The Strength of Glass

The glass arrived this morning for glazing the lean to section and already quarter of the roof glazing is in place. I was amazed to see one of the workmen kneeling upon the toughened glass. He was saying that it can easily take the weight and explained how they test the strength of toughened glass by dropping a mini from the height of 30 cm and it will just bounce. I'm sure he was referring to the glass and not a glasshouse structure!

Roof vent gearing and motor

Glasshouse Progress

The progress of this structure is truly remarkable

This stage of the construction is happening very quickly and I find myself in a quandary. Should I get a deck chair and position my self for a day of entertainment or do I avoid the Kitchen Garden for as long as possible, and be amazed at the end of the day.

The true size and scale of this glasshouse is now visible. It was difficult to imagine from plans how magnificent this structure is and how it would transform this area of the garden.

The Victorian style Glasshouse

Yesterday late morning Alitex Glasshouse arrived on site with the first delivery of material. They promptly started unwrapping and erecting all the powder coated aluminium. This modern interpretation of the glasshouse that once stood on the original footprint. I hope to update daily with photographs of the progress


I will blog in the near future about the construction of the foundations and services.

Prize Money

Last week the gardens exhibited plant material at the Royal Horticultural Society Autumn Flower Show held at their halls in Westminster. We believe last year was the first year we had entered the competition since Mr Bowles' death. This year we won two first places, two second places and a fourth with the prize money coming to an astounding £32! This is double last years winnings.

The Lawrence Hall



The Lindley Hall

It is very enjoyable staging exhibits. Although saying that on this occasion, to ensure the material was fresh, I was collecting plant material at 5am on the morning of the show. I was armed with a head torch, a pair of secateurs and long-handled pruners and was expecting the neighbour to call the police at any moment after seeing lights flickering though the trees and shrubs.

Sternbergia lutea

Colletia paradoxa

Palmstead Nursery

Last week I attended a conference held by Palmstead Nursery at Ashford in Kent. This is an annual event which has been held for the last four years. Last year’s conference proved to be very thought-provoking and an energising seminar.

Palmstead marketing and sales manager Nick Coslett brought together another fantastic line-up of speakers including Andy Sturgeon, James Hitchmough, James Alexander-Sinclair and Gill Chamberlain.

Andy Sturgeon

Although we had an early start from Myddelton, we arrived in good time with the first speaker starting at 9.35am. The theme of this year's conference was maintenance and the skills required both from the horticulturists’ point of view as well as garden designers. This will ensure that our planted spaces continue to look their best and realise their potential whilst being able to take into account the future development of the landscape.

Much of this comes down to common sense. We are all aware of the skills shortages and lack of quality training providers. It is often apparent that the client requires an understanding of the degree of knowledge and skills required to maintain the landscape. If low salaries are offered this will only attract poorly skilled workers and in turn will lead to poor quality of service. This can only devalue or industry.

James Hitchmough spoke passionately about his work with Nigel Dunnett and Sheffield University on planting communities and how his designs work together due to his research into which plants suit. An example of James's work can be seen at RHS Wisley near the new Centenary Glasshouse. James also spoke about the recent research that has been undertaken in collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society in its Bugs for Plants project.

James Hitchmough

At the end of the conference I managed to get to the nursery to see the range of plants they are growing. We had a very interesting tour given by Geoff, Young Plant Manager who showed us a range of plants that they grow. We were shown some of the surplus plant material that had been propagated for the Olympic Park.

http://www.palmstead.co.uk/

Palmstead Nursery

The National Botanic Garden of Wales

During August, I was camping in South Wales and found the opportunity to finally visit The National Botanic Garden of Wales.

http://www.gardenofwales.org.uk/

I remember several years ago watching a television program all about the gardens’ construction, the planting and its first year of opening, highlighting the trials and tribulations.

I was fascinated - seeing both the historical aspects of the original Middleton estate as well as the modern large span glasshouse. The entire visitor experience was excellent.

It was wonderful to see how much has happened in a relatively short period of time since it first opened. The gardens is still developing proving that this garden is a garden to watch for the future.

The pictures below speak for themselves. I would encourage everyone to visit when in Carmarthenshire.

Death by Lights

I find it very difficult to walk past a tree without noticing its state of health, and whether it has been planted correctly. This must be something that has been ingrained in me after years training at Hillers Arboretum, looking at ailing plant samples as a horticultural advisor for the Royal Horticultural Society. I feel I also have a ‘maternal’ instinct to ensure that plants and in particular trees are able to grow for our future.

I was in Osterley in London looking at trees within a corporate headquarters when I noticed what could be only described as death by lights. Often trees have been planted and supported with a tree stake and rubber tie. These ties unfortunately are often forgotten about and not loosened off as the girth of the tree increases. This is a simple task but has such major consequences if not done. On this occasion the tree in question had established well. The trees along the boundary of the property had been decorated with strings of fairy lights. As with tree ties, these need to be loosened off and checked twice a year during the growing season ensure that the girth of tree is not expanding against the cabling which constricts the vascular tissue underneath the bark. It is not too late for this tree but many trees have been lost before now.

 http://nowthatsnifty.blogspot.com/2010/02/22-trees-growing-around-objects.html


Barbed wire, railing and estate fencing are often found engulfed in boundary trees. Generally this does not cause too much damage as there is no constricting of the vascular tissue of the tree. Once the tree has covered the object, the vascular tissue repairs and continues to work. Constriction all the way round prevents vascular movement up and down and in due course causes decline and often death.

There are some wonderful images of trees that have enveloped items that have been growing in close proximity. Please click on the link below just to see some truly remarkable objects.

Experienced and delicate plucker available

Please contact me if you would like to utilise our highly skilled and experinced resident plucker. Our fox continues to be able to remove the feathers from our feathered potato scarers on a nightly bases. The potatoes continue to be unharmed.