled chambers are where ants deposit waste. The ant plant can absorb nutrients from this waste for nutrition. And plants are protected from visiting grazers because ants rush out to defend their botanical territory and sting the herbivore. Plants and their associated organisms are fascinating and another good reason to keep the use of chemicals in the garden to a minimum. n soilvalues.com

AMANITA MUSCARIA: A good example of a mycorrhizal fungi

Invisible allies on which plants rely

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New Stour & Avon, December 3, 2021 35 Home & Garden Sweet ballet leaves a lasting impression

Jo Green is a former allotmenteer, forager, amateur herbalist, pickler and jam maker who squeezed her allotment greenery into her tiny garden

Inspiration – it can hit you right in the ‘smacker’ or creep up behind you and sneak in your backpack. This inspiration was more of a tenacious stowaway type. It started with the delicious mention of sugar plum fairies – I had found a bounty of plums growing wild and was looking for seasonal uses for them. How does one make a sugar plum fairy I thought? Turns out sugar plum fairies are more of a generic historical confectionary than a specific recipe – usually expensive and the best. It was a bit of a disappointment so I thought I would change tack and go and collect some Gingko biloba leaves to try and make some mood-boosting concoctions without the sugar! I washed them and spread them out on the table to dry. After a few days (granted I had been playing Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker on loop), when I glanced at the leaves they appeared as a hundred tiny tutus! The leaves were dancing and a gradual pattern formed in my mind which I had to commit to collage. Ephemeral and magical, the patterns suggests animation, in my mind progressing from random wind-blown leaves to fleeting moments of choreographed ballet positions and then back to the elements... the Gingko Biloba Ballet! If I do say so myself, I rather like the design and might see about transforming it into a wallpaper print!

Society’s Sheila steps down after 30 years

by Joanna Lewis It was some 30 years ago when Wimborne Horticultural Society approached the then owner of Knoll Gardens, Kevin Martin, to ask whether he would be interested in taking over the presidency of the society. Unfortunately, Kevin had to turn down the offer due to prior commitments. He did, however, suggest someone who had a lifetime’s passion for horticulture and floral art, was used to public speaking and worked alongside him at Knoll. Who was this ‘someone’? It was his mother-in-law, Sheila Lewis, a former licensee of the Willett Arms and first female president of Poole Licensed Victuallers, who was the perfect match for the society. Over the years Sheila made the annual Spring and Autumn Show presentations, attended and gave talks and supported the committee wherever possible. To encourage others to join in the fun she entered many of the show classes herself and was even known to win the odd one or two! Now, at the tender age of 89, Sheila has made the difficult decision to step down and pass on the baton. Of course, I’m sure she’ll still be entering shows for a long time to come and looking forward to the competition, so don’t let her down and have a go. You don’t have to be a member or an expert as there’s always somebody on hand to guide you through. As we say goodbye to Sheila, now a life vicepresident of the society, you may be asking, ‘Who’s taking over the presidency?’ The answer, I’m pleased to announce, is Martin Stewart of Stewarts Garden Centres. On behalf of the society, I would like to welcome him into the fold and look forward to a long and exciting collaboration. I wonder whether he’ll be making his first presentation to you at the Spring Show on April 9, 2022. In the meantime, come and say hello at our Christmas meeting where there will be a quiz with prizes at 2pm on Monday, December 13, in the Quarterjack Suite of the Allendale Centre (please bring Christmas food to share). Members £1 (with membership card) NonMembers £3 wimborne hortsoc.wixsite.com/website

STEPPING DOWN: Former Wimborne Horticultural Society president, the irreverant Sheila Lewis and new incumbent, Martin Stewart

A vintage touch from Katie

We were delighted to welcome back Katie Baxter to West Moors Flower Group in November who is a local demonstrator from Verwood, writes Catherine Jenkins. Katie has been coming to us for many years and she never disappoints. Her title was A Touch Of Vintage and she wowed us with her beautiful flowers and lovely designs We all had a lovely morning. The next meeting is being held on December 15, a week earlier because of Christmas. The demonstrator is Julie Jeans and her title is Christmas Carols. We meet at the Memorial Hall in West Moors at 10am. All members and visitors are welcome. For further information, please contact Catherine on 01202 876441.

Lyrical talk for society

After such a long period of shutdown West Moors Horticultural Society is now back and on Monday, December 13, we will be having an illustrated talk entitled Lyrical (LaMortella) by local speaker Rosemary Legrand, writes Sue Hamlett. This will take place in the Memorial Hall, Station Road, West Moors. We look forward to seeing our members and also to welcome new members. If you are interested in joining please telephone Sue Hamlett on 01202 871536 for more information.