" If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness ... " Therese of Lisieux
There is little doubt that wildflowers are "in". Some statistics though about wildflowers and wildflower meadows, it is not good news. In the UK Kew Gardens report that we have lost 97% of uk wildflower meadows since the 1930s. If it were the loss of aesthetic matters relating to that such as beauty and harmony it would be bad but of course it is also the loss of the shelter and food for pollinators like bees and the creatures that eat pollinators too. Birds, hedgehogs and bat are endangered too The development of land for housing and changes to farming methods are the most important reasons for wildflower meadow decline. But there is also another reason, albeit smaller, and it might be a little uncomfortable to take it in, gardeners and home owners. The later in modern times are more likely to have decorative plants chosen for colour and their beauty that do not attract pollinators. Hedges, grasses and native flowers are less on trend Of course the increasing awareness of the wildflower decline is spurring many to plant them and community groups and organisations are being formed to grow and sustain wildflowers. Local authorities are getting in on the act by reducing the frequency of roadside, verge, park and open spaces cuttings. This is not popular with everyone and some folk like to be tidy but there is certainly room for compromise here by not cutting everything back. And that is what is happening I am going to point out a couple of examples of Lancing wildflower areas. It would be lovely if you can let me know about more Inside the Lancing Manor allotments a number of plot holders spent the Spring clearing an area and planting it with wildflowers. It looks spectacular and everyone is appreciating it, especially the pollinators The community group Keep Lancing Lovely recently won an award for their two wildflower gardens at Lancing Railway station It gets better, The Adur and Worthing Wildflower Trail, a community led programme set up by Adur and Worthing Councils goes from strength to strength as it encourages more though and action about wildflower areas https://www.thewildflowertrail.org Want to plant up some wildflowers? There are suppliers of wildflower turf online here is a good example https://www.wildflowerlawnsandmeadows.com and to grow your own wildflowers here are some suppliers https://www.wildflower.co.uk/products/wildflower-seed-mixtures/100-wildflower-seed-mixtures/ https://www.livemoor.co.uk/products/livemoor-wild-flower-meadow-seeds-help-save-the-uk-bee-population?variant=12776758181976
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" There are good and bad times, but our mood changes more often than our fortune.." Thomas Carlyle
It is certainly the case that gardeners, growers and farmers have a bit of a reputation for not being happy with the current or recent past weather. Too cold! Too dry! Too hot! You will know what I mean and just like me plead guilty with mitigating circumstances Met Office forecasts are looking promising if you like warm, dry and sunny weather over the next week to ten days. The magical 32 Celsius ( 90 Fahrenheit figure is likely to be reached) But what a different story three or four months ago here on the Sussex coast with exceptionally dry, cold and sunless times. This is only my second full season on Plot 106 so it is much too early to be able to talk in terms of "normal" or "trends" to describe and explain what is happening or how things grow in comparison to earlier times. But it was noteworthy at least And the results were considerable difficulties with planting out, growing or harvesting crops early on. Actually for about six weeks nothing really happened in terms of plant growth, they just stayed there. A May storm (winds gusting towards 60mph) destroyed a neighbour ploy tunnel and blew it onto 106 and many of my plants were ruined. Some were retrievable in that I could resow and I did, many were not Anyhow where are we right now? Crops are vein picked and the outlook is promising. Broad beans have done well. Sown on Christmas Eve and planted out late February they area treat. We talked the smaller whole pods for stir fries and leave the rest for shelling. This time we have created home made " humus" too. Rhubarb has done brilliantly. The crowns are into their first proper season as I only picked lightly in their first summer. Early and second early potatoes are being lifted and at this stage the lush green halums bode well for the main crop too. Garlic is good, I have lifted about fourty bulbs. Onions are very hit and miss, they are grown from sets and number quite a few bolsters. Tomatoes set and growing well. Sweet corn well on the way to a good harvest. Cauliflowers, cabbage and brocoli are so, so, they seem to have been most affected by that weather referred to. Over the coming month the leeks will be out and I will be looking for early squashes to pick. About a quarter of the whole plot will be green mabred once those early potatoes are taken I look forward to the lazy days of summer on 106. The days of promise and expectation...
" Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life " –John Updike Rainwater is an essential for good plant growth and the heavens have been very open from May until early July here on the Sussex coast. That dampness produces lush green growth in the Home Garden creating a blackcloth to the wonderful blooms. Equally it gives a sense of freshness, excitement even to the canna leaves High winds again visited the area last week, as many now in Spring and Summer as Autumn and Winter! Damaging to just about any plant outside or even to trees and shrubs. My studious staking, preparation for adverse conditions and preventative action has eased a real buffeting in the Home Garden I was up very early and awoke to light rain in still, calm conditions. Soft air in fact and how rather lovely everything was looking. I took out the camera to capture that. Perhaps you agree .... They come in threes. The weather. A mild dark and somewhat wet Winter gave way to a cold, windy and very dry Spring and now we have a cool wet and dark summer in progress. Of course there have been bouts of five or six days of dryness and sunshine, early June was like that but they are at an absolute premium
Gastropods are are very large group of creatures and the two of most interest to gardeners are snails and slugs Boy have they been busy. Virtually all allotment ewers is mentioning them and how not just brassica and the like are falling to them but also sweetcorn and tomatoes But tge good news, I took a look at the first early potatoes and was sighted. The variety is Rocket https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/potato-rocket/zww5094TM Three roots came in at 2 4kg, excellent, pass me the parsley please.... |
AuthorI launched this website on 16th August 2020 to bring together my thoughts on gardening,, its importance for health and wellbeing and two projects running concurrently, a renovation of my own garden on the West Sussex coast at Lancing and a nearby allotment. But also to learn from other gardeners about the inspirations for their plots, about their gardening projects and enjoyment of beautiful plants and gardens Archives
February 2024
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