A recurring theme of our articles has been the cultivation of plants for particular conditions i.e. the amount of sunlight or exposure they’re suited to, the depth or content of their soil foundation or the amount of moisture they require to survive. This week we’re covering one of the most difficult combinations of growing conditions that a plant can suffer - that of dry, shady, sloping banks.

Here are our top ten:

Ajuga reptans

Otherwise known as ‘Bugle’, this creeping perennial, reaching a maximum of 10-15cms tall, has varying hues in its foliage which can range anywhere between red, cream, green, purple and pink and being an evergreen, it will alternate between these colours over the course of the year. It also bears blue flowers from May to August.

Asperula odorata

This vigorous, matt-forming perennial, otherwise known as ‘Sweet Woodruff’ will bear whorls of pale green, lance-shaped leaves like little parasols and clusters of small, white, fragrant flowers throughout late spring and early summer. The dried foliage also has a musty scent reminiscent of hay and has been used to flavour wines!

Asplenium scolopendrium

The ‘Hart’s Tongue Fern’ is an evergreen cultivar that will form rosettes of arching, leathery, bright green fronds with undulating margins. It will grow to about 60cms tall and requires very little attention.

Epimedium versicolor

The ‘Bishops Hat’ is named for the shape of its small, clustered flowers in various colours which appear in the springtime on the wiry stems of this clump-forming plant. Being an evergreen, the heart-shaped foliage of this plant will maintain its rusty colouration throughout all seasons.

Geranium phaeum

Answering to the exotic handle of ‘Dusky Cranesbill’, but also more soberly as ‘The Mourning Widow’, this Geranium is known by its tall upright, deep purple-black flower stems in early summer and clump-forming foliage which is also sometimes blotched with purple.

Hedera helix

This small-leafed ivy is a wide-spreading, self-clinging vine which has dark green leaves which can turn velvety black as the weather grows colder. It is also available in yellow and variegated varieties to brighten up dull, dark areas.

Hosta

Hostas are clump-forming perennials known mainly for their stunning, large, broadly heart-shaped leaves of green, yellow, blue or variegated. There are many different varieties, but they are all summer bloomers bearing white, lavender or purple, bell-shaped flowers from July to early September.

Mahonia aquifolium

The ‘Oregon Grape’ is available in many different varieties, one of the best of which is the ‘Apollo’ cultivar. It’s a low-growing, evergreen shrub that bears glossy, dark green, holly-like leaves year-round with accompanying bright yellow flower clusters in spring.

Pachysandra terminalis

The ‘Japanese Spurge’ is another spreading low grower and as such is suited perfectly to the poor soil that usually inhabits banks. It has serrated, dark green leaves, sometimes variegated, and clusters of tiny white flowers. Due to its habits, this cultivar is perfect for growth beneath tree canopies, but don’t attempt to grow it if you have chalky soil.

Vinca minor

Vinca minor, or ‘Periwinkle’, is a mat-forming, evergreen perennial and with its gorgeous aesthetic, a combination of emerald green, or variegated foliage and bright blue flowers all summer long, it’s a very useful ground cover plant. If you have an enormous area to cover, go for its more rampant cousin, Vinca major.

By Josh Ellison

What makes the perfect house-guest? One who doesn’t leave a mess, doesn’t make a huge racket in the middle of the night and always brings wine? Well, I’ve yet to find an alcoholic Gardenia but on the other two counts, a beautiful houseplant delivers like no person can and, alongside these characteristics, they go a long way to brightening the place up.

So, I’ve compiled two lists, the first of which you’ll find here, outlining a few of what we think are the best indoor plants. The initial five have been selected based on the quality of their flowering, while the subsequent follow up will focus on plants whose foliage is what sets them apart.

Floral & Hardy’s Top Five Flowering Houseplants:

Orchids

Probably the most obvious entry to the running and foremost among houseplants for their longevity and beauty, Orchids are the single largest group of plants in the world boasting over 30,000 original species and a countless number of hybrids which, due to their popularity, is growing all the time. In fact you’d be hard pressed to find a major flower show or exhibition that didn’t feature a variety of Orchid as one of its major successes.

Unfortunately, there is a reason the Orchid is so popular among the professionals, as it can take near-professional expertise and commitment to ensure that they grow healthily and maintain a decent life span, but if you satisfy its requirements for good light (but not direct sunlight) and moisture at the right time, it will give you flowers over many months. One of the major killers of house variety Orchids is over watering, due to their prominent root structure it can be difficult to gauge the water level in the soil by eye, and my advice is that if it is moist to the touch then watering is not yet required.

Hibiscus rosa sinensis

Hibiscus have developed a world-renowned association with the exotic cultures of the tropics, and particularly for their function in Hawaiian traditional Rei’s (the flowered necklaces worn by hula dancers), but this can also mean that potential growers in colder climes do so with some difficulty. There are hardy Hibiscus shrubs we can grow in the UK in the garden, but as a tropical plant the Hibiscus rosa sinensis can be highly temperamental, requiring consistent heat, light and humidity to grow healthily whilst also being susceptible to a variety of insect damage. 

However, with every cloud there is a silver petal, the Hibiscus is also one of the most eclectic flowers on earth - available in single or double forms and in practically any colouring you can imagine, some of the more renowned hybrids feature multiple colourations on a single petal! So if you have the moxy to force this beauty into being, rest assured your hard work will be repaid. Grow it on a warm window sill but don’t let any draughts near it and place the pot on a tray of gravel which is kept watered to provide humidity. Water it regularly and keep the soil moist, but don’t let it stand in water for any length of time.

Bromeliad

This species of flowering plant may be more familiar to us as the common pineapple which happens to be one of this cultivar’s many varieties. The Bromeliad is also oft referred to as the ‘Urn Plant’ due to the cupped shape that its rosettes assume. The long, strapped leaves will grow up to eighteen inches tall and will enclose the tall, intertwined stems of the colourful central blooms, and the spiked foliage itself will take on a leathery, dark green appearance. 

Unfortunately, due to their exotic appearance, the Bromeliads had for a long time earned a reputation for difficult cultivation, however, contrary to this belief, they can be easily adapted to indoor temperate environments. Just give them a bright window sill in a warm room, although not in direct sunlight, and water only when the soil surface feels dry. Spray the leaves daily with tepid water as they absorb moisture through their foliage. Sadly, the plants will die once they have flowered, but each flower last many months and the plant will also produce offsets which can be potted up to form new plants.

African Violets

The African Violet is among the most popular flowering house plant in the UK, partly due to its varied and attractive appearance, but also due to the nature of their growth pattern. They are a compact and free flowering plant and because of this, and with due diligence, it is possible to encourage multiple blooming periods per season. In fact, with mastery of this plant’s needs, it is not unheard of for them to be able maintain continuous flowering, and they’re not just ‘violet’ either – they come in a range of beautiful colours. 

They just need a little sunlight each day, so an East or West facing windowsill is best, and prefer to be a little cooler than some of the others on our list so don’t put them above a radiator. Take care when watering not to wet the leaves or flowers as this will cause rot and only water when the soil is dry – more African Violets die from over watering than anything else. If you can use rainwater then so much the better, as they really don’t like hard tap water. Pinch out the faded flowers and it will keep flowering for you forever!

Amaryllis

Amaryllis, and more specifically Amaryllis belladonna, is a flowering bulb native to South Africa whose tall stems will bear large, vibrant, almost over-the-top flowers and will perform equally well either in a summer flower bed, or potted for indoors, hence its inclusion here. Commonly bought as Christmas presents, their flowers are extremely long lived, typically blooming from winter to early summer and showing predominantly in the red side of the colour spectrum - everything from white to pink to scarlet, and many of them bi-coloured. 

Many people just throw them away after the flowers die, but the marvellous feature of this plant is that once its first flowering season has ended the bulbs can be recycled, providing you with flowers for the next year. When each flower fades simply remove it from the stem and, when they’ve all gone, cut the stem down to a couple of inches above the bulb. Put the pot outside for the summer, keep watering it as you would any other plant and, in autumn, before the first frosts, take off the leaves, bring the pots in and put them somewhere in the dark for about six weeks and don’t water them. This will force the plant into a dormant state. After this time bring them out onto a sunny windowsill and the growth cycle will start all over again!

By Josh Ellison

Now that we’ve reached the midway point of London’s Olympic/Paralympic frenzy, we’ve been reflecting on the lasting effect that the games have, and will have, on our capital and our country, more specifically in an ecological and horticultural sense. Of course, the greatest difference the games have made in this respect is the construction, maintenance and continued existence of the Olympic Park meadow gardens which, among sites like Wisley and Tatton Park, constitutes one of the largest green projects in British history – even more amazing given the Stratford site was a toxic wasteland before they started!

In light of this, it seems somewhat askew that those directly responsible for this magnificent achievement remain fairly in-the-dark in terms of recognition, despite the fact that this single aspect of London 2012 has been the labour of love for thousands of people for over two years. This piece is for them, for their hard work and innovation and, most of all, dedication to what has been, at least in public terms, a largely thankless endeavour.

The Olympic Park’s head gardener is Des Smith who, for our purposes, is the face of a huge collective responsible for the gardens. He has stated that the plant choices of the garden were based around international unity and by this he means that each section of the garden was planted based on the endemic cultivars of each of the five continents to participate in the games, jokingly admitting that even he was unfamiliar with some of the species suggested by the Professors at Sheffield university who compiled the plant lists, and saying that ‘We’ve all had a steep learning curve.’

Arch of Inspiration - Great British Garden

Asia Garden

European Garden

Great British Garden

Southern Hemisphere Garden

Swales and Rain Garden

One of the greatest challenges for the maintenance team, however, has been the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ position that, much like high end caterers for example, their labourers had to adopt - meaning the vast majority of maintenance had to be carried out under cover of darkness, so as not to disrupt the games themselves.  For example, there have been curious images of gardeners mowing the lawns in the middle of the night.

The site was not without its perks though. The proximity of local landmarks such as the Thames estuary meant that the designers could incorporate icons exclusive to London amid the garden itself.

Smith has confessed, somewhat wistfully, that the project will stay with him, in that:

“Going away, and working on another site… it’s gonna be a bit of a comedown for myself and quite a lot of the guys…. because we put so much of ourselves into it.”

The project shows a true masterpiece in scale and detail, culture and beauty, and we, at Floral & Hardy, want to thank all those involved in the project, for both a wonderful legacy for future generations, and for the inspiration that only such a grand scheme can provide.

There are also annual meadow gardens and areas of wetland too and the best news is, once the temporary buildings and huge concourses are removed these wilder areas will be extensively enlarged, so, when the gardens re-open in July next year as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, if you didn’t manage to get tickets to this year’s sporting events, you’ll be able to see them then.

By Josh Ellison

Hydrangeas are among the most popular garden shrubs, known for the soft colour palette of their large blooms and their late flowering in the season when many others have already gone over. The most commonly known species of course are the ‘mophead’ varieties, with their football-like pink or blue heads of many tiny flowers, which have contributed largely to the family’s popularity, especially with their adaptability to varying soil types and levels of available sunlight.

But there are others, so see our list below:

H. arborescens ‘Annabelle’

‘Annabelle’ is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub with a lax, bushy habit and a very gradual growth rate - expect it to reach full maturity within 10-20 years. It has pale green foliage and wonderful, large heads of pale green flowers turning pure white as they age.

H. aspera sargentiana

Aspera is slightly larger than Annabelle and will bear large velvety leaves, peeling bark and purple or blue ‘lacecap’ type flowers with white outer florets throughout summer and autumn.

H. involucrata hortensis

Hortensis is one of the more diminutive varieties on our roster with a terminal height of only a metre, however, what it lacks in size it compensates for in looks - sprouting bushels of tiny lavender flowers laid over broad emerald foliage.

H. macrophylla ‘Geoffrey Chadburn’

‘Geoffrey Chadburn’ is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub with a wide-spreading habit and large, broad leaves with gorgeous deep pink, ‘lace-cap’ blooms.

H. paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’

This variety of Hydrangea is a large, upright and vigorous, deciduous cultivar, with narrow, ovate foliage, which in summer will be offset nicely by its coned clusters of bright pink and cream flowers that will both persist from mid summer to mid-autumn.

H. quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’

It’s no wonder why this variety has this name, as this deciduous cultivar sports tall pillars of many small, white, lobed flowers. Quercifolia also has one of the most dynamic colour palettes among Hydrangeas within its blooms, ranging between pale pinks and browns as well as the titular white depending on season. It also has large, bright green oak-like leaves which turn bright corals and reds in autumn.

H. serrata ‘Blue Bird’

Another hydrangea with good autumn colour, the Blue Bird is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub whose mid-green leaves turn to a maroon russet when autumn arrives and whose lacy flower caps will deepen from a pale to navy blue as the year progresses.

When discussing Hydrangea cultivation, the value of judicious soil care is worth mentioning, as the ph. level of the flowers’ environment can drastically affect the colouration of the blooms themselves. A good rule of thumb would be that an acidic soil would equate to blue spectrum flowers, while the further alkaline you go, the further into the pink you get. So, with a little cunning, and the addition of either ericaceous compost (acid) or lime (alkaline), you can manipulate your entire collection to suit the palette of your garden!

There is a warning to be attached to these plants, however. If ingested they can cause mild stomach upset, and their foliage can aggravate skin conditions, so, as with many garden plants, care should always be taken.

By Josh Ellison

The RHS has recently scaled a full alert for gardeners concerning the arrival of a militant and dangerous new pest in the UK, the Blue Mint Beetle, or Chrysolina coerulans, that have been confirmed as breeding in the British Isles since 2011. This confirmation was reached thanks to the joint efforts of both the Society’s entomology department and in particular, an anonymous gardener based in Kent who provided their specimens. However, due to the isolated nature of this incident, the RHS is keen to investigate whether it might be a containable invasion, or a graver cause for concern.

The insect’s name is derived from its primary source of food, cultivators of which have already suffered massive losses across mainland Europe. The principal scientist on plant health, Andrew Halstead had this to say:

“At the moment our control suggestions are the same for both our native green mint beetle and the new incomer… If the infestation is more extensive then it may be necessary to apply a pesticide. An organic insecticide, pyrethrum, can be used on mint to control pests… However, it may not be effective to control the adults and so other insecticides, such as deltamethrin or lambda-cyhalothrin, may have to be considered.”

Therefore, the RHS’ request is as follows: be vigilant for unusually frequent signs of beetle damage and bear in mind that our native Green Mint Beetle is generally focused on wild mint and so shouldn’t affect garden varieties too greatly. These symptoms include holey foliage and obviously the beetles themselves which come in a pearlescent, metallic navy blue-similar in size to the native species - and if possible you should document live specimens through either photography or sending packages containing the live samples to the RHS Advisory Service in Wisley.

By Josh Ellison

You’ll remember not so long ago our releasing a periodical on the most effective means of building a rockery: content, structure and time frame, etc. Well, this week we thought we’d give you a list of plants best suited to such a garden, based obviously upon their hardiness, beauty and other regular criteria in these top tens of ours. Most, as you would expect, will prefer a sunny, free-draining site.

So without further ado let’s find out more about this group of rockers.

Floral & Hardy’s Top Ten Rockery Plants:

Armeria maritima (Thrift)

Commonly seen near the sea, as its other common name of ‘Sea Pink’ would suggest,  Armeria is a compact evergreen whose foliage will form tufts of pale green grass and during early summer it will also bear clusters of globed, pink flowers on long, slender stems.

Campanula poscharskyana (Bellflower)

The ‘Stella’ variety of Campanula is an evergreen perennial whose cascading habit makes it an excellent ground cover plant. Its foliage is a combination of stringy stems and tooth-edged leaves, that flow between its lavender, star-shaped flowers, which appear all summer long.

Cerastium (Snow-in-summer)

This is a spreading, evergreen perennial with sheets of silvery foliage, while its flowering contingent will litter said silver with clusters of small, white blooms with notched petals that will show from spring to autumn. Beware it rampant habits though and keep it in check – useful to cover large dry banks though.

Gentiana acaulis (Gentian)

Another evergreen perennial, however, the Gentian is a mat-forming perennial that will sprout pairs of narrow, elliptic leaves and singular deep purple, or deep blue flowers whose shape is reminiscent of a gramophone’s spout! Grow it if you’ve got limy (alkaline) soil.

Leontopodium (Edelweiss)

This flower may be more familiar to the grandparents and music lovers among you for its common name ‘Edelweiss’, and this herbaceous perennial bears terminal clusters of  greyish-white, daisy-like flowers on furry stems and rosemary-like foliage.

Lithodora (Gromwell)

Lithodora are my personal favourite in this collection due to their masses of beautiful, deep blue flowers in summer, crown shaped with golden stamen as its jewel.

Oxalis adenophylla (Oxalis)

Oxalis adenophylla is another mat-forming perennial. You can count on the grey-green foliage of this plant to spread up to one metre, although it does die down in winter. Foliage aside, the Oxalis also provides beautiful, shiny, white flowers with pink veining and edging in early summer.

Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque Flower)

The common Pulsatilla flowers in late spring, sprouting from a fur-dappled singular bud on a long, upright stem. Its purple petals form large inverted tear drops opening to stars, surrounding deep yellow stamens. It also has attractive ferny foliage and the flowers are followed by silky seed heads.

Saxifraga apiculata (Saxifrage)

This ‘cushion’ variety of Saxifrage forms a small mound of star shaped panicles encircling short but slender stems, these will be tipped with small, daisy-like, yellow flowers during the spring, while the rosettes of foliage last all year round.

Sempervivum tectorum (Houseleek)

Sempervivum, and more specifically the tectorum cultivar, are also rosette-forming plants, whose succulent, evergreen foliage appears in combined russet and emerald green. These rosettes will also bear small rosy-purple flowers on thick stems in the summer.

By Josh Ellison

The headlines have been alight this last couple of weeks with theoretical advances in the production, form and content of our future diets. Due largely to the overpopulation caused by the industrial revolution, the planet is becoming rapidly less equipped to sustain human consumption; of course, we don’t need the BBC to tell us this - the dwindling of fossil fuels has been one of the major ecological concerns for over a quarter of century.

While we have a variety of fairly evident, albeit expensive and time-consuming alternatives to this problem, there are no immediate solutions to the potentially disastrous food shortage that future generations could face. Reports indicate that in the next decade we could see certain meats and produce double in price due to increasing demand.

Therefore, any credible research or method that could help supplement this shortfall is considered the modern elixir and in response to this several institutes have begun the pursuit of the carnivores grail - synthesised tissue, or ‘plastic’ meat. However, due to the relatively early stages of research into lab-raised meat, and the controversy surrounding the practice’s primary science - stem cell growth - we may not see this wonder hit domestic supermarkets until a few more legislations have been passed.

So what else then? Insects have been named as one of our major hopes for the future, although this only really applies as an innovation to westerners, whose generations of squeamishness have bred contempt for protein that wriggles, despite the fact that, gram for gram, the average caterpillar contains ten times more iron than mincemeat. 

In the more exotic regions of the world grasshoppers, fried ants and even wasps are already an established delicacy - they are cheaper to raise, consume less water and also have a much smaller carbon footprint. There are over 1,400 insects that are edible to man in the world, so we should be able to find something we like!

Others still are suggesting algae and seaweed, of which there are over 10,000 species, as potential food stuffs for our children’s children. One of the great advantages as a crop is that it grows in the sea and therefore doesn’t take up valuable land or fresh water.

Whatever we settle on, there is no doubt that in the future we will all have to rethink our diets as meat becomes less viable as an option.

Maybe the contribution from Fat Duck proprietor Heston Blumenthal, who is famed for his scientific and wildly experimental culinary approach, will help these new foods seem more palatable. His idea comes in the form of sonically enhanced food, although mainly with the aim of reducing the need for extra ingredients such as salt. There is evidence to suggest that the tone of the sounds you hear whilst eating can affect the sweet and savoury elements of the meal and as such, eliminate the need for additional ingredients. His restaurant apparently has a dish called ‘Sounds of the Sea’ which is served up with an iPod playing just that, which is supposed to make the food taste much fresher.

Such tricking of the mind could of course have beneficial implications for health if sounds could be sweet enough to render added sugar unnecessary! The importance of sound in food has already been recognised by a certain crisp manufacturer, who changed the material it used for its packets because a crunchier packet, psychologically, makes the crisps taste fresher. You yourself might consider tailoring the playlist to suit the food you’ll be serving at your own table and save yourself some seasoning!

Granted the main impetus of this piece is not an original one, but is as always, to encourage you to grow your own food wherever possible - rear your own livestock even, if you have the space. Not only will you be getting fresher food, but it also looks as though it would be considerably cheaper!

By Josh Ellison

Whilst, in my opinion, flowers always look best growing in the garden, there is no greater joy than to bring their colour and scent into the house, to fill your rooms with their vibrancy and fragrance. Some plants are better suited to this purpose than others and there is little point in picking flowers, only for them to wilt and die within a few hours. So, we’ve compiled a list of flowers that you can grow in your own gardens and that will last well in water, to give you pleasure for many days.

Floral & Hardy’s Top Ten Plants for Flower Arranging:

Alstroemeria

The ‘Peruvian Lily’ is an exotic and beautiful addition to any garden, but also to any flower arrangement as it bears lily-like blooms in many different colours. Its beauty aside, the Peruvian Lilly is also a hardy plant if given fertile, sandy soil and a sunny, sheltered spot.

Catananche

Catananche, or ‘Cupid’s Dart’, as it is commonly known, is an upright perennial whose foliage appears as a clump of grey-blue grass and is accompanied by papery, pale blue flowers with deep blue stamens, appearing from attractive, silvery buds. They can also be dried for winter decoration. For growing, they need well-drained soil and plenty of sun.

Dianthus caryophyllus

The ‘Border Carnation’ has tufts of grassy, grey-green, year round foliage and fragrant, summer time blooms which come in as ‘selfs’ (single colours), fancies (two or more colours) and ‘picotees’ (generally pale coloured with darker centres). They prefer an alkaline soil content and exposure to full sunlight, but due to their tall flowers, they are susceptible to high winds, so may need some support.

Echinops

The ‘Globe Thistle’ is a clump-forming, herbaceous plant with grey-green, thistle-like leaves and dozens of deep blue, globular flower heads sprouting from long, slender stems - themselves appearing a pale lavender colour. They can also be dried for winter flower arrangements and to grow, they prefer a well-drained soil and sunny position.

Eremerus

Also known as the ‘Foxtail Lily’, this herbaceous plant will form very tall columns of vibrant yellow, orange, cream or pink flowers. They need well-drained soil and full sunlight, preferably under the shelter of a south, or west-facing wall, but they do also need plenty of water. Winter protection with a mulch is a good idea too to protect them from frost.

Leucanthemum

The white, daisy-like flowers with yellow centres are borne on tall stems which are good for cutting, and single and double varieties are available. The plants are highly robust and can be suited to more or less any garden, but the taller varieties do benefit from staking.

Limonium latifolium

‘Sea Lavender’, or ‘Statice’, is one of the most common cutting flowers due to its lightness and the relief afforded by its pale colouring to the more intense tones in a bouquet. A half-dozen sprigs of these flowers can do wonders to complement the palette. It’s easy to grow and will thrive in the poorest of stony soils provided it’s in full sun.

Physalis franchetii

The ‘Winter Cherry’ or ‘Chinese lantern’ is a perennial with vigorous growth habits, but the flowers themselves would not win any prizes. It gets its common name from the shape and colouration of the papery orange/red structures which form a droplet shape around its fruits. For winter flower arrangements, you should cut them in September and hang them upside down to dry. It will grow almost anywhere in the garden and children find them fascinating too!

Pyrethrum roseum

This is a richly coloured variety of the Chrysanthemum family and is perhaps most famous for being the major natural source for leading brands of insecticide, thus, I suppose, improving its hardiness against insects. It has red or pink, daisy-like flowers above attractive feathery foliage and it will bloom in early summer. Give it well-drained soil in full sun.

Rudbeckia

All Rudbeckias are praised as cutting flowers, however, none more so than the ’Herbstsonne’ variety which is favoured for its full hardiness and high, branching stems that provide an appropriate pedestal for the plants beautiful yellow blooms. They also bloom late in the year when many other flowers have finished. Any reasonable soil is fine and it will thrive in sun or light shade.

By Josh Ellison

This summer has been a little bit of a drag for all involved - what with the awful weather we’ve suffered and, in and around London at least, the intense focus on the Olympics throughout the capital and the subsequent dampening effect this has had on our travel plans and commuting. However, in the face of all this, the determined parent can still hope to provide some distraction to their little ones in the shape of the RHS’ more family oriented gardens, which are growing all the time. 

Although there are many such sites all over the country, we want to focus on four in particular; they are Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire, Hyde Hall of Essex, Rosemoor which is situated in Devon and Wisley in Surrey. Our justification for these choices is based on two factors, the first being that they are the most family friendly, with every one of them complemented by changing facilities and nearly universal pushchair access, the second that they are situated in popular destinations for caravanning and other family oriented holidays, making them convenient possibilities for an all-day outing.

At Harlow Carr 

the major attraction will be the seasonal adventure trails you can traverse and which alternate, depending whether you visit in the summer, winter, spring or autumn - guaranteeing that you never experience the same adventure twice! Harlow Carr also hosts one of the most interactive wildlife experiences in the UK. Though not big on scale it will deliver on intimacy, with an observation beehive, various bird feeding stations and a private lake teeming with ducks. HC also houses one of the larger commercial tree houses in England that is complemented by its own log maze and the promise of a battle with ‘The Log-ness Monster’!

Second we have Hyde Hall, 

which provides one of the more relaxed family experiences - think less Indiana Jones and more Mary Poppins - with dedicated outdoor meadows for picnickers and I-spy themed trails and quiz sheets designed for a more educational journey.

Rosemoor 

is probably the most diverse garden among those we’ve mentioned, at least in terms of those it can cater to. As a semi-wild site, Rosemoor supports both woodland expanses and more tame garden trails and spectator spots. As the people there will tell you, it is ‘The Brash’ that this year has become the unofficial star of Rosemoor. It has been described as ‘a natural hideaway… for all ages to enjoy’ and its bird feeding stations, giant insect life and natural pathways have carved it a reputation based on fun and learning. Similar to Harlow Carr, Rosemoor also sports seasonal adventure trails which, once completed in the free children’s trail entry book, will make the Adventurer eligible for a prize from the onsite shop.

Wisley, 

as many other RHS gardens, will play host to the aptly titled ‘Great Garden Adventure’, that is an annual RHS endorsed gathering of families and society members focused on the interaction between children and nature. This year’s GGA promises sports day-esque events such as skittles, bean bag relays and the newly coined ‘fir cone in a spoon race’. On the nature oriented side of things, Wisley also sports a Garden Safari Trail that promises bird watching, den building and a variety of animals to sight. Also during the GGA period, which has been running from the 21st July and will continue until the 31st of August, there will be daily seminars exploring the various continental cultures of the earth through arts and crafts activities. Each continent will be designated a specific week beginning with Europe’s storytelling and paper craft groups.

Sounds exciting eh?

By Josh Ellison

One of the major horticultural news stories in the last couple of weeks has been the horticultural success of young Lucas Hatch, aged only 11, who has been officially announced as the RHS’ Young School Gardener of the Year. Hatch, who hails from Woodbridge, Suffolk, battled to victory by winning over the judges with a superior knowledge of gardening technique and history as well as an unparalleled enthusiasm for the practice.

 The sixteen finalists, from whom Lucas emerged victorious, were chosen through a preliminary judging panel headed by the students’ teachers, and each of these finalists’ schools was awarded a digital camcorder to commemorate their participation through interviews of the contestants and of those affiliated with the project. It was from these ‘shorts’ that a final winner was selected, based on their range of knowledge and genuine enthusiasm for the craft, Lucas won based on these criteria, and also on his dedication to his school’s garden which he maintains throughout the summer holidays.

However, the title of RHS Young School Gardener of the Year 2012 was not Lucas’ only prize for his effort; he will also be awarded the privilege of a day’s tutelage at an RHS garden with a Society endorsed gardener. On top of that, the Hatch family will receive the choice of complimentary tickets to the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park or to RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2013 and a full collection of gardening equipment. Aside from the benefits to the Hatch’s themselves, Lucas’ school will also be granted five hundred pounds worth of garden gift vouchers, as will the schools of the other finalists, alongside their own tool sets.

RHS member Jacky Chave, who also serves as the societies Strategic Schools Manager had this to say:

'The RHS is delighted for Lucas and the runners-up – congratulations to you all, but we’d also like to thank all the teachers for sending in nominations. There are so many fantastically able and keen young gardeners out there and I’m already looking forward to next year’s competition.'

The initiative, which forms a part of the RHS’ School Gardening Campaign, is based on various psychological and practical case studies that have indicated the positive effects of gardening and its affiliated topics on children. The practical application speaks for itself, as it guarantees regular and consistent exposure to nature and the outdoors in an increasingly technology-driven environment; it also helps children to develop the primary instincts of sustainability and also of the connection between nature and produce.

A little while ago we wrote a piece covering the disconnect from nature between this and the next generations of children and that outdoor activities have taken a back seat to instant means of gratification such as video games and television. Several years ago the RHS, possibly in response to this phenomenon, began the School Gardening Campaign as a means of encouraging interaction with the natural world and also to educate children in horticulture and there’s no reason you can’t get involved, be it on a communal, regional or just a personal scale. Find a starter kit and application at the RHS website - I promise you won’t be disappointed.

By Josh Ellison

Following our initial list of five of the most common and destructive garden diseases, we now have numbers six to ten,  their most recognizable symptoms, which plants they are most likely to affect and how to prevent their damage and spread to other cultivars. Remember however, that the greatest defence against disease related decay is vigilance and consistent maintenance; no matter how conspicuous the symptoms are they can only be seen if you are there regularly to see, and subsequently treat them.

Fire Blight

One of the most unpleasant afflictions discussed here, Fire blight fortunately only affects a select few of the Rosaceae family, such as Apples, Pears, flowering Quince (Chaenomeles), June Berry (Amelanchier) and Firethorn (Pyracantha), but those it does affect will certainly feel it. The disease is known to wilt and kill the flowers of these plants at the beginning of summer which luckily makes it very easy to notice. In wet weather these plants may exude a thin, milky substance from wounds cause by the affliction, in the case of plum, pear and apple trees the outer bark will appear a tawny brown as the infection rots in the inner bark while it spreads. Ironically, one of the most effective methods for controlling Fire blight is fire itself, trim affected limbs and burn immediately to prevent spreading.

Honey Fungus

Honey Fungus is a subterranean fungus that works by attacking the root systems of many woody and perennial plants; it will then proceed to decay the wood and bark of these species themselves. The most evident signs of HF affliction is the presence of unusually small or pale foliage, cracking or bleeding of the bark and white fungal growth near the base of the plant, and as can be expected, once the fungus has taken control of the plant’s root system you will notice the death of upper sections of the plant - particularly in hot and dry weather. Plants predominantly susceptible to Honey Fungus include Acers, Birches, Ceanothus, Hydrangeas, Lilacs and Rhododendrons. Unfortunately there is no chemical control for this devastating disease and the only option is to dig the plant up, making sure you remove all the roots, and dispose of it.

Apple Canker

As its name would suggest, this affliction is present mainly in species of apple trees, although it has been known to spread to Yew and Oak cultivars. The primary symptom of Canker is the disfiguration that will be evident in the growth, structure and outer bark of the affected plants, causing the branch above the canker to eventually die. Fruits might also rot and fall. This affliction is more prevalent in plants that are grown in heavy, wet soils, so make sure your trees have effective drainage, acidic soils have also been linked to a greater frequency of Cankers, so liming might be necessary. Affected branches should be removed back to healthy green wood and the cut painted with a protective wound paint (available from any garden centre).

Botrytis

Botrytis cinerea is more famously known for the symptomatic fuzzy grey mould that it produces in affected plants. This mould is only seen on plants in a humid environment and while we get plenty of rain in England we aren’t famous for humidity, apart from perhaps in a greenhouse where you might see it. The dry version of this symptom will be collections of brown spots on the leaves of plants from the Chrysanthemum, Primula and Cyclamen families. Flowers and buds will shrivel and die and soft fruits such as Strawberries, Gooseberries and Grapes can also be affected. The way to avoid it is to make sure that plants are not overcrowded, that greenhouses are properly ventilated and that any dead leaves, buds or flowers are removed promptly.

Potato and Tomato Blight

It should be fairly evident which plants are most vulnerable to this fungal infection and therefore those of you not interested in vegetable growing need not read further, however those of you with a vegetable patch should be vigilant for brown patches in the stems and leaves of your veg. 

Also watch the fruit of tomato plants, unripe tomatoes will turn prematurely brown while ripe fruit will decay far more rapidly than is normal. Any affected material should be removed and burned, rather than composted, to prevent spread. Earthing up potatoes can help prevent it, as can planting early varieties, which seem less susceptible. Operating a four-yearly rotation in your veg beds to generally help prevent disease.

By Josh Ellison

This editorial will mark our first report on the Hyde Hall Flower Show, held at the RHS’ garden in Essex. Here various medal winners and competitors from the major London shows i.e. Chelsea and Hampton Court are given a chance to test their products and share their knowledge on a smaller scale having been proven in the big leagues. However, Hyde Hall should not be mistaken for a small scale Chelsea - on the contrary it hosts one of the largest horticultural estates in the country, clocking in at over 360 acres, and this area doesn’t even include the show itself!

Despite the scale of this project, it is still rooted in the personality and the heritage of Essex without becoming exclusive to those visiting from further afield. While Hyde Hall includes all the staple additions of any RHS show (exhibitions, commercial stands and seminars), its individuality stems from its respect for the surrounding community.

For example, the show has arranged the attendance of Essex radio show host Ken Crowther for an informal Q&A between gardeners and gardening enthusiasts. Ken will also be aided by a patron of Essex University, Tom Cole, and by Geoff Hodge - a freelance authority on all things horticultural. These sessions will go on throughout the day today.

Now as with every Flower Show there are certain perks available to members of the society, among these at Hyde Hall there is the option of a ‘Flower Show Preview Breakfast’ whose ticket tastes and smells like a lot of the normal early access ticket, however this one includes a guided tour of the gardens outside the show as well as the premium parking, full English breakfast and early entry of the non-members ticket and all at two pounds cheaper!

Among the copious number of stands and exhibitors are a fair cross section of medalists from some of the larger shows, including nurseries such as Devine Nurseries, Bentley Plants, Oska Copperfield Nursery Ltd and Jacques Amand International, and trade stands representing companies like Darlac Ltd, Hutchinsons landscapes, The New Eden Ltd and The Green Trading Company.

These companies will of course be paying and displaying for the entirety of the show which itself is running from 3rd - 5th August and also includes a prize draw for those interested in the more philanthropic functions of the RHS, with potential rewards to include £50 worth of RHS vouchers -apply at the RHS stand within the show.

These attractions aside, there is of course the added benefit of escaping the Olympic frenzy of the city centre for a couple of days not to mention the fact that, like the majority of RHS flower shows, children under 16 are granted free admission. So whether it’s for the family’s sake or for your own, take advantage of Hyde Hall Flower Show while it’s here.

By Josh Ellison