Monday 21 July 2014

Friday 18th July 2014

Last Friday group of the year - we focused on making sure the garden was looking amazing for the charity event on Sunday. We also shared a lovely lunch and said some goodbyes to Friday group friends that will not be coming back to the group next year.
The Friday group class of 2013/14 - we have shared a lot of fun and learnt quite a bit more about gardening along the way and just enjoyed spending time together every week in Bridge's beautiful garden.



Sunday 13 July 2014

Friday 11th July

Pelargonium 'Ardens'
A number of group members had been to Hampton Court Flower Show this week and this beautiful species pelargonium is just one of the new purchases. We did some more final planning for the Friday group charity event on 20th July and had a brief look at some fuchsias. Fuchsias are a genus of approximately 100 species of deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs and a few perennials. They come originally from Central and South America and New Zealand and have very distinctive pendulous flowers throughout summer and autumn. They can be used in containers or as summer bedding and some are hardy enough to be grown as hedges.

  • Fuchsia 'Lottie Hobbie' is an unusual small bushy upright vigorous plant with dark green leaves and small single flowers. It prefers some shade.

Fuchsia 'Lottie Hobbie'


    • Fuchsia 'Lady Bacon' is a medium sized shrub with slim white, pink and purple flowers. It can survive outside although likes a sunny position and some protection from winds.

    Fuchsia 'Lady Bacon'

      • Fuchsia 'Delta's Sarah' is a small deciduous bushy shrub it bears single flowers with white sepals and purple petals
        Fuchsia 'Delta's Sarah'
      Activities in the garden this week (before the rain came down):

      • Planting out newly bought fuchsias
      • Pruning the willow arch
      • Cloud pruning the myrtle
      • Planting out broad beans
      • Cutting back the ivy
      • Sorting out the large border and deadheading roses
      Friday group award winners:

      Vicky and Sue received special awards of path building merit at the group this week. Many congratulations to you both!





      Sunday 6 July 2014

      Friday 4th July 2014

      Sue and Vicky -our very talented path builders at work
      Bridge was away and with Julia at the helm we had some discussion about gardens we had visited or other gardening recommendations. The Garden Gadabout had gone very well for group members that opened their gardens with lots of visitors and lots of very positive feedback.
      Sue T had been on a good planting course at Great Dixter which was very inspirational, Katy had visited Parham House in Storrington and said the gardens are really worth a visit. Julia visited Hurstmonceux castle and gardens and again really recommended a visit. A bit further afield Hilary had visited Wallington Hall, a lovely NT property and gardens in Northumberland and closer to home the meadows and beds in Preston Park are looking rather spectacular at the moment.

      Plant Identification:

      • Geranium maderense, a giant herb robert that comes from Madeira. It is a robust perennial or biennial which grows to 1.5m with attractive leaves and large purplish pink flowers and can grow in either sun or shade.

      Geranium maderense
      • Geranium pyrenaicum 'Bill Wallis' is a sprawling perennial that grows to 30cm tall with open sprays of small delicate vivid purple flowers. It flowers from late spring to late autumn in full sun or partial shade.It self seeds and can provide effective ground cover or can also be used in pots.
      Geranium pyrenaicum 'Bill Wallis'
      • Sanguisorba officinalis or great burnet has maroon flowers in dense spikes in summer and early autumn -best in full sun or partial shade in well drained soil. A lovely plant for borders or prairie planting.
        Sanguisorba officinalis
        Activities in the garden this week:
      • Feeding and watering the pots
      • Clipping box hedges and taking box cuttings
      • Weeding and feeding the border under apple tree
      • Pulling out opium poppies and saving seed heads
      • Pruning Rosa Banksiae
      • Cutting back the willow in willow arch
      • Planting out rest of tomatoes in greenhouse and harvesting lettuces

      Wednesday 2 July 2014

      Friday 27th June 2014

      We began with an hour’s visit to The Moulsecoomb Forest Garden where Warren talked about the project and showed us around.
      Then back to the Garden House for coffee and further planning of the fundraising event on 20th July which will be in aid of Moulsecoomb Forest Garden. Afterwards we worked in the garden for an hour.

      Tasks included:
      •  further clearance of cold frames
      •  potting on cuttings inc gooseberries and blackcurrants
      • more work on the path
      Forest Garden pics: