‘The Garden of Reading: An Anthology of Twentieth-century Short Fiction About Gardens and Gardeners’ edited by Michele Slung.

I was going to write about brochures, bulb and seed catalogues, but then I came across this book. At least the anthology collects works that set out to be  fiction, whilst gardening brochures presumably did not.

On Brochures

• The best photographs you can imagine are used in brochures. So more flowers and better colours are visible than you may attain with your own plants.
• Printed brochures are subject to the skill and vagaries of the printer and his reproduction processes. Accurate colour matches can’t be guaranteed.
• Brochure side step, insect damage, weather problems and  other trials and tribulations facing gardeners.
• It is a brochures  job to put the best foot forward not talk you out of a purchase.
• So are Brochures fact or fiction – well I will read the Anthology whilst I make up my mind.

On the Anthology

‘….The twenty-four stories in The Garden of Reading comprise a diverse and unexpected collection but one that stays true to its central and harmonious theme. Included are Colette’s sensuous ‘Grape Harvest,’ David Gueterson’s poignant ‘The Flower Garden,’ Stephen King’s sinister ‘The Lawnmower Man,’ J.G. Ballard’s lovely and otherworldy ‘The Garden of Time,’ the ominous ‘Green Thoughts’ by John Collier, Rosamunde Pilcher’s touching and simply titled ‘The Tree,’ and the splendid ‘the Fig Tree, by V.S. Pritchett – as well as classics from such masters as Saki, Robert Graves, and Eudora Welty, and contemporary writing from the likes of Sandra Cisneros and Garrison Keillor. If you’ve ever nurtured a flower, a green plant, a tomato plant, or a gleam of imagination, there’s something in The Garden of Reading that is sure to delight.’ source amazon review.

June is a spectacular month for flowering hedgerows and particularly the under-storey.

Identifying plants whilst out walking as a child, was my first introduction to the environment and natural gardening. There is still a buzz seeing a plant growing in the wild that some careful gardeners has subsequently developed for the garden or nursery trade.

Why not under-plant your garden hedges with native species of hedgerow flowers. The trick is to leave them undisturbed, unfed and untreated with chemicals. I would bank up the soil to start your hedge’s lower storey.

Hedgerows by County

• I nominate Somerset as my favourite hedgerow county but I would like to know what other UK counties can lay claim to be hedgerow county 2010.
• Cornish hedgerows have a soil banking (so that helps the smaller plants) with a rocky top and shrubs.
• Devon hedges are similar to Cornwall but with turf on and at the top of the banking.
• The Yorkshire Dales tends to have dry stone walls rather than hedges but the understorey plants can still be attractive.
• In Perth, near Blairgowrie, is the tallest and longest hedge on earth. Meikleour Beech Hedge, planted in 1745, is 98 ft in height and nearly half a mile long. (I wouldn’t want to trim it).

‘Hedgerows, moors, meadows and woods – these hold a veritable feast for the forager.’ and all is laid bear in the River Cottage Handbook. Book link

The English Hedgerow Trust provided this apposite quote from Shakespeare.

I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows
Quite canopied over with luscious woodbine
With sweet muskroses and with eglantine.

For a bit of fun read Copper Beech Hedges

This book says it all in the title so you don’t need any more Tips from Gardeners (as long as you purchase the book).

Quick Tips Anyway

• Experimenting, trialing and taking a chance is a part of fun gardening. Horticulture and farming take it more seriously but you can have fun and enjoyment from hobby gardening.
• It is better to tell someone there is no remedy than to delude them with a false one. If a plant is really bad get rid of it and grow something else.
• Do not covet your neighbors garden ask for a cutting or some seedlings.

For something a bit different this book on botanic art covers some of the unusual colours from black flowers, plants and seaweed like strange green, blue and puce pink.

Contemporary Botanical Illustration with the Eden Project: Challenging Colour and Texture by Rosie Martin and Meriel Thurstan according to Amazon

• The tricky subject of texture in both pencil and paint is covered in detail.
• To ensure you are at the cutting edge of botanical art, the book covers the latest ideas for presentation  including new ideas for arranging flowers before painting.
• Fantastic illustrated with drawings, stunning finished paintings and many step-by-step demonstrations.
• ‘The book covers an overview of contemporary botanical illustration; your workplace and materials; pencil drawing; sketchbook practice; composition; basic colour theory; colour and subjective colour exercises; primary colours and their uses; painting techniques; paint it black; challenging texture, pattern and colours; and, food plants.’

Alternatively look at the illustrations in Mr Marshall’s Flower Book

‘Take Chelsea Home’ by Chris Young shows the “Best Garden Design from the Chelsea Flower Show”. Below is a brief preview of the 2010 gardens and designers.

1. Tom Stuart-Smith; The Laurent-Perrier a champagne of gardens featuring a woodland of birches.
2. Roger Platts; The M&G garden roses for the main sponsor.
3. Sue Hayward; The Stephen Hawkins MND garden with unusual plants.
4. Pual Stone; Place of Change a large community design.
5. Leeds City Council; Hesco garden trying to pretend Leeds is  a tourist destination.
6. James Wong;  Malaysia tourism garden, now here is a tourist destination.
7. Robert Myers; Cancer Research garden, charities normally perform well at Chelsea.
8. James Towillis; The L’Occitane garden a landscape of Provence.
9. Andy Sturgeon; Daily Telegraph garden with international plants
10. Thomas Hoblyn; F&C Investments garden that should grow better than the investments.

Rhododendrons have many praiseworthy characteristics.

Why Grow Rhododendrons

• They are some of the most colourful spring and early summer flowering shrubs. Red, white and blues with yellows, pinks and shades to suit all tastes.
• Rhododendrons are generally evergreen and provide structure through the year.
• Modern hybrids are easy to maintain, slow to outgrow their allocated space and need little attention.
• There are 1000 species to select and learn about. Prostrate and miniature rhododendrons suit a rock garden whilst some varieties can fill a woodland.
• Scented Rhododendrons are shorter lived but have great aroma. See Caerhays Estate

Where to See Rhododendrons

• Kew Gardens’ Rhododendron Dell dates from the early 18th century.
• Lea Gardens in Matlock has a large display of Rhododendrons and Azalea.
• A good list of gardens with Rhododendrons is available at Great British Gardens.

Further information Read the rest of this entry »

Preparing Flowers and Foliage Cut From Your Garden

• When harvesting take a container of water around the garden and plunge freshly cut flowers into it immediately.
• Recut all stems at an angle with a sharp knife as you arrange them. This increases the area of stem that can take up water and also prevents a stem from sealing itself to the bottom of a vase and thus stopping water being taken up.
• Allow flowers to draw in water in a cool dark place for several hours prior to arranging.
• Remove any damaged or excess foliage and any that will be below the water line when arranged.
• Lilac and Sunflowers benefit from having all the foliage removed.

Tips to Prolong Vase Life

• Harvest early in the morning or just after sundown never in the heat of the day.
• If using Oasis scrape of 1-3 inches of outer bark from woody stems.
• Woody stems can be split vertically for 2-3 inches to help them drink. Do not hammer.
• Change the water when it starts to cloud, recutting the stems.
• Use a preservative in the water except for species where this causes problems like Campanulas, Bulb flowers, Orchids and naturally long lived tropical flowers.
• Keep cool and out of direct sunlight.

Avoid Ethylene Read the rest of this entry »

Harlow Carr continues to be a rising star amongst the Royal Horticultural Societies Gardens.
Opening in the next few weeks will be the new library and learning centre at the gardens in Harrogate.

‘The building, designed by one of the leading practitioners of sustainable building architect Andrew Yeats (Winner of the Queens Award For Sustainable Design), is designed to be one of the ‘greenest’ buildings in the UK with a zero carbon footprint.’ (Dean Peckett)

Eco Friendly Features
Super insulated, low energy consumption building.
It will have integrated renewable energy technologies including  rainwater harvesting and a grey water recycling system.
A small wind turbine will provide energy to the building and a ground source heat pump will help with the minimal heating requirements.
A sedum roof design to help blend the building into its surroundings and provide an insulating surface, promoting biodiversity and assisting with  the absorption of carbon dioxide.

Other Energy Saving Features include:
• Solar panels and Sun pipes
• Wind turbine
• Cement replacement concrete
• Clay blocks
• Natural ventilation
• Timber from sustainable sources.
These will all be incorporated by the main contractor William Birch of York.

If you are interested in ‘Homes for a Changing Climate’,  Will Anderson has a new book out.

If you can’t visit the Great Show this year £10 or so gets you a good book with memories of Chelsea flower shows inspirational aspects. ‘RHS Take Chelsea Home: Practical Inspiration from the Chelsea Flower Show‘ by Chris Young is available from Amazon by clicking here

Well illustrated with lots of photos and a huge amount of information ‘The book features best planning, design and decoration ideas from the last five years of shows, including masterclasses with gold-medal winners, celebrity designers, RHS experts and the world’s top plantsmen and plantswomen. The design and planting ideas inside the book are not just enviable but are made achievable for show-goers and armchair gardeners alike.’ It is so good you wont need to read Gardeners Tips much longer.

May 25-29th is Showtime
Visit London and ‘The Great Show’
Take in a show after the show with an organised break.

Old-Fashioned and David Austin Roses by “Barbara Lee Taylor

Instead of the usual division into Gallicas, Damasks, Albas, Centifolias, Moss roses etc. the chapters are divided into History, once-flowering old-fashioned roses, Repeat-flowering old-fashioned roses, David Austin roses, Cultivation, Landscaping with old roses and the book contains over 160 rose varieties. As you read this book you can virtually smell the scent of your successful roses as though it were a warm June evening.

‘Discovering old-fashioned roses is often the beginning of a love affair that lasts a lifetime. These beautiful plants offer you not only fragrance and beauty, but also a fascinating link with the past. In this beautiful yet practical book, some of the most popular old-fashioned roses are described in detail and illustrated in full colour. There is a complete chapter on the work done by David Austin in the 1950s and 1960s to create new English roses. Topics include species roses;Gallicas; Damasks; Albas; Centifolas; Moss roses; Ramblers; China roses; Portlands; Noisettes; Bourbons; Hybrid perpetuals; Teas and early hybrid teas; Hybrid musks; Climbers; Shrub roses & ramblers; Rugosas; David Austin roses; Cultivation; Pruning; and Landscaping ideas.

Gardeners Tip

Plant an Old Fashioned Rose or two as near to your bedroom window as practical. Enjoy the evening scent.