May… Busy May…

May is usually the busiest month in the gardening calendar. With the weather warming up and the days getting noticeably longer it’s a pleasure to be outdoors in the fresh air.

By the end of the May, when hopefully the threat of any frost has past, bedding plants can be planted out and hanging baskets can be prepared to give fabulous splashes of colour to the garden.

Hardy annuals flowers from seeds can be sown into prepared soil around this time and is a good way of getting a mass of colour in the garden for just the cost of a packet of seeds.

A useful tip is to sow the seeds in rows about 4″ apart so that when they start to germinate, you can easily tell which are your germinating flowers and which are the weeds.

Also by sowing this way, you’ll have enough room to hoe the weeds away between your rows of plants. Another good way of getting plants cheaper is to buy plug plants.

These are small plants that can be potted up, grown on and then planted out when they are bigger and stronger.

To help make plants go further; you can divide existing overcrowded perennials clumps and replant them elsewhere in the garden.

If you fancy growing your own tasty organic vegetables, then now is the time to sow crops such as beans, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, lettuce, peas and radish.

Some crops may need to be started off under a cloche in order to give them some more warmth. You can easily make your own cloche tunnel with strong wire or metal coat hangers bent into arches and covered with strong plastic sheeting. On warmer days remove the plastic sheeting, but cover the young plants at night.

Around this time of the year lawns need a bit of looking after if you want to keep it looking good. So treat your lawn with moss killer and then rake out the dead moss to help keep the lawn healthy.

If your lawn is small enough, then you may be able to weed by hand, but if it’s larger then you may need to use a lawn weed-killer. To encourage the grass to grow stronger you can also apply a high nitrogen fertiliser to feed it.

With the weather warming up, remember to water pots and start watering the garden, especially fruit and vegetables if the weather is going through a dry spell.

Around this time of year we are often too busy outdoors and easily forget about our indoor plants, so remember to check if any indoor plants have outgrown their existing pots and check to see if any need to be re-potted into bigger pots.

Make the most of the better weather around this time of the year and enjoy the onset of summer in your outdoor room.

Hunting Out Those Pests!

It’s so satisfying seeing one’s hard work paying off in the garden with healthy plants blooming making a garden look great… however lurking in the undergrowth are some unwelcome garden visitors that are just waiting to munch away and destroy your hard labour.

Number one on the garden pest hit list are slugs and snails. These invaders will quite happily eat through soft young growth on herbaceous plants and vegetables. Nature’s way of controlling these pests is to encourage birds, hedgehogs, frogs and toads into the garden to help eat them up.

Another way is to collect slugs and snails after dark by torchlight on mild evenings, as this is when you’ll more likely to find them feeding. What you then do with the slugs and snails is up to you, but I always prefer a biological approach to eradicating these pests from my garden.

Vine weevil is another pest you need to look out for. The adult vine weevil beetle emerges at night and damages plants by eating around the edges of leaves leaving tell-tale irregular notches. It then lays its eggs mainly in flowerpots and the larvae (which look like maggots) will feed on the roots of the plant and will cause the plant to wilt and quite possibly die. To try and get rid of them you could search for them by torchlight and remove the feeding beetle from the plant.

You can also use a biological control method whereby you water the soil with nematodes, which then in turn will eat into the vine weevil grubs. Remember to use this watering method by watering your flowerpots in late summer while the soil is warm and moist.

You may recall that last year we have a mini-invasion of ants. Although ants cause little direct damage to plants they’re more of a nuisance than a pest. They make nests by heaping small mounds of fine soil on lawns, flowerbeds and pathways. Ants also collect the sugary honeydew that is excreted by sap-feeding aphids and in the process the ants drive off the useful aphid predators. Although we can’t totally eliminate ants from our gardens, we can reduce their numbers by hunting out their nest site and then dealing with the source of the ants.

One rather troublesome sap-feeding aphid is the Woolly aphid, so called because of the fluffy white waxy substance it develops on the bark of trunks and branches of trees and shrubs during the middle to late spring. There are various sprays that can be used but a heavy infestation is difficult to control. If you have the patience, then you can use a soft bush with which you could brush away the fluffy white substance.

Another method I have heard of, but not tried myself, is to paint menthylated spirit onto the affected area. You could also try some companion planting of Nasturtiums around under the infected tree or shrub.

So, if you think that your garden looks nice and that all is well… beware… as there may be hidden dangers lurking… just waiting to eat away at your favourite plants and shrubs.

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PL Series of Planters by Collaboration » CONTEMPORIST

Vancouver, Canada-based sculptor Marie Khouri and landscape designer Dave Demers have formed a new design company called Collaboration. They will be exhibiting their first collection of sculpted planters this week at the 2011 ICFF show.

I think these are fabulous.  Totally organic and funky at the same time.  What do you think?

PL Series of Planters by Collaboration » CONTEMPORIST.

Swan Vase by Kenyon Yeh » CONTEMPORIST

London-based designer Kenyon Yeh has created the Swan Vase by making a mold from an old chair leg, then casting the vases in resin. Featured with 23 karat gold detail on top edges.

Swan Vase by Kenyon Yeh » CONTEMPORIST.

Spinners Garden

As if one trip to a garden I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time wasn’t enough, as well as taking a visit to Furzey Gardens, we braved the Bank Holiday Monday weather, waited for the obligatory rain to subside in the morning and made our way to Spinners Garden.

I knew I was in for a treat, but little did I know what a special treat awaited me.

For a start, before you get to the nursery part of Spinners Garden, you’re lead by a meandering path through the actual gardens. This nicely whets your appetite for some plant buying when you get to the actual nursery part, but more of that later.

Walking along the snaking path, you’re present with such a natural looking habitat for the plants, trees and shrubs that reside at Spinners Garden that it easy to forget that this in fact a planted up garden for the public. You get a sense of the love for gardening that has gone into creating the tapestry of the garden itself.

Much of the garden is of the light woodland type and among other plants you’ll find acers, hostas, hydrangeas, ferns and rodgersias.

Other less common plants you’ll come across include Trilliums and Erythroniums which are a delight at Spinners Garden. With many less common plants, trees and shrubs, if you’re what I call a “plants person”, you’ll definitely find something that grabs your attention while meandering through garden in the dappled light from the trees which include wonderful Magnolias and Camellias.

After taking our time wandering through the garden with me like a child in a sweet shop, we finally came to the nursery part of the gardens. Having walked leisurely through the garden before getting to the nursery part is such good planning I think because once you’re interest has been piqued in the gardens, you’re bound to want to treat yourself to a goodie or two from the nursery… which is exactly what I did.

For long I’ve admired the cercidiphyllum jap with it’s unmistakeable smell of burnt brown sugar or candy floss (cotton candy). It’s such an elegant tree and like I say, I’ve had my eye on treating myself to one for quite a while.

So, two lovely gardens visited on a lovely Bank Holiday as well as a treat for myself, all in all a great time…

…. and yes… my cercidiphyllum is already enjoying it’s new home, in a new pot in a new garden.

Spinners Garden:
Address School Lane,
Boldre,
nr Lymington,
Hampshire,
England,
SO41 5QE

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More Magnificence From The Month Of May

The month of May brings such an abundance of colour for our gardens, as there are such a variety of flowers around now to really liven up the garden.

If you’re buying flowering plants for your garden borders, then try planting in blocks or sways to get a better effect than just planting single plants. For example a block planting of the same colour of tulip bulbs under planted with a mass of blue forget-me-nots will create a sunning border.

This month is the main flowering period for the wonderfully brash Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Visit public garden to see the amazing spectrum of colours they come in. If you do want Rhododendrons, then remember that they’re best grown in large containers with acid soil, as our London soil is mainly neutral.

A star specimen tree for this month is the Laburnum x watereri ‘Vossii’ with its long hanging racemes of golden yellow flowers. This lovely tree can be grown as a single specimen or can be trained over a pergola to create a stunning archway.

A very pretty shrub with masses of lilac-blue flowers flowering around this time of year is the Ceanothus, the common name of California lilac. There are many varieties of this shrub ranging from low-growing ground cover ones, to wall shrubs to beautiful small trees.

The clematis for the month of May is the Clematis montana, which comes in a white or a pale pink. This Clematis is a vigorous, deciduous climber and is great for covering walls, fences or it can be grown up a tree to give it additional the tree flower interest.

You can’t have a garden without some spring scented flowers, and one particular scented favourite is the Lilac -Syringa vulgaris. This is a vigorous deciduous shrub or small tree has a dense conical cluster of flowers that come in a range of pretty pastel shades to a dark lilac colour.

A lovely May flowering bulb to look out for this month is the Allium, which is an ornamental onion and it produces dense round heads of star-shaped tiny purple flowers. This flower is super in any sunny border and it has such an attractive seed head in autumn that can be dried and used for flower arrangements.

Enjoy the month of May with the colours and scents care of Mother Nature!

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Waterproof Paper!? Artisan Pottery of Waste, Wood & Sand

Waterproof Paper!? Artisan Pottery of Waste, Wood & Sand | Designs & Ideas on Dornob.

I think these are such a good idea!

See the full article over at
http://dornob.com/waterproof-paper-artisan-pottery-of-waste-wood-sand/

Furzey Gardens

Last weekend hubby and I visited 2 gardens that I’ve wanted to see for a very long time; Furzey Gardens and Spinners Garden.

I’ll post about our trip to Spinners Garden in my next post and tell you about a little treat I picked up there, however, for this posting I’ll write about Furzey Gardens.

Furzey Gardens is situated in Minstead, a short picturesque drive from Lyndhurst along the A337 and a perfect prelude for what awaits visitors at Furzey Gardens.

We arrived nice and early on Saturday. Luckily the weather was sunny and just the right temperature for a good walk around gardens.

The first thing you notice when arriving at Furzey Gardens is the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere. It’s the perfect setting for the Christian Retreat House which is situated in the beautiful grounds where individuals or small groups may visit and enjoy quiet and tranquility.

As well as the retreat, Furzey gardens also works together with the Minstead Training Project to provide horticultural training and care for young people with learning difficulties and when you see the setting you’ll understand how Furzey Gardens can provide such a worthwhile service.

When you get your entrance ticket to Furzey Gardens in the shop, do remember to pick up a leaflet with a map of all the things to look out for during your walk around the gardens, because if you don’t, you’re bound to be so spellbound by the banks and banks Azaleas and Rhododendrons that you’ll easily miss out on some of the “hidden gems” around the grounds.

I won’t spoil the surprises that await you, but needless to say, Furzey Gardens has a whole host of “hidden gems” for you to hunt ensuring that you’re bound to take in the whole grounds and not miss anything if you follow the trail on the map.

In Furzey Gardens you’ll eventually get to the tree houses and play area, a perfect spot for children of all ages where you’ll find African style round houses, the tree house, swings, a boat and a lovely picnic area.

With a play area, the picnic area, the abundance of plants, the lake, the gift shop and the gallery, Furzey Gardens provides the perfect day out for all the family whether you’re into gardening or not.

To find out more about Furzey Gardens, do visit their website at
www.furzey-gardens.org

Furzey Gardens
School Lane
Minstead
Lyndhurst
Hampshire
SO43 7GL
Tel: 02380 812464

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Shoreline Furniture

I recently came into contact with Martin Scorey and his range of Shoreline Furniture via an exhibition in Lyndhurst arranged by Angelico Creative

As you know, I simply love driftwood furniture and accents and Martin makes the most exceptional pieces.

From a wide range of furniture, to decorative accents for you home and garden, Martin’s artistic talents turn seemingly ordinary driftwood into unique and exceptional pieces that could grace any home or garden.

From chairs to tables to cupboards and more, you’re bound to find something at Martin Scorey’s Shoreline Furniture to delight you.

More Details:
Martin Scorey is an exceptional craftsman who produces innovative Driftwood furniture using

Martin, who initially trained in traditional boat building skills, has been established since 1977 and over the years has developed a long list of loyal clients.

To satisfy the strong tide of requests for private commissions Shoreline Furniture was established and continues to fulfil the growing demand for original and memorable furniture that blends the traditional with the modern tastes of today.

Visit Shoreline Furniture At www.shorelinefurniture.co.uk

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The Magnificence Of May

May is my favourite month of the gardening year as spring moves into summer and the weather warms up, and nearly everything in the garden is in full leaf. Lovely spring flowering plants in our gardens will soon give way to super summer flowering blooms.

If you’re tempted to dash out and buy your bedding plants, I’d advise that you wait for a while until the middle of the month as there still could still be some sudden sharp frosts at night, so just keep an eye on the weather forecast. If however you have a greenhouse, then you could store them in there for the time being.

Around this time of this month, you could now give your lawn a good “feed and weed” as a lawn in good condition really sets off a garden. Also don’t forget to mow regularly to encourage healthy growth.

If you have any evergreen shrubs which may have been damage by frost during winter, then this is a good time to give them a pruning to generally tidy them up and get them back into shape. Early flowering shrubs and climbers such as Kerria japonica and Clematis Montana can also be pruned around this time now. Evergreen hedges can now be given a trim, but only give them a light trim just to keep its shape and this will make it easier to cut next time.

If you would like some plants for free, then now is a good time to take softwood cuttings from shrubs. Most shrubs in the garden will now be producing young fresh shoots and these will be excellent for softwood cuttings. Another economical way to get some splashes of summer colour into your garden is with flowering annuals, and these can now be sown directly onto the soil.

If you enjoy eating runner or French beans then try planting some now. I think that this crop has such pretty flowers and can quite easily be incorporated into any garden and can look attractive growing over supporting structures. If you want your very own fresh salad than have a go at growing some salad crops this month too.

As the weather warms up this month don’t forget to get into the habit of watering your garden; also start feeding any hungry plants in the garden, particularly those in containers and in hanging baskets.

By putting in some extra effort this month, your garden will get a good head start and not only will it start looking good, but your efforts will pay off later in the summer months.

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