Foxtail Lilly

I was just skimming through a plant catalogue in a newspaper and WOW, did these foxy numbers stand out. Foxtail Lillies Eremurus robustus will add real height and colour to a border!

Flowering Period:June, July
Position:full sun
15 bare roots, 5 of each colour £14.97

Buy from Van Meuwen CLICK HERE

Can UK wildlife cope with drought?

The BBC website have produced a good article about the possible impact on wildlife if there is drought conditions this year. Already the water levels are below that of the same time in 1976, which was one of the hottest years ever in the UK. To this day my parents and their friends are convinced that the heat frazzled my 6 month old brain along with my friends, as the class of 76 were renowned for being daft as brushes and mad as march hares, compared to our siblings born in years before and after. Haha ;0)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17130206

Wildlife that could be affected include newts and the rare Natterjack toad, whereas other species like snakes thrive in the drier conditions.



The film above is a Natterjack toad in Slitere National Park in Latvia, here in the UK they can be found in parts of the South of England and the coastline of Cumbria and Dumfries. http://slitere.lv/

CWGC - Director of Horticulture

A wonderful opportunity for an experienced plantsman/women. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission which looks after war cemetries around the world and has kept them as beautiful oasis' of peace and tranquility for our war dead are on the look out for a Director of Horticulture.

The job is based in Maidenhead, Berkshire, but no doubt there will be travel involved to various sites on different continents. Each cemetery looks similar with the distinct headstones and Lutyen designed architecture, however the plants are chosen for the climate, so a war cemetery in Normandy might have Lavender, roses and Dianthus, etc whereas those in North Africa have palms, olives and cacti.

The Director will be in charge of managing the gardeners throughout the world, training, horticultural plans etc so no doubt the CWGC will be looking for someone with great experience and training. Full details here;

http://www.cwgc.org/about-us/our-organisation/job-vacancies.aspx

Gardens to Visit - Barnsdale Gardens

The latest 'Gardens to Visit' page is about Barnsdale Gardens. They were created by former BBC Gardener's World presenter Geoff Hamilton, who sadly died in the 1990's.

There is loads of different styles of gardens, such as a Japanese garden, cottage garden, allotment garden, and a formal pond and knot garden to name just a few so visitors can get loads of ideas and inspiration for their own gardens.

Here is the link;

http://www.gardenandgreen.co.uk/#/barnsdale-gardens/4561041212

and here is the full list of garden to visit pages;

http://www.gardenandgreen.co.uk/#/gardens-to-visit/4542227103

If you work for, own or volunteer for a garden that is open to the public and would like to be featured just email gardenandgreen@hotmail.co.uk and I will email you the info. As an editorial page it is FREE to set up.

Ice Age Flower Blooms Again!!

WOW! This story is sensational. A team of Russian scientists have used plant matter from a squirrels burrow frozen since the Ice Age to grow a new plant. It is the first time it has grown since the last ice age over 30,000 years ago!!!!!!, and has flowered and produced seeds.

What an amazing achievement, next stop Jurrasic Park! You can see a picture of the plant in flower via the link below;

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46456116

Bumblebee Conservation Trust

Speaking of bees, here is an interesting interview with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust;

http://www.gardenandgreen.co.uk/#/bumblebee-conservation-trust/4550045559

Also here is a video about a project they have been working on in Scotland to improve Bumblebee habitat.

Puffins

Here is the latest British birds fact page. The Puffin resides on the grassy cliffs of the British Isles during the spring and summer months.

http://www.gardenandgreen.co.uk/#/puffin/4557890846

Sarah Raven's Bees, Butterflies and Blooms

Heres a good BBC programme about wildlife friendly gardening and how to attract bees and butterlfies to your garden. It's fascinating to see how just changing the types of flowers used in borders can attract so many more butterflies, bees, and hoverflies.

Sarah Raven visits Harrogate, who always do well in Britain and Bloom and arranges for the gardening teams to trial some beds using nectar rich plants rather than the standard bedding plants such as Begonias. When the Britain in Bloom judges are visiting they are in a park with various beds, and the one which has been planted with the nectar rich plants such as single head Dahlias is buzzing with activity, whereas just a few metres away beds planted with the usual displays are bee free zones.

It all comes down to nectar and by the time you have finished watching, I'm sure you'll be inspired to think about adding a few nectar rich plants to your garden this coming season.

WATCH ON BBC IPLAYER VIA LINK BELOW

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01c89vp/Bees_Butterflies_and_Blooms_Towns_Gardens_and_Britain_in_Bloom/

Sperm Whale Plastic Bag Poisoning

Tragic story about the effects plastic bags are having on Sperm whales. What a beautiful photo.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2096142/Sperm-whales-How-plastic-bags-poisoning-planets-greatest-predators.html

Ten Gardening Tips for February

The gang at the Eden project have made a nice vid about what to do in your garden during February. It's all about getting prepared for the gardening season ahead.

So here it is, and don't forget to visit their website to find out more about their work and plan a visit.

http://www.edenproject.com/

Buddleja 'Flower Power'

A new variety of Buddleja. These hardy plants are renowned for their ability to attract butterflies to your garden. In fact they are often called butterfly bushes. This 'Flower Power' newby goes according to T&M "deepest violet to rich butterscotch yellow for an enchanting kaleidoscope of colour." The plants grow to 2 metres tall. Easy to maintain just prune back in spring, then dead head flowers to prolong flowering throughout the growing season. Two plants for £10, saving a fiver!

Click here to order via Thompson & Morgan

Clematis x aromatica

Another new Clematis for 2012 is Clematis x aromatica Old Man's Beard. As you can see the unique feature of this Clematis is the long strands known as stamens in the centre of the flower. So exotic looking. Imagine having this climbing plant covering the side of a boring old garage or shed!

3 plants just £11.99

Click here to order via Thompson & Morgan

Clematis 'Saphyra Indigo'

Another plant that comes near the top of my favourite list is Clematis. The variety of colours, the shape of the flowers, the way they turn boring walls and fences into a blaze of colour. Here is Thompson and Morgan's latest Clematis, very nice. Love the blueness, however, if you go to the website via the link below and watch the short video clip you will see the flowers seem more purplely than the photo indicates.

Hardy perennial.

1 Clematis plant is £10.99, you can also get 3 plants for £18.99.

(They're such a good company for giving good discounts for multiple purchases! ;0)

Click to order via Thompson & Morgan

Dahlia XXXL

Look at these HUGE Dahlias new for 2012. Blooms are 12 inches in size, and just look at those fiery colours! Seriously, get these and put them in some containers on your decking or patio. They will look superb and are easy to care for. Also, they flower from July onwards which is early for Dahlias traditionally assosciated with late summer.

Height: 120cm (48”). Spread: 60cm (24”)

1 Jumbo plug is £8.99, but Thompson and Morgan have an amazing offer, 4 jumbo plug plants for just £9.99 in total. That is one serious horticultural bargain for these tough economic times.

Click here to buy from Thompson & Morgan

Hibiscus 'Hardy Giants Collection'

I'm a big fan of huge plants and flowers, especially types of Sunflowers, Dahlias and Chrysanthenums. These monster dinner plate sized Hibiscus blooms certainly caught my eye! I think they will appeal to many gardeners, they really will be jaw droppers in your front garden and will get plenty of passing admirers.

They are 18.99 for 3 plants of varying colours. They are a hardy shrub and require full sun.

Collection comprises:
Hibiscus moscheutos 'Cranberry Crush' - Huge, crimson red flowers.
Hibiscus 'Kopper King' - Candy cane pink flowers produced against a backdrop of striking copper red foliage.
Hibiscus moscheutos 'Old Yella' - Gently ruffled primrose yellow flowers.

Click here to order via Thomson & Morgan

Thompson and Morgan New for 2012

I was looking at the Thomson & Morgan website yesterday and WOW they have some great new additions for gardeners in 2012. The following posts feature my favourites from their new plants.