Topiarised Heather in a container
‘I have a small courtyard garden and wish to grow some shrubs in pots. What are the best varieties for this purpose, please?’
Heathers do well in pots, Ivor – even if your soil is rather limey (alkaline), you can provide an acid soil in the containers and so grow the summer flowering varieties. All the Hebes (shrubby Veronicas) are happy in pots, as are the less vigorous Berberis – but mind the thorns!
For winter colour plant the evergreen Euonymus, especially the delightfully variegated ones such as ‘Emerald Gaiety’, ‘Aureopictus’ and ‘Silver Queen’. New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax) is also a good looker with its long, narrow leaves in many colours, as are Yuccas, with their rosettes of long needle-pointed leaves.
Further afield in the garden, you might want to grow shrubs that are especially attractive to bees. If so try flowering currants (Ribes) and goat willow (Salix caprea) for early flowering. Later in the year there are many shrubs to choose from including the ever popular ‘Butterfly Bush’ (Buddleja davidii), Californian Lilac (Ceanothus), Firethorn (Pyracantha), Lilac (Syringa), Gorse (Ulex) and Daisy Bush (Olearia).
Ceanothus jepsonii
If you’ve enjoyed reading this post and others on this blog, why not comment and join others by signing up for automatic updates via email (see side bar, above right ) or through an RSS feed (see top of page)?
The Fens Waterways Link is one of the most significant waterway projects to take place in the UK for two centuries. It will connect the Cathedral cities of Lincoln, Peterborough and Ely, opening up 240km of new and existing waterways. It is hoped the project will put the Fens on the map as a nationally recognised destination, as well known as the Norfolk Broads.
The map below outlines the sections of waterway that will be improved/created by the scheme. The Ouse Washes come into this area, as can be seen on the map. Not only are the Fens Waterways Link and the Ouse Washes Landscape Partnership Scheme closely related geographically, they also share common goals, aiming to promote heritage, conservation and community engagement. (See here for the aims of the Ouse Washes LPS.)
In detail, the aims of the Fens Waterways Link are to:
View original post 515 more words
Lonicera sempervirens
The name Lonicera stems from Adam Lonicer, a Renaissance German botanist (1528 – 1586). He was noted for his 1557 revised version of Eucharius Rosslin’s herbal. Lonicer was born in Marburg and studied here and at the University of Mainz, and obtained his Magister degree at sixteen years of age. He became professor of Mathematics and Doctor of Medicine, becoming the town physician in Frankfurt am Main. His true interest though was herbs and the study of botany. His first important work on herbs, the Kräuterbuch, was published in 1557, a large part dealing with distillation.
Adam Lonicer
Some species names of Lonicera include:
L. aureo – reticulata = golden veined, a variety of L. japonica
L. caprifolium = a herbalist name for a plant that climbs like a goat
L. fragrantissima = most fragrant
L. nitida = shining- the glossy leaves
L. periclymenum = to twine around, the true ‘Woodbine’ or ‘Honeysuckle’
L. pileata = having a cap, the berry being topped by a curious outgrowth of the calyx
L. sempervirens = always green
l. syringantha = the flowers resembling Syringa (Lilac)
L. xylosteum = a disused generic name from the greek xylon (wood) – the woody stems
The common honeysuckle (L. periclymenum) is a vigorous twining plant with large cartwheel-shaped flower-heads made up of rings of curved, almost tubular shaped individual flowers, which open white, but often red-flushed, for most of the summer. The plants climb rapidly up trellis or over arches, where they associate well with climbing roses or other varieties of honeysuckle. They are also superb trained up into trees or covering old tree stumps.
If you’ve enjoyed reading this post and others on this blog, why not comment and join others by signing up for automatic updates via email (see side bar, above right ) or through an RSS feed (see top of page)?
By Wayne Kett
An object or group of objects have different meanings attached to them by different people, when I look at an object I know my response probably differs from that of the person stood next to me. As an example, consider these washing machines we recently unpacked from Box 21.
There are some who would dismiss them as a load of old junk, others might be old enough to remember using them, or at least conjure up memories of parents using them, in this instance it is about reminiscence. Those of a more mechanical persuasion might be fascinated with how these machines worked, and how they help explain the development of modern machinery. There are some who look at these machines as something aesthetically pleasing, objects that fit in with a particular retro style they like. Of course in reality this list could be infinite.
Whilst I understand the…
View original post 975 more words
Nigel Boldero aka 'Old School Gardener'
 | Nigel Boldero on Fighting to Reduce Climate Cha… |
 | Anonymous on Fighting to Reduce Climate Cha… |
| Anonymous on PicPost: Carrot, my foot! |
| 18 Surprising Hydran… on Plantax 16: Hydrangea the wate… | |
| Nigel Boldero on Poppyland: A Victorian romance… |
| Anonymous on Poppyland: A Victorian romance… |
| Anonymous on Plants to die for… |
 | Isabella Childress on PicPost: Forest, but not as we… |
 | Happiness Factor on Is child-friendly planning a l… |
 | zidane on Top Tip: On a Pedestal- make m… |
Nature Connectedness Research Blog by Prof. Miles Richardson
Connecting People with Nature
A daily selection of the best content published on WordPress, collected for you by humans who love to read.
Celebrating gardens, photography and a creative life
Writing, photography and more by Daniel Greenwood
Lydia Rae Bush Poetry
Australian Pub Project, Established 2013
The Journey from Finnish Rintamamiestalo to Arboretum & Gardens
Because even in chaos, there’s always gin and a good story …
RANDOM BITS & MORE TIDBITS
.....and nurturing my soul
Cultural Heritage and the Digital Economy
Sense of place, purpose, rejuvenation and joy
Notes from the Gardeners...
Connecting People to Nature, Empowering People to Live Sustainably
A girl and her garden :)
Old School Garden 