Archive | June, 2009

Purple Flowers that Attract Bees

By on June 30, 2009 in Environmental Gardening, Flowers and Plants

Cistus only seem to flower for one day then the petals drop. Resting in the sun this Bee seems content with life. Foxgloves have long tubular flowers so the Bee has to crawl right in to get the nectar. This moves pollen from flower to flower and Foxgloves then produce thousands of small powdery seeds.

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Thrive in the Garden with Disability

By on June 29, 2009 in Garden Design, Tips Hints and Ideas

Thrive is a national charity that helps people with a disability to start or continue gardening. They have specific assistance for wheelchair users, those recuperating from heart disease or strokes and many other tips and assistance. I am indebted to them for these tips and ideas that we can all learn from. Tips on Garden [...]

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Soil Testing Kits and Service

By on June 28, 2009 in Garden Equipment Tips

Test your soil (from each area of your garden) for acidity or alkalinity so you know what plants will thrive. Chemical Tests Mix a sample of soil with water. Add the test solution or capsule of test chemicals and watch the colour develop. Read off the colour of the liquid against the chart supplied that [...]

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Grow Red Hot Pokers (Kniphofia)

By on June 27, 2009 in Flowers and Plants, Tips for Growing Series

Gardens look better for some variety in the height in the planting and I try to grow a variety of perennials like Red Hot Pokers to give some tall plants chance to shine. Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia) have flowered well this year and they throw up their well known spire of blossom in shades from [...]

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Walled Gardens

By on June 27, 2009 in Garden Design

If you are lucky enough to have a walled garden you will know what a boon they can be specially for growing vegetables and fruit. This 5 acre garden is in Helmsley North Yorkshire and has outstanding fruit and vegetables despite the climate. There is information on fruit grown within this garden on Gods Own [...]

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Bindweed Control

By on June 27, 2009 in Flowers and Plants

Bindweed after being sprayed – note the stick it is growing up making it easier to spray” My first garden in Oxford had been neglected for 10 or 20 years. Bindweed had run rampant throughout the garden, there was no alternative but to spend many hours and many years before I was able to bring [...]

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Clematis Pruning

By on June 27, 2009 in Flowers and Plants, Gardening

Easy Clematis Pruning Tips Prune all Clematis in Spring, early Spring for late flowering Clematis that flower on new wood and late Spring after flowering for Clematis that flower on old wood. The later in the year it flowers the harder you should prune it. Treat your Clematis as a flowering shrub.

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Close Up Flower Pictures

By on June 26, 2009 in Flowers and Plants

Verbascum Gazania Not sure, looks a little like Antirhinnum

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Flowering Ground Cover

By on June 26, 2009 in Flowers and Plants

Ground cover plants ‘beat weeds’ and many of the plants recommended below will flower year after year. Plant healthy young plants from pots or modules about 12 inches apart and the fast growing ground cover will produce a dense carpet of colour for many years. Ground Cover Selection Helianthemum grows strongly in my garden with [...]

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Geraniums Plugs and Plants

By on June 26, 2009 in Flowers and Plants

Geraniums are one of the easiest and most versatile low growing plants. They are not fussy, but given a reasonable level of care they will reward the gardener with ground cover and 1 or 2 extended flowering periods. Care for Geraniums After flowering cut back geraniums to their base. Feed and water and you will [...]

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