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Thirty first edition - November 2003
 We still seem to be suffering from a shortage of any
substantial rainfall in many parts of the UK as I write this towards the
end of October, despite the definite onset of autumn. I understand
that parts of the UK are seriously short of water and we could be heading
for a winter drought.
We are asked to conserve water.
This autumn is glorious and the trees more colourful than
ever, which could be due to our hot, dry summer. If you are knee-deep in
fallen leaves, please do take care not to slip and fall on them.. If you
cannot clear them up, ask someone to do it for you.
 My
garden is still very colourful with the marigolds and chrysanthemums, amongst other plants,
still flowering their socks off. I leave all the flowering plants in the garden
until the very last minute, before pulling them out, or cutting them down,
after all our winters
are SO long. I managed to plant wallflowers and other winter plants in
between the summer stuff.. I have placed some photos that I took this
morning, (23rd October) around this article..
Many of us use pesticides but some of those that we utilise may be banned, so check that you are not using illegal ones. Click here if you would like to access the UK register of
Government-approved pesticides.
Projects
No one was brave enough to write and tell
me about their garden projects or what the flora and fauna is like in
their part of the country or world, but one gentleman wrote to me with a
garden problem which needed quite a bit of detective work, so rather than
list it with the other garden queries for this month, I have catalogued it here . I would
still love to hear about your garden though, or your part of the world!
 Have
you planted all your new bulbs for that glorious spring display? Have a
look in your supermarket whilst you are doing your weekly grocery shop and
you will most likely find packs of mixed bulbs: some that have even been
colour co-ordinated, which are very reasonably priced. B & Q also have
a very good selection which are often much cheaper than the sometimes
overpriced garden centres. Bulbs can usually be planted until December and
the little extra effort made this time of year will be well rewarded next
spring when the bulbs start poking their heads up, heralding the new
season..
I am favouring the miniature tulips and narcissi this year
and have found some delightful packs of 25 for only £2.99 in Tesco. I
have planted these in a blue glazed container and overplanted them with
yellow pansies. Even now in October, it looks wonderful.
 This
is a nice time of year for gardeners, when they can relax a bit and look
at the glossy gardening magazines, or pour over seed catalogues, whilst
making the most of any good weather to do a little light gardening. Or
just sit in the warmest spot in the sitting room with a cup of tea,
contemplating next year in the garden and taking stock... Take a trip to
the local garden centre, to do some Christmas shopping for your garden
loving friends and relatives. You will find lots of suitable gifts for
them in the way of books, garden hand tools, or even a gift voucher..
Laterlife is pleased to support the project below:-
| http://beehive.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/sensorygarden
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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