|
Week 1 - The Garden in September and October
|
Sep. 24th, 2011 @ 06:08 pm
|
|---|
|
It's our first week, and we don't have a plant of the week for this week because group members are volunteering to do those each week! Well done everyone!
Our main topic is The Garden in September and October, but before we get there, we have one or two other things.
Sites of the Week
Each week, for those members who have access to the internet, I'll offer up some sites for you. Here is this week's selection:
( Sites of the Week )
Then we had a look at some pictures. Most of them are of plants that some of us saw at Newby Hall, with a few little extras. There are also two pictures of the Long Borders at Newby Hall. Remember, this autumn, gardeners at Newby Hall will begin to replant the borders. If you want one last look at them as they are now, don't leave it too late.
The pictures are here, at Photobucket:
A Miscellany of Images
And then we at least started to look at The Garden in September and October. Here are the handouts:
( The Garden in September and October )
Anything you want to talk about from this week?
JoCurrent Mood:  nostalgic |
|
New Academic Year 2011-2012
|
Sep. 24th, 2011 @ 04:24 pm
|
|---|
|
Well, it's been a while between posts, and I'm sorry about that. However, we're back and running again. I do hope that everyone has had a productive and restful summer.
We may have new members, and we extend a warm welcome to anyone coming to join us this year.
It's going to be an interesting year. The Rotherham Learning Centre will close at the end of this term, and we shall have to pack our bags and head off to pastures new. Exciting!
Starting with this term, though, here's the Course Programme that I'm suggesting, based on last term's wish list:
GARDENING FOR PLEASURE
Course Programme : Autumn Term 2011/12
1 The Garden in September/October + watering plants
2 Identifying trees
3 Autumn Propagation + Protecting Plants over winter
4 Plant combinations
5 Dry shade plants
6 The Garden in November
7 Meaning of plant names
8 Good and Bad wildlife
9 Plant families
10 The Garden in December
Plant of the week
Shrubs and bulbs for July – December
I hope everyone likes the look of that. If not, let me know your preferences.
JoCurrent Mood:  busy |
|
Week 2 - Pruning
|
Feb. 7th, 2011 @ 11:15 pm
|
|---|
|
The major handout for pruning is in the form of a table showing pruning requirements for a large range of shrubs, and I can't post tables to this journal. So, I'm afraid you have to be there to get one!
Here are the others:
The pruning groups here are those listed by the Royal Horticultural Society, and are in common use.
( Pruning groups )
( Pruning Clematis )
( Pruning Grape Vines )
( Pruning Wisteria )
JoCurrent Mood: contemplative |
|
Xmas lunch
|
Feb. 6th, 2011 @ 11:12 pm
|
|---|
|
Group members from both groups, and our guests, all had a wonderful lunch at the Wharncliffe Restaurant.
So, it's a huge thank you to Joan for organising it.
*Thank you* Joan!
JoCurrent Mood:  full |
|
Week 2 - Plant of the Week - Corkscrew hazel and Amelanchier
|
Feb. 7th, 2011 @ 10:52 pm
|
|---|
|
We're looking at our first plants of the week, the Corkscrew Hazel and Amelanchier.
Thank you to Maureen and Tracy for bravely taking these on.
Here are the images:
Amelanchier and Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’
You'll find the Amelanchier first, and, for all but one of the hazels, you'll need to go to the next page.
I have some very rough notes - definitely not handouts - but they're here in case they are of any help to you.
( Corylus avellana 'Contorta' )
( Amelanchier )
JoCurrent Mood:  calm |
| » Week 2 Homework |
|---|
We'll be doing Pruning during week 2, and there is homework.
You're asked to have a look round the garden and assess your shrubs and climbers for flowering/fruiting, normal pruning regime and general performance in those areas.
So, don't forget - it may be a long time back to remember for last year's spring flowering shrubs, but you can do it!
Jo
Jan. 24th, 2011 @ 07:07 pm
|
| » Week 1 - The Garden in January |
|---|
Our main topic for this week is The Garden in January.
Here are the handouts:
( The Garden in January )
( Seasonal Plants for January )
We also looked at doing a check of out gardens each month, and here's the diary format we came up with:
( Monthly Garden Diary )
We also saw that OPAL are carrying out a survey on hedgerows:
Hedgerow Survey
The latest ‘citizen science’ survey by the Open Air Laboratories Project wants gardeners to select a 3 metre stretch of hedge, and record information about its appearance, flowers, fruits and nuts, the insects it is home to and evidence of animal holes and burrows.
Find out more at http://www.opalexplorenature.org/surveys
Look for the Biodiversity Survey in the list that you'll find there.
Have fun!
Jo
Jan. 24th, 2011 @ 06:55 pm
|
| » Week 1 - Plant of the Week : Small Trees |
|---|
Our Plant of the Week for this term will be Small Trees. This includes some large shrubs that can be trained into the shape of a small tree.
Members have bravely agreed to take a tree or shrub each, and do some research then tell the rest of us what they have found. Well done, everyone.
Here is the handout:
( Small Trees )
Here's the pro-forma to help you with your research:
( Small Trees pro-forma )
And here is the schedule:
Tuesday Group
1 Maureen - Amelanchier
2 Jean - Pineapple Broom and Mount Etna Broom
3 Jean - Hawthorn
4 Joan - Crab Apple
5 Sheila - Rowan
6 Judy - Cotoneaster
7 Hugh - Cercis
Friday Group
1 Tracy - Contorted Hazel
2 Jean - Rowan
3 Margaret - Cornus
4 Mary - Cotoneaster
5 Helen - Amelanchier
6 John - Crab Apple
7 Enid - Apple
8 Shirley - Pineapple Broom and Mount Etna Broom
9 Paul - Hawthorn
10 Carole - Wisteria
And here are some pictures to get you going:
Small Trees
If you have any images for your slot, let me know and I will post them.
Jo
Jan. 24th, 2011 @ 06:31 pm
|
| » A New Year and a New Term |
|---|
Happy New Year, everyone.
It's a whole new year, and a new term for us, and I look forward to seeing you all again. I wonder whether we'll have some new faces? I hope so.
I've looked at the things that you said you would like to cover this term, and suggest the following programme. If anyone gets chance to read this and think it over before next week, that would be good.
1 The Garden in January
2 Pruning shrubs and climbers
3 The Garden in February
4 Growing Soft Fruit
5 Propagation – division and spring seeds
6 The Garden in March
7 Varieties of hedging
8 Houseplants
9 Properties of edible plants
10 Pests and diseases
11 The Garden in April
The Plant of the Week - Small Trees
I hope there's something there that will tick your boxes!
Don't forget that we're off for Christmas lunch (or New Year lunch) on our second meeting. You might be disappointed to find out that the Wharncliffe kitchens are being refurbished, so the menu has changed, and will be limited. You might be less disappointed to find that the price has been reduced, and there will be a 30% discount.
I hope the snow and the cold hasn't done too much damage in your garden, but we can spend some time comparing notes and commiserating.
Looking forward to next week.
Jo
Jan. 13th, 2011 @ 04:24 pm
|
| » Something for the weekend |
|---|
I hope everyone had a good Christmas!
In case you were all bored in the aftermath, with nothing to test the little grey cells, here are a couple of sites I came up with. They aren't gardening, but they're still fun.
Firstly, a website of crosswords and games from Ordnance Survey:
http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/mapzone/games.html
And then, a game I think I've posted before - check your geography with this one:
http://www.travelpod.com/traveler-iq
Enjoy!
Jo
Dec. 28th, 2010 @ 01:38 am
|
| » Week 10 |
|---|
Here we are at week 10 and, somewhat ironically, it's The Garden in December. Our other topic is the plant of the week, Tea roses and Hybrid Tea roses.
The handout for the roses is here:
( Tea Roses and Hybrid Tea Roses )
The images are here:
Tea Roses and Hybrid Tea Roses
Our main topic, The Garden in December, was largely about damage in our discussions, considering what's going on outside, but here's the handout, in case a miracle happens...
( The Garden in December )
And here are seasonal plants, if any dare show their heads...
( Seasonal Plants for December )
Have a super Christmas, and hope to see you safe and sound in the new year.
Term starts again week beginning 18 January 2011.
Best wishes
Jo
Dec. 8th, 2010 @ 12:12 pm
|
| » Week 9 |
|---|
This weeks topics are Noisette, Hybrid Perpetual and Hybrid Musk Roses; and the main topic is Plant Vascular Systems.
The handout for this week's roses is here:
( Noisette, Hybrid Perpetual and Hybrid Musk Roses )
Images are here:
Noisette, Hybrid Perpetual and Hybrid Musk Roses
The handout for Plant Vascular Systems is here:
( Plant Vascular Systems )
And images are here:
Plant Vascular Systems
I hope you enjoyed that little trip into the workings of plants.
Jo
Dec. 7th, 2010 @ 01:13 am
|
| » Week 8 |
|---|
This week, we looked at another cluster of rose groups - Bourbons, Portlands and Chinas. We also looked at sources of plants and information on the internet.
Here is the handout on the roses:
( China, Portland and Bourbon roses handout )
And here are the images:
China, Bourbon and Portland roses
And here is a list of sites I've come across in my internet travels. See what you think of them.
( Internet sites to browse )
That should take you an hour or two...
Jo
Dec. 6th, 2010 @ 03:36 pm
|
| » Week 7 continued |
|---|
Here's the handout on Bonsai Maintenance
( Bonsai Maintenance )
I also promised I'd post extra handouts. Here's one on making a display bench for your Bonsai:
( Making a Display Bench for Bonsai )
And here's one on plants to accompany bonsai:
( Ground cover and accompanying plants )
Here are some bonsai images:
Bonsai
And here is the handout on Topiary:
( Topiary )
And here are some images:
Topiary
Phew!
Jo
Nov. 16th, 2010 @ 12:14 am
|
| » Week 7 |
|---|
Our topics for Week 7 were Damask and Gallica Roses; Topiary; and Bonsai. That's a big agenda! It's a big post, too, so I'll have to split it in two.
Here is the handout for the roses:
( Damask and Gallica Roses handout )
Here are the images:
Gallica and Damask Roses
(continued)
Jo
Nov. 16th, 2010 @ 12:12 am
|
| » Week 6 |
|---|
Our topics for this week are Centifolia Roses and Moss Roses, as our Plant of the Week, and The Garden in November.
Images are here of the Centifolia Roses and Moss Roses
The handouts are here:
( Centifolia Roses )
( Moss Roses )
While we were looking at roses, we also had a look at the Large Rose Sawfly, which has devastated rose bushes for some of our members.
Here's how to recognise them:
Large Rose Sawfly Images
And here's some advice from the RHS on dealing with them.
( Large Rose Sawfly )
If you don't want to use chemical control, and hand-picking of larvae isn't working for you, one drastic alternative that we discussed is hard pruning of bushes when the sawflies are egg laying - if they lay eggs in the soft stems of new growth, then getting rid of the new growth deprives them of places to lay their eggs. It might take more than one year to eradicate them, it may fail if your neighbour has infested bushes, and you will be short of flowers for that season, but in bad infestations, it might be worth a last ditch try.
Our main topic was the Garden in November. Here's the handout:
( The Garden in November )
Done everything you need to do?
Jo
Nov. 7th, 2010 @ 10:43 am
|
| » Week 5 |
|---|
Our topics for week 5 are the small Patio, Miniature and Dwarf Polyantha roses as Plant of the Week. We also looked at Variegation, and the Use of Foliage in the Garden.
The images are here:
Patio, Miniature and Dwarf Polyantha Roses
And here are the handouts:
( Patio, Miniature and Dwarf Polyantha Roses )
( Variegation )
( Using Foliage Throughout the Year )
Have you reviewed the use of foliage in your garden?
Jo
Nov. 2nd, 2010 @ 12:39 am
|
| » Week 4 |
|---|
The topics for Week 4 are English roses and Collecting Seed.
Here are the images:
English Roses
And here are the handouts:
( English Roses )
( Collecting Seeds )
Have you collected all the seeds from your garden (or your neighbour's garden!) that you wanted to?
Jo
Nov. 1st, 2010 @ 11:45 pm
|
| » Week 3 |
|---|
Our topics for Week 3 are Rambler Roses and Winter Containers.
Here are the images for Rambler roses:
Rambler Roses
And here are the handouts:
( Rambler Roses )
( Winter Containers )
Got your winter containers sorted?
Jo
Nov. 1st, 2010 @ 11:24 pm
|
| » Week 2 |
|---|
Our topics for week 2 are Alba Roses, and Autumn Daisies.
Go to Photobucket for the pictures:
Alba Roses
Autumn Daisies
Here are the handouts:
( Alba Roses )
( Autumn Daisies )
Got enough daisies in the garden?
Jo
Nov. 1st, 2010 @ 10:21 pm
|
|
|
![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}