Friday 14th February 2014

On a very wet and windy Valentine's morning 7 of us braved the weather to visit Chelsea Physic Garden to see the snowdrops.

The Garden was founded in 1673 by the Society of Apothecaries of London so their apprentices could learn to grow medicinal plants and study their uses.The 4 acre site next to the Thames was ideal,offering easy access to the river at a time when river travel was far easier and quicker than travel by road.This enabled the Apothecaries to go on their celebrated 'herborising' expeditions to collect plants.The site also offered free draining soil and a southerly aspect and the special micro-climate was perfect for many tender species including the largest olive tree grown outdoors in Britain.

The future of the garden was secured in 1712 when Dr Hans Sloane took over the freehold of the garden. He was sympathetic to the Apothecaries(he had studied in the garden in his youth),who were struggling with its upkeep.He granted them a lease on the garden of £5 a year in perpetuity on the condition that it was maintained as a physic garden.Today the garden is still dedicated to promoting education,conservation and scientific research and offers many workshops and courses.

Despite the appalling weather ,the garden was stunning with beautiful pots full of cheering spring bulbs and a marquee of common and rare snowdrops for sale..ranging in price from £3.50 to £60! Peter's mini tour was informative and gave us lots of insight into the garden's history and development.The Daphne and sweet box were beautiful-their scent filling the (very damp!) air.

We had a great lunch in the very inviting cafe and another walk round the snowdrop trail and beds specialising in dyeing plants and medicinal plants before a trip to the shop,coffee and cake and the bus back to Victoria.The train journey back was fun,we were all in good spirits after our visit and lunchtime glass of wine! I,for one will definitely be going back in the springtime..the garden is magical with wonderful trees and structure..I want to see it in the sunshine though! (written by Mandy Murray)

   

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Friday 7th February 2014

We discussed plans for the future charity day at the Garden House on 13th July and also the Garden Gadabout weekends in June.

Plant identification:

• Helleborus orientalis, hellebores have pretty nodding cup shaped  flowers. They are excellent in woodland or in shaded areas and are good for under planting. They can be planted in raised beds so that the flowers can be seen more clearly. They grow well in chalk. They require little care apart from cutting back old leaves, they do self seed and can be divided when the plants are mature.
  
  
  

• Hamamelis (witch hazel) is a group of five or six species of deciduous shrubs grown for their spider-like, fragrant, frost-resistant winter flowers and autumn leaf colour. They require moderately fertile but well drained soil in full sun or partial shade. They don't like chalk so could be grown in pots. Pruning requirements are minimal, they just  need  any crossing shoots removing in late winter/early spring to maintain a healthy framework. Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida' is a large deciduous shrub or tree with fruitily scented yellow flowers. Nymans is a good place to go to see witch hazels.

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Pallida'

Hamamelis x intermedia 'Diane'

• Salix acutifolia 'Blue Streak' is a large deciduous shrub with a bluish - white bloom on the stems and narrow, dark green leaves. Slender silvery catkins to 5cm in length. It can grow to 5m and enjoys damp or wet soils in full sun or dappled shade. It is often pollarded and can be propagated by hard wood cuttings in winter.
  
• Arum italicum 'Marmoratum' - a tuberous perennial with arrow shaped mid green veined leaves, long lasting from winter to late spring. It has spikes of red or orange berries and is best in semi shade. The leaves are often used in flower arranging.
  

Activities in the garden this week:

• putting slates in the alpine sinks to divide up the planting areas
• gritting up the pots containing the witch hazels
• sorting out area behind the shed where all the stakes and poles are kept
• starting work on building the structure for a stick house using hazel poles in the top garden
• apple tree pruning
• clearing beds and planting hellebores and pulmonaria

Pulmonaria

31st January 2014

' The absence of summer clothing reveals the bones of the garden, in a new and reduced aesthetic. What we are left with at the beginning of the year is a newly revealed garden with space and air. Winter forms bear no resemblance to the voluminous greenery that they sported in summer.Some perennials bestow on the winter garden a skeletal legacy that is every bit as interesting as their summer incarnation.' (Dan Pearson, The Garden)
Winter time is also good for catching up on some garden book reading and planning ahead.

Contorted Hazel

We looked at a range of winter twigs:

• Corylus avellana 'Contorta', contorted hazel or Harry Lauder's walking stick is slow growing and prefers sunny or semi shaded sites.
• Hazel (Corylus avellana ) is a deciduous tree growing to around 10m but they are often coppiced. They flower from January to April. Hazel is monoecious: both male and female flowers are found on the same tree. Male flowers appear before the leaves and are long (2–8cm) pendulous catkins, yellow, hanging in clusters. Female flowers are small and bud-like with red styles 5mm. Hazel poles are good for fencing.
• Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) can be identified by opposite black buds. Ash is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers typically grow on different trees. 
• Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) is a small deciduous tree native to UK and has sloe fruits. It flowers before the Hawthorn as it flowers on bare wood.
• Hawthorn (Crataegus) gets leaves first and then flowers (may blossom) - good for hedging and for wildlife.
• Cherry (Prunus avium), prunus is a huge genus of  trees and shrubs that include plums, nectarines, peaches, apricots, almonds and can be deciduous or evergreen. They often have lovely bark.
• Larch (Larix) -  is a deciduous conifer - it is very unusual to have deciduous conifers. 

Recommended books:

Roy Lancaster - Trees

Jake Hobson- Creative Pruning 

Barcham Nursery are recommended tree suppliers

Activities in the garden this week

• starting a chilli plant trial-3 different seeds to be sown in pots and put into the propagator
• sorting out the auriculas and gritting the pots
• weeding beds and cutting back dead growth
• pruning the blueberry and the pear tree
• potting up succulents and cacti in strawberry planters

The hen appreciated the newly dug beds!