Hooray For Hostas!

I think that a well-designed garden should have good green foliage, as this is where the eye can take a rest from all the other colours going on in the garden. Foliage also adds shape, form and texture to the garden and complements flowers.

One super plant that provides excellent elegant large foliage interest is the Hosta, Plantain lily. This perennial produces long stems with bell-shaped flowers, but this plant is mainly grown for its architectural foliage, which on some varieties can be up to fourteen inches long, and the whole plant can grow to a height of three feet tall.

The bold Hosta leaf comes in four main shapes: ovate, lance, round and heart-shaped and many Hostas also have lovely attractive variegated markings of white or yellow. Hostas come in a wide range of different lush shades of greens, from lime greens through to glaucous grey-blue leaves.

Most Hostas are clump forming perennials and like to grow in moisture-retentive fertile but well drained soil with a bit of shelter from cold drying winds. Hostas also prefer a full or partial shady site and don’t like the soil to dry out, so remember to give them a good mulching each spring to conserve moisture. A regular feed of nitrogen will also keep Hostas in tiptop condition.

The only down side to Hostas are that they are one the favourite foods to slugs and snails (see last week’s article) and after these pests have fed on them they can end up looking very much like lace curtains. Professional growers are now trying to produce Hostas with tougher leaves so that they’re not so tasty to slugs and snails. I personally grow my Hostas in containers to minimise slug and snail damage and use a John Innes No 2 compost with some grit to help drainage.

Hostas are so versatile as they can be used in many ways and in different styles of gardens. They can also be grown as individual specimen plants or ground cover and I think they really look super around ponds or water features.

My favourite Hosta is the Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans as it has rounded heart-shaped, heavily deeply puckered glaucous grey-blue leaves and this specimen makes a wonderful planting combination with my contrasting red Acer and the lovely deeply cut fronds of ferns.

So, for super irresistible foliage plants for a garden, Hostas certainly get my vote.

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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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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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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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Brewmatic Coffee Makers Saving Space In Your Kitchen

Anything that saves me time, money and space gets my vote and this great space-saver by Brewmatic certainly gets my seal of approval.

These coffee makers from Brewmatic can be installed on the underside of your kitchen cabinets allowing your coffee pot to take up a lot less space without the machine having to take up space on your work surface too.

Not only practical, but stylish too. Don’t you agree?

Specifications Include:
* Programmable digital clock/timer with auto on function – set at night and wake up to the invigorating smell of fresh brewed coffee.
* Three adjustable brew volume options including Full Brew, Half Brew and Quarter Brew.
* Ideal for commuters and single cup drinkers, brew directly into a travel mug for on-the-go convenience.
* Unique brewing systems assures coffee is brewed at optimum temperatures to release the coffee’s full flavor, delivering the perfect cup.
* An instant source of hot water for teas, hot chocolate, cereals and soups
* Innovative under the cabinet installation saves counter space
* Commercial grade internal components deliver years of trouble free service
* B.I.C.A.’s sleek stainless steel finish accents any décor
* Designed for use in home, office, boat or RV
* No warmer needed when brewing into one of the optional insulated servers (also available from Brewmatic)

For More Information Visit www.brewmatic.com

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Glass… Designed By Kate Hume… Inspired By Nature…

I just can’t help it, but I love homestyle accents designed with nature being the inspiration and you can’t ignore the fact that these wonderful glass accents by Kate Hume are certainly inspired by nature.

I love these, I really do and with names like Rose, Gem, Cactus and so on, I would, wouldn’t I?

Kate’s glasswork plays with and teases light in such a magical way and I’m more than happy to feature her work here.

More Info About Kate Hume

Kate Hume has been designing and styling in various mediums for twenty years – from fashion to film sets and interiors in Europe and the USA.

An enduring interest in glass as a medium led to the design and production of a small collection of unique pieces in 1999.

Working alongside renowned glass craftsmen in the Netherlands, the group Rock/Pebble was created.
Comprising organic free-flowing shapes in jewel bright colours, the collection was launched successfully at 100% Design in London in 1999 – and instigated a huge trend for organic forms in glass.

See More Of Kate’s Work At
www.katehume.com

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Bending The Rules Of Garden Design

Once you learn the rules of garden designing, you can create some interesting effects by not only bending these rules, but also by breaking them…

With some imagination, inspiration and sometimes a little perspiration, you can change your garden into an outdoor room where you’ll want to spend more time during the coming summer months.

Remember that you don’t have to do it all at once as you can spend just a few weekends transforming an ordinary garden into something very special indeed.

Let’s look at some basic rules that you can use to get you started with designing your garden.

First of all, make a list of all the essential things that you have to have in your garden like a washing line, an area for your dustbins, shed for storage and so on. Then list all the desirable things that you want to have in your garden like a patio for instance, a water feature, maybe a herb garden or vegetable beds.

The second step is to measure the garden and draw the outline of the garden including any features that will remain such as sheds, trees or any existing pathways or patio area. Also draw in the outline of the property with the doors and windows so you can take into account the new view out from them. By putting your plan on paper like this will give you a clearer direction of what you would like to achieve and help you avoid costly mistake.

Take into account the different aspects of the garden, like where the morning sun starts and where is the sun in the afternoon and evening and also which part of the garden is in deep shade. It’s a good idea to design a seating area in your garden where you can enjoy a morning cuppa in the morning sun – a perfect way to start the day in any garden. With regards to entertaining in the evening sun, plan your patio area accordingly.

After you’ve drawn up your garden plan to scale, a good idea is to put tracing paper over the top of your garden’s plan and then to start sketching over it with your designs and ideas.

Remember it’s your garden, so give your imagination free rein and try and bend the rules a little.

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