Ann Janes blog from the Watford Observer
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IT'S MAYTIME
Posted on 7:30pm Sunday 8th May 2011
What a lovely month this is and there is so much to look forward to. As gardeners we will have been thankful for the overnight rain and welcomed the sunshine this morning. Despite all its promise May can still have a sting – there was a frost just a few nights ago – I hope none of you were caught out. It is still a bit too early to plant out tender bedding unless you are prepared to listen to the weather forecasts and be ready with the horticultural fleece. This is a really busy time with lots to do in all parts of the garden and one important job that is all too easily overlooked until it’s too late is putting in stakes for tall plants. Most of the taller varieties do better if given some sort of staking. Home made stakes using either cane or brushwood will do a good job economically. If you find it’s more convenient to buy one of the many proprietary systems that are on sale in the garden centres these too are really efficient but a bit more expensive. The most important thing is to get them in place before the real growth starts. By starting early you will be a step ahead and the new flowering stems will soon hide the support.
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BLUEBELLS AND A WEDDING
Posted on 6:16pm Sunday 1st May 2011
On Friday I went with my partner to see the bluebells at Ashridge and what a vision they were. After coffee we set off on a recommended short walk but managed to miss the turning and soon found ourselves deeper in the woods surrounded by a haze of blue as far as we could see, it was magical. The range of colour from almost navy to the palest blue was visually stunning which, combined with the wonderful perfume from the flowers, made for an unforgettable experience. There are times when gardeners just can’t compete with nature. We both agreed that missing the intended pathway turned out to be a blessing as we slowly wandered amongst the trees for a couple of hours in this most beautiful place before we made our way back to the visitor centre and a welcome cup of tea.
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PASQUE FLOWERS AREN'T JUST FOR EASTER
Posted on 7:37am Tuesday 26th April 2011
What glorious Easter weather we have just had and what a time to begin getting the garden ready for summer. Over the centuries some plants have come to have special meanings for us at certain times of the year, just mention holly and we think of Christmas. But pasque flowers aren’t just for Easter any more than holly, ivy and mistletoe miraculously appear only in December. Their common name comes from the old French word pascal which in this case has come to mean ‘flowers around Easter’. But with a little extra care in giving these beautiful flowers the right growing conditions they can give that little bit of magic to your garden right through the summer months. Once a common sight on England’s southern chalk downs they are now unfortunately very rare in the wild. On the plus side cultivated forms can be readily found in our local garden centres.
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USING WINDOWSILLS
Posted on 9:03pm Sunday 17th April 2011
It is in the early months of the year that I most miss my pretty little greenhouse. When I moved my daughter asked if she could have it and the whole thing was successfully dismantled and moved to Kent where it is being put to good use – I do still have visiting rights but its too far for me to use. So I have returned to using my kitchen windowsill to give tender plants a good start in life. Currently it is home to five tomato seedlings, which now go out during the day, five seed potatoes chitting, some cut and come again leaves and a small pot of sprouting leaves which I am trying for the first time. For gardeners like me without a greenhouse a sunny windowsill provides a convenient place to get things started.
Ann Janes »
ONE OF NATURE'S LITTLE MIRACLES - GOJI BERRIES
Posted on 2:59pm Thursday 7th April 2011
It doesn’t seem so long ago that I hadn’t heard of Goji Berries (Lycium) and now I am all set to plant some in my garden! These berries, which are reputed to have health giving properties nothing short of miraculous, originate from China. They are also known as the Wolfberry. The plants have pretty lilac flowers followed by bright scarlet berries in August to October, or even up to the first frosts. They are so attractive it’s more than likely you will have competition for the fruit from the local bird population. These plants were first grown in the UK as far back as the 1780s by the Duke of Argyll and are sometimes still known as the Duke of Argyll’s Tea Tree.
Ann Janes »
GETTING READY!
Posted on 8:19am Monday 28th March 2011
The clocks have gone forward giving us an extra hour of precious light in the evening. It really is a wake-up call to catch up on all those things we have been putting off so that we are ready to make the most of the fine weather we are all hoping for.
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IT'S NEARLY SPRING!
Posted on 12:05pm Sunday 6th March 2011
At last spring is nearly here. We might expect March to come roaring in like a lion and go out like a lamb or vice versa but whatever the weather nothing can stop the burst of energy that gardeners get at this time of the year. The daylight hours are lengthening and the soil is beginning to warm up and, despite the bouts of really cold weather, the worst of winter is behind us. I took the advantage of a sunny spell during the week to look over the pots near my house. Unfortunately I have lost the French lavender and a young agapanthus, both on the tender side, but miraculously most other plants seem to be fine and are showing lots of leaf ready to open. A few buds on my two camellias have turned brown but by far the majority are beginning to show colour and seem to be getting ready to give their usual gorgeous display.
Ann Janes »
LEMON TREE IS SO PRETTY!
Posted on 10:57am Sunday 27th February 2011
If you heard of plant with highly scented pretty white flowers combined with glossy, evergreen aromatic leaves could you resist it? If you were then told that this plant produced fruit that is both edible and ornamental surely that would set you off seeking it out, whatever the cost. The good news is that it doesn’t cost a lot of money and you don’t have to look too far to find it, you just have to look into the world of citrus fruits. If you are tempted there are a few rules to follow.
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GETTING READY FOR SPRING!
Posted on 8:22pm Sunday 20th February 2011
Rain, rain and more rain! What else do we expect of February? But not all days are bad, last Monday I went to Wisley Gardens for the day and the sun was shining. Until the end of this month part of the large glass house is home to a selection of tropical butterflies. They are stunning and it’s a real experience to watch them living amongst the plants that would be growing in their natural habitat. Outside in the gardens the snowdrops were a picture and before too long the daffodils will be taking over with a vivid display of yellow flowers, a sure sign that spring is here at last.
Ann Janes »
FEBRUARY IN THE GARDEN
Posted on 8:39pm Sunday 13th February 2011
What is there to say about February weather? It has never been known as one of the better months and the recent rain has done a lot to prove that the old name of ‘February fill dyke’ is all too fitting. At least, up to now, we haven’t had snow. On the plus side the days are getting longer and gardeners everywhere are beginning to get a lift in spirits in the certain knowledge that spring is just around the corner. Unfortunately this is often when we get the worst of the winter weather so it is probably still a time to dream of things yet to come.
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