Garden in Yorkshire Bees Knees
Being Rooted and Rooting for the Planet
My roots are in the north of England but I enjoy an occasional trip down to ‘the smoke’ as London used to be called. Fortunately there is far less smoke than 50+ years ago but the same can’t be said for air pollution nor particulates around major roads. We walked from Kings Cross along Euston Road to the Wellcome Collection and the ‘rooted beings’ exhibition. Breathing in the fumes caused some coughing and spluttering on the way so subsequently we walked through back streets seeing another side of London. Whilst the air was not as fresh as Ilkley Moor it was OK particularly when we stopped in Russel Square garden.
About Rooted Being Exhibition Free until 29th August 2022
- ‘Plants sustain life on earth. They are sensitive, complex and interconnected beings, playing surprisingly active roles in ecosystems and human societies’ wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions
- ‘The exhibition reimagines our relationship with plants and fungi, exploring what we can learn from plant behaviour and how we can rethink the significance of plants beyond simply resources for human consumption. The curatorial team have brought together works from the Wellcome Collection’s archive of botanical illustrations with artists’ commissions to form an open-ended narrative about vegetal life in the context of the climate crisis, from the perspective of environmental and social justice’. Anna Souter
- In addition to the Wellcome Trusts usual medical information the contemporary ‘rooted’ project in the main gallery includes art work, botanical illustrations, a fifth century Papyrus and a 19th-century study of fungi.
- Mandrake, Brugsmania and hallucinogenic plants are covered in a free brochure about the work of Patricia Dominguez
- Two of my favourite exhibits included a large wrack sculpture and lobster pots filled with construction and plastic waste.
- Not a massive exhibition but the subject is dwarfed by hidden meanings notably a holistic view about plants and the consequences of human interaction with the natural world.
Gardeners Visit to London 2022
Not what you would expect for a garden called ‘The Phoenix Garden’ in the middle of Tottenham Court Road near Crown Point. It isn’t a phoenix from the ashes of a great fire or a WW11 bomb site at but was built on a disused car park in the 1980s. It may be part of an overflowing burial ground for St Giles-in-the-field church back in the 1600s and is reputed to be the last surviving Covent ‘Garden’. The entrance is located in St Giles Passage
Despite being surprisingly close to the busiest part of central London there is a peace and tranquillity about the small but well formed, free to visit garden. It is maintained to a high standard by volunteers with lots of flowering plants and secluded seating. I was walking or ambling from Kings Cross to Westminster and unexpectedly came across the garden where I spent a tranquil time in a well stocked, well planned space. The large number of insects and wild life is a tribute to the planning and care that has gone into maintaining this community asset. The surrounding buildings do not intrude on the space but the photo below shows the competition from concrete.
Not Making Gardens Anymore
It is a sad fact that the British hobby of garden-making is in decline. That is partially due to social changes and more importantly there being no new land for gardens.
Scarce Resource
- Land is a scarce resource and what the suitable land is required for a multiplicity of other uses.
- Concrete jungles are preventing the sensible development of gardens other than for displaying onroof top gardens, patios or other man made efforts.
- The Dutch have developed plant growing to a fine art utilising land reclamation whilst our East Coast is eroded and some gardens fall into the North Sea.
Social Expectation and Change
- Our UK population continues to grow, even though there is a blossoming interest in ecology and the environment, such growth is not noticeably translating into new gardens.
- There are fewer new parks and gardens in public ownership (unless you count skate parks and playgrounds). At least not in proportion to population growth.
- Living accommodation has changed in several ways with many more retirement villages, apartments and single occupation homes. Land is being converted in to a concrete jungle that will not return to a garden opportunity for many life times.
- There are many competing activities to distract potential garden aspirationalists. Whilst RHS membership may be growing that may reflect the hobby of observing not gardening.
Destroying Gardens
New drives, block paving and concreting over may and I emphasise may seem a good investment but think of the gardens destroyed and the habitats lost under hard landscape.
Some ‘Reasons’ Gardens are Destroyed
- Housing extensions, extra garages and granny flats can consume land fit for gardens but who cares when a green resource is lost and drainage becomes a problem.
- New housing in green fields, with high density just like the density of the planners who approve the development in the first place. Add in the infrastructure (if any) such as facilities, roads and access leads to more wet misery.
- One off builds or converting a house with a large garden into two or more dwellings (often with capital gains tax protection). An admittedly large house near me has built in the front and the back garden now is managing to squeeze in two more detached houses. Five on to one has gone and so has the garden!
- The advent of E-motor vehicles has led to charging points on house walls and thus more hard standing for more large cars.
- Decking patios and trendy designer features have the ability to send water and money needlessly down the drain. Save our gardens.
Codiaeum-Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat Plant
Nine years ago I wrote about the coloured leaves of this houseplant. Now I have got interested in oil painting and this plant makes a dream of a subject for this week. This is what was published at the time and I recommend a later more detailed post. Read also about Croton the other name for Codiaeum,and related houseplants
‘You do not need flowers to produce colour in your houseplants. In addition to Begonia Rex and its relatives why not try growing some Codiaeum, an easy to maintain leafy plant.
Codiaeums are interesting foliage house plants also called Joseph’s Coat.
Codiaeum Cultivation Tips
- This variety is called ‘Petra’ but you may also find ‘Eugene Drapps’ with long lance shaped leaves almost entirely yellow.
- Keep plants moist and in good light with a temperature of at least 60-70° F.
- Root 6 inch cuttings taken from the top of the plant at 70° with a bit of bottom heat.
- Plants can be encouraged to branch by pinching out the growing tip.
- Frequent feeding is needed except in winter when growth slows.
- Large plants will have lots of roots so it may be worth potting up a size using loam based compost.
- Red spider mite can be a problem with Codiaeums
- Without good light but not full scorching sun the colouring will not be as strong and bottom leaves may be shed.’
2022 Lilies
If you missed an autumn planting of lily bulbs now is a good time to plant some to catch up for this year.
Quick Tips
- In spring plant the new bulbs at a depth of three times the height of the bulbs. If you plan to leave bulbs in the ground leave about twice the width of the bulb inbetween (closer if you will be lifting them each year).
- Planting in threes or fives will give a good show if you chose healthy bulbs with plump scales.
- Lilies like a rich fertile soil so incorporate some slow release fertiliser. As they start flowering give them a liquid feed of high potassium fertiliser.
- Keep watered during dry spells but never let them be waterlogged.
- Lilly beetles can be a red pain. The eggs eat leaves and stems and deposit a black sludge. Pick off and crush the beetles, they can fall to the ground to avoid the slow gardener.
- After flowering cut back the seed heads before they leach out the goodness from the bulb trying to set seed. Leave to die back then cut off at soil level.
- Try some bulbs in big pots.
Look After Your Containers
Routine Care
- Neglect spoils many a display.
- Water and feed remember containers are a constricted environment.
- Good hygiene is important, remove debris, weeds and dying foliage.
- Deadhead and consider cutting back a bit harder. Keep plants in good shape and prune topiary regularly
- Remove plants that are not doing well or are finished
- For permanent planting such as shrubs remove and replace the top inch or so of soil annually.
Seasonal Care
- In hot weather consider shade and check water levels.
- Spray leaves early in the morning to avoid scorching.
- Prepare and make arrangements to look after pots if you are going on holiday.
- In winter protect from plants and pots from frost damage. Move to safety and shelter.
- Damp increases the risk of cracking from frost damage. Keep good drainage and keep on the dryside.
- Plants in small pots are more vulnerable to problems.
- Group pots together for mutual protection.
- Reduce height of plant to avoid pots being blown over.
- Use bubble wrap, hessian and fleece as needed for frost protection.
Pests & disease & General
- Clean and disinfect pots before reuse.
- Start with healthy plants.
- Use fresh compost.
- Regular care and maintenance including keeping on the lookout for problems
- Position pots from wind or consider screening
Rooted in Nature
Mankind has proved to be adaptable at least enough to survive as one of nature’s multitude species. However there are warning signs that for the long term all is not well in our environment. As one small contribution to a ‘rooted in nature movement’ we should consider the gardener as a key player and influencer.
Lest we forget nature is essential to provide our current and future sustenance, health and wellbeing. Food and shelter are axiomatic to the survival of the human race and us as individuals. In a small way gardeners can root each of us in nature and provide a significant contribution to our understanding and appreciation of our natural surrounds. Enough of the overview now a few words on a micro perspective.
Helping Nature One Potato at a Time
- The hippocratic oath has a useful phrase ‘first do no harm’. Thinking about this in the garden can be a good starting point. Consider e,xcess chemical use, limited native species, plastics galore, food mile products failure to consider cause and effect.
- Helping nature should help the gardener and local environment. There are many healing, mood enhancing and medicinal plants to grow beyond the humble potato. Colourful and scented plants are just some examples.
- Designing and operating a garden in a ‘rooted in nature’ manner is very therapeutic helping develop emotional and wellbeing. Calming water features and contemplation space may be inspirational for mind, body and soul.
Good Bad and Downright Ugly
Good & Bad Companions
Ash trees take lots and lots of goodness from the soil then die back or get turned into CO2 as firewood.
Never plant gladioli near peas beans or strawberries if you want them to thrive. Cabbages can kill off strawberries
Fuchsias appreciate shredded green bracken underneath their roots
Couch grass seldom grows around tomatoes, lupins or turnips.
Raddishes help stop maggots near cabbages
French marrigolds are well know for protecting from white fly
Good but Ugly Tips
Mulch with black polythene, old carpet or thick layers of cardboard.
An old dustbin with a chimney can be used to burn rubbish efficiently but it doesn’t look as good as a bonfire
Old labels and random canes and sticks as supports look untidy and at least in winter should be gathered in.
Lilies are fine plants but can be ravaged by the red lily beetle. Hostas can be ravaged by slugs and both look ugly