Thirty fifth edition - March 2004
Much publicity is given to the fact that the fruit and
vegetables we buy in the shops is pumped full of chemicals, which I feel
cannot be good for us.. This year then, as I have no veggie patch in my
garden, I intend to plant some favourites such as spinach, carrots and
purple sprouting broccoli in the flower borders. I usually dot salad
stuff amongst the flowers and shrubs anyway, so the addition of a few
vegetables should give added appeal. This was a popular practice
a few years ago on the trendy TV gardening programmes and I must admit it
did not detract from the beauty of the flower borders.. In fact the produce
seemed to grow better in the company of flowers, which tend to attract the
pests such as aphids away from the vegetables..
February was a month of extremes, but as usual any plants
damaged by first the winds and then the frosts, have recovered and are
growing merrily away. If you have any damaged plants just remove the
blackened parts with sharp secateurs.. So far this year I have moved a lot
of shrubs that outgrew their space. They will all survive as the weather is
cool and the ground moist.. There were also many perennials that needed
dividing. Very often clumps of them die down in the middle, leaving an outer
circle of new growth which, if dug up,
will make a dozen or so new plants.
Life in the garden really gets into gear this month with
daffodils and some of the earlier tulips showing their faces.. Already
we can see the cheerful crocus out and bright forsythia, not to forget the
wonderful pink and white flowering cherries that seem to be everywhere.
Things to do this month
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Tidy borders and hoe
any weeds that have already germinated
-
Roses should be pruned by now.
Spray and feed them...
-
Continue mulching
the borders, avoiding any new shoots coming through.
-
Move shrubs that
have outgrown their space
-
Divide any
perennials that have grown too big a clump
-
Clean debris from pond,
but don`t disturb wildlife
-
Slugs and snails
will start to be active, remove them when possible
-
Check tree ties are loose enough
and supports are firm
-
clean and tidy the
greenhouse before the spring rush
-
Sow any early seeds
according to instructions
-
Take time out to go
to garden centres and shows!
RHS FLOWER SHOWS 2004
The third largest flower show in the UK, Tatton is an annual feast for
keen
gardeners as well as those who simply enjoy the spectacle of stunning garden
designs and plant displays.
Around 50 gardens will showcase the very best design talent working in spaces large and
small. More than 90 of the UK`s leading nurseries and growers will provide further
inspiration with exhibits in the floral marquees. Visitors will have a chance to buy
the very latest plants, flowers, gardening accessories and ornaments from the nation¹s
top growers and specialist suppliers around the showground.
RHS
International Orchid Show |
: : |
13 - 14 March 2004 |
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RHS Plant Roadshow at Torquay |
: : |
16 - 17 April 2004 |
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The
Spring Gardening Show Malvern |
: : |
7 - 9 May 2004 |
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Chelsea
Flower Show |
: : |
25 - 28 May 2004 |
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BBC Gardeners'
World Live |
: : |
16 - 20 June 2004 |
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RHS
International Lily Show & Conference |
: :
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30 June - 3 July 2004 |
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Charity
Gala Preview of the
Hampton Court Palace Flower Show |
: : |
5 July 2004 |
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Hampton
Court Palace Flower Show |
: : |
6 - 11 July 2004 |
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RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park |
: : |
21 - 25 July 2004 |
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Malvern
Autumn Garden & Country Show |
: : |
25 - 26 September 2004 |
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Wisley Shows |
:
:
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April, June and August |
|
RHS London Flower
Shows |
: : |
Regularly |
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RHS Fruit Conference |
: : |
6 October 2004 |
http://www.rhs.org.uk/events/shows.asp
Laterlife is pleased to support the project below:-
http://www.sensory-garden.com
Designed
to stimulate the senses and provide a haven of peace, a place to chill-out and unwind from
the stress of modern living. A garden designed specifically to be "Positive About
Disabled People" and raise funds for people with Multiple Sclerosis.
Take a
virtual trip around the garden, through different countries, its monthly photo galleries
& artwork, explore and discover the plants, birds and wildlife, water features and
wind-chimes, as we endeavour to describe the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch of
the various areas.
We hope you enjoy your visit to the Sensory
Garden Project
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And some places to visit...
www.edenproject.com
The
living theatre of plants and people
The Eden Project is a gateway into the world of plants and people. A meeting place for
all to discover how we depend on plants and how we can help to manage and conserve them
for our mutual survival.
Kew Gardens two locations:-
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/
Tel: 020 8332 5655 (24 hr)
Fax: 020 8332 5197Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB |
Tel: 01444 894066 (24 hr)
Fax: 01444 894069 Royal Botanic Gardens
Wakehurst Place
Ardingly
Nr Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH17 6TN |
The National Botanic Gardens of Scotland comprise:
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Scotland's Premier Garden
Benmore Botanic
Garden, Argyll
Argyll's Magnificent Mountainside Garden
Dawyck Botanic
Garden, Borders
Wonderful Woodland Garden
Logan Botanic
Garden, Galloway
Scotland's Most Exotic Garden
The National Botanic Garden of Wales
www.gardenofwales.org.uk
The star attraction here is the 91 metre long domed glasshouse, that
houses landscapes normally found in the Mediterranean. This would be a super place to
visit on a chilly day...
Keep the e-mails with
your gardening problems coming
Have a look at previous
editions of Gardener`s Diary
Some websites of interest to gardeners:-
www.alantitchmarsh.com
Alan Titchmarsh MBE, TV gardener, writer, broadcaster and thoroughly nice person.
Just a few choice words to describe the peoples` favourite TV gardener. See his
website....
Thompson and Morgan:
A growing
resource for gardeners worldwide. The site includes the international online seed
catalogues, the young plants catalogue (UK only), the wholesale seeds catalogue, together
with the award winning Germination Times and a host of other useful information.
www.carryongardening.co.uk
Gardening is an important part of many people's lives. You don't have to
give up gardening because of accident or illness, the onset of disability or the problems
associated with growing older. The information on their website is designed to provide you
with the information to Carry on Gardening.
Carry on
Gardening was initiated by the horticultural charity Thrive
and is funded by the National Lottery Charities Board. It brings together information on easy ways of gardening gathered over 23
years by Thrive and research carried out since the early 1970s by Mary Marlborough Centre,
Oxford, on tools and equipment for disabled and older people.
Good reading:-
"The Yellow Book" contains information of
all Gardens of England and Wales open for charity, and can be bought priced £5 from
National Gardens Scheme www.ngs.org.uk
National Trust Gardens Handbook is £6.99 and
the new edition is out in May Telephone 01394 389 950 or see their website www.nationaltrust.org.uk
RHS Garden Finder is £12.99 from Dorling
Kindersley www.dk.com
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