Sue Gibson's School of Gardening

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PLANTING IDEAS

The renowned 19th / early 20th  Century plantswoman, Gertrude Jekyll, wrote that “every planting should paint a picture.”  

Look around you for inspiring combinations of plants growing in gardens or in the wild, and use these to paint pictures in your own garden.

Summer's Bounty

Honesty

Now is the time to start collecting seeds in the garden.   Aquilegias, poppies, alliums, honesty, foxgloves, thalictrums are all ripening well.   Collect ripe seeds on a dry day and either scatter them straight on to flower beds or sow in pots.   When seeds ripen they usually turn brown or black and rattle in the seed pod, which also changes colour.  

Seedheads may be picked on their stalks while still green and stood upright in an empty jar or hung upside down with their heads in a paper bag indoors in a cool, dry place till ripe.    When ready, clean the seeds by shaking them in a fine sieve to remove plant debris and then gently blow off any that remains.   Store in a paper (not plastic) bag and, if you wish to keep the seeds till the spring, keep in a cool, dry place such as a larder or the fridge.   If you sprinkle the seeds of aquilegias, poppies and honesty over flowerbeds now, they should come up next spring.   Alliums will take longer and need a very well drained position to germinate.

 

 

 

Links

World of Felco All Felco secateurs, loppers and pruners are sharp, durable tools that are easy to maintain and repair

Gloucestershire Orchard Group (GOG) aims to conserve, promote and celebrate traditional orchards in Gloucestershire

Deacon's Nursery sells a very wide variety of fruit and nut trees, soft fruits and a selection of more unusual fruit plants

Westonbirt National Arboretum is one of the most spectacular tree gardens in the world, with over 3,000 different trees and shrub species, many of which are rare or endangered in their native lands.

Pan-Global Plants nursery specializes in rare plants capable of growing in the British Isles.  Also, trees, shrubs, grasses, ferns, climbers, bamboo & exotics

The Aerogarden a hydroponic garden for beginners & experts alike

The Cottage Garden Society This is a wonderful source of information for all those who are passionate about cottage gardening

Mumbleys Farmhouse - Smallholder Courses designed for complete beginners who are interested in running their own smallholdings.  Courses on keeping chickens, pigs, sheep, & beehives.

 

 


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Last modified:  08/02/2010