Mediterranean style gardens have undefined pathways, often covered with loose material such as gravel, which is used as a mulch over planting areas- this serves to unify the different elements of the garden. Other key features of this style include:
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At most community gardens there are always children about. They love to garden with their parents but some just like to run around. If you have been to the Ladner Community Garden you know we have a large seating area for the school garden. This is where the children sit for a class. We also have extra stumps that are not being used. Awhile back I saw a cute idea on Pinterest. Someone had painted a checkers game board on a tree stump. What a great idea!
So this week I have been trying to get my game on. I dragged my paints out of hiding and decided to allot some time to work on this new project. I like to paint. I am not that good at it but I gave it a whirl. I think what got me going was when I found some checkers at the local…
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The history of science is full of interesting characters, and Carl Linnaeus certainly fits the bill. Known as the father of modern taxonomy, he was born in Sweden on May 23rd, 1707. He was only the second generation of the name Linnaeus. In fact, when his father enrolled in school he was required to take a family name (instead of using the patronymic name Ingemarsson) and he chose Linnaeus after a giant linden tree that grew on his family homestead. With a name like that, Carl seemed to be destined for biological greatness.
Linnaeus showed an interest in botany from a very young age. His father, an amateur botanist, encouraged his son’s enthusiasm. When he enrolled at the Lund University in 1727, he knew that botany was a very serious subject. He registered under the name ‘Carolus Linnæus’, the latinized form of his name. He later would use this form…
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Dragon Trees | Socotra Island | Republic of Yemen
Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’
They don’t like waterlogged soil and so in the wild you find them all habitats except boggy ones. They are a diverse group, varying in both hardiness and their growing needs. G. malviflorum is unusual in that it makes top -growth through the winter, flowers in spring and disappears until winter!
Geranium pratense (Meadow Cranesbill)
Geranium platypetalum
Geranium dissectum
Most Geranium flowers are saucer-shaped, but can be flat or star like. They can come in umbels, panicles or cymes. They range in colour from white to dark plum through an array of pinks, blues and purples. Leaves are grouped around the base and the stem and are often deeply divided and toothed, and some are evergreen.
Many species are floppy or scramble and most need some sort of support to make them look reasonable. They all need shearing over the autumn/winter to encourage new basal growth, and some species, if sheared immediately after flowering will put on a second flush of leaves and flowers. Propagate by taking semi-ripe cuttings in summer, by seed, or by division in autumn or spring.
Geranium sanguineum showing ‘bill’ which aids seed dispersal
Most are drought tolerant and all are low in allergens. Some, such as G. nodosum and G. procurrens root when their stems touch the soil and G. thunbergii self seeds to a considerable extent, so should be deadheaded before the seeds form, if you want to restrict its spread.
Pelargoniums are often given the common name ‘Geranium’- both genuses are members of the Geraniaceae family. both were originally part of one family as defined by the botanist Linnaeus.
Geranium maculatum
Geranium maderense
Further information:
10 AGM Hardy Geraniums for the garden- RHS
‘Geraniums- my hardy heroes’ – article by Bunny Guinness
National Collection of Geraniums- Cambridge Botanic Garden
Geranium phaeum – from Thomé ‘Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz’ 1885
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The work involved the exterior pargetting, especially of two huge figures which, legend says, were the giants, Gog and Magog. Kent, however, has discovered that they were more likely to be taken from a novel by the 17th century owner and author, William Winstanley. ‘I knew they were in a parlous state but when we looked closely there were doubts they could be saved.’ New techniques and £30,000 have stabilised them – very important as the two figures are perhaps the most memorable feature of the town. Kent, who had no grants towards the work, has decided to paint them in a creamy off-white though they were probably buff coloured originally. He has also decided on three extra ‘Invitation to View’ opening days, Wednesday, June 26 at 2.30 pm; Thursday, August 1 at 11 am and Wednesday, September 4 also at 11 am. The winner of the award will be decided on May 1.’
Source: ‘Invitation to View’ Newsletter, April 2013
Nigel Boldero aka 'Old School Gardener'
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