gardening info- good job done

The hanging baskets for display at the National Wildflower Centre were planted up,note carefully that we combine cultivated plants and wildflowers to give a certain je ne sais quoi

gardening info-no need for pots/compost

No need for pots,compost or even a garden,just get yourselves an old brick wall and the wild flowers will grow well enough i.e foxgloves,fox and cubs,oxeye daisy,easy gardening or is it.Seen at the N W C

gardening info-should have

Should have shown these images before,never mind here they are now.One shows part of the meadow when the Snakes Head Fritillaries were in flower and the second shows the leaves of the Tulip tree,both of these from the National Wildflower Centre

gardening info-running out of space no!!

Cleared spaces for two cloche/greenhouses,finding space is becoming a bit of a premium,however given some new plant to grow or we come up with new ideas space does make itself available

gardening info-strange companions

These two plants growing side by side,the bamboo benefits the rose as we have no blackspot,aphids,just a healthy rose bush giving us nice blooms

gardening info-wild sunflower

First picture of the year showing that our wild sunflower is growing well,Elecampagne(Inula helenium) grows in our garden to about 7-8 ft tall blooming from June-August,the blooms are 3"-4".It was used in Roman times as a medicine and condiment.

gardening info-a must have

Every gardener should this plant at their disposal,Comfrey,itcan be used in so many ways i.e compost activator,mulch,liquid feed for tomatoes,beans etc.Next year use it in your potato trenches and as a liquid feed for potatoes. Get the Bocking 14 as its seeds are sterileand is only propagated from root cuttings.After two years your comfrey plants will come into their own and you should get three cuttings of the leaves from each plant starting in Spring.

gardening info-Workplace

Two views of National Wildflower Centre,showing pond with marsh marigold,and chalk area,outdoor barn with recycled car tyres recycled into roof slates.

gardening info-Whats on Telly?

Heartbeat no sorry it's Heartease or Wild Pansy growin in a recycled TV,sorry but there is only one channel!!

gardening info-crafty plant

The wildflower Teasel stores water were the leaves join the main stem,into this water small insects fall giving the plant a liquid plant food. Saving water this way the plant seems to store water and nutrients(insects) for times of drought,Nature's very clever.

gardening info-orchid time

First photo of this year of an orchid at the NWC, just coming into flower,this one is the Northern Marsh Orchid,have a visit and see for yourselves

gardening info-moth appearance

Quite a surprise really to see this white ermine moth in the day time maybe it had just emerged.

gardening info-first poppy

The first poppy to show itself this year was a Welsh Poppy it shows you the mystery of nature as nobody planted it there!

gardening info-on way into work

One of  the views I see at this time of year while walking into work (cow parsley)

gardening info-quirky plantings

One of the displays at the National Wildflower Centre are wheelbarrows planted up with different themes like this one showing off lavenders

gardening info-two friends

Two friends enjoying the recent rain showers at the weekend

Gardening info- Inspection of tunnels and a PAWS for thought

The BOSS sprang one of her polytunnel inspections today and took great interest for a change in what was happening in the way of plant production,PAWSED for thought and then went on her way to a BORED meeting.Meet Teasel,company cat

gardening info-planting out

Hippy and Hairy gardeners planting out raised beds on beautiful May day,Gods in his heaven and all's right with the world

gardening info- sad tree

Pictured here are the roots of an apple tree bought from a supermarket,no offense to the supermarket,it's the gardener who dug this tree up minus its roots(whats that saying"Well it's not going to my house")that I take issue with,needless to say the tree is in intensive care and the prognosis is good.

gardening info-Shy and not so shy

Two of the fledgling House Sparrows which nested in our garden,Mum and Dad were busy finding them food and did not wish to be photographed

gardening info-edible basket

At the workshop at the National Wildflower Centre on the 30/5/ 2011 one of the ideas I came up with was an edible hanging basket,turning the material on the trolley into something anyone can do.Included in the basket was Salad bowl lettuce,Beetroot,Strawberry,Chocalate mint,Peas,and chicken manure pellets as a slow release fertiliser.