Supporting plants in a timely manner has been one of members’ New Year’s resolutions on more than one occasion. I remember one reading: to support plants before they fall over!
But how to do it in a way that is both attractive and unobtrusive? In addition to which, you have to find the right materials. I have long been an admirer of the ‘birch halos’ used by Sarah Raven and at Great Dixter, for example, but had never attempted to create one.
This year I managed to find myself a pile of birch twigs and, inspired by the clear instructions in Arthur Parkinson’s book The Flower Yard, I had a go.
As you can see from the Antirrhinums, although not quite on the same level of skill, my efforts are doing the job and don’t look too bad!
I wonder what other attractive supports members have found for themselves?
Self-drive/car share trip to the Flower Show at RHS Hyde Hall on 4 August 2021. A lovely day, with lots of quality plant stalls. A difficult journey home due to traffic, but it didn’t spoil the day!
CABAHS member Jean R thinks her garden is out of control! She says:
I’m a true amateur gardener and have watched aghast as nasturtiums, chinese lanterns and the leaf cutting bee have almost destroyed all my carefully laid out spring plans! In fact I love those bees, but do they really need so much leaf to line their nests? I also love nasturtiums and Chinese lanterns, but how dare they spread so prolifically!
Then to cap it all, intrepid visitors searching for my garden path find that only a sideways crab-like advance is possible to reach my front door! You can spot my front garden in Vanbrugh Park if you are passing by…….
Jean’s front garden path (somewhere in there)
Evidence of Jean’s leaf cutting bees!
An unusual shrub in Kathy’s garden – this is Sphaeralcea (Globe Mallow) Newleaze Coral. A real toughie, it loves this dry sunny weather.
This is Angela’s pretty Monarda (bee balm), the photo doesn’t really show it but Angela says it is now 5 feet tall!
Rambling Rosie looking great in Carolyn’s garden. Love the name, really suits it!
Dusty Gedge was welcomed to the meeting. Dusty is a professional photographer and green structure and nature conservationist. He is President of the European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations. He said he was pleased to talk to CABAHS as he was local, Lewisham and Blackheath based, and had done a lot of work in the area. He said he is not a gardener but is involved in plants and soil.
Dusty made the point that green roofs and roof gardens have a local history, firstly showing a photograph of the 1997-built sustainable green roof on the now demolished Sainsburys on the Peninsular, followed by one of the 2019-built IKEA roof garden. In fact, Greenwich and Lewisham have the second and third most green roofs in London. Nowadays in England, including the City of London, it is planning policy that all tall buildings should have green roofs.
Dusty said that nowadays green roofs are becoming numerous. He showed photographs of a wide variety of them from Europe and the UK. From roofs in parts of Europe where traditionally turf and sedums were used to modern schemes, including nearer to home such as the roof garden at the National Theatre. He said there were 4 types of green roof (intensive, semi-intensive, biodiverse and extensive) and discussed the environment, conditions and maintenance needed for the various types to flourish.
Green roofs and roof gardens are taking soil and plants into the cities. He referred to ‘plumbing with plants’ using soil and vegetation as they store water, helping to ameliorate floods. They also help in heatwaves and the green space they provide fosters health, wellbeing and social cohesion.
He discussed two projects, the Museum of Home and Design which balances diversity with formal garden design using mediterranean and native plants and then IKEA with its four different sections. He said he would be happy next year to take CABAHS members on a tour of IKEA’s roof garden.
Afterwards, Dusty took questions and was asked by a member (who is also a surveyor) about infrastructure needed to support the roof and prevent leaks. He agreed that is an issue and said there were many structural strategies existing to prevent this happening. Another asked what would be the effect of wind on tall buildings. Dusty pointed out that the roofs of tall buildings were generally less windy than at ground level due to the funnel effect. He also reassured members that he collects local wildflower seeds in a sustainable way.
Angela
Dusty Gedge is a green infrastructure professional, public speaker, photographer, nature conservationist and social media influencer. He is President of the European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations and a recognised international speaker on green roofs, green infrastructure and biodiversity.
Dusty gave several links to useful websites and a podcast, below. He said members are welcome to contact him for advice.
The garden is getting into it’s summer swing now, so much is in flower. It is amazing how complete it looks for a “first year”. Penstemon Garnet is just going on and on and on!
This is the view in July from the CABAHS 70th Anniversary bench:
A recent initiative – Star Plant of the Week. No contest: it was the teasels this week, they are gigantic, and covered in bees.
Betony and Phlox demonstrating The Clash!
And now it’s the turn of the Echinacea purpurea “Magnus”, with white Erigeron annuus frothing at the back and a yellow Patrinia photo-bombing in the front.
A selection of photos of Ruth & Matthew’s beautiful garden ‘The Gatehouse’. CABAHS members attended a lovely open evening, wandering around their garden recently, with donations in aid of the Hospice.
The Gatehouse bordersRoses (red one is WB Yeats) grown in a bed in the shape of a Tudor Rose
CABAHS member Anne R has sent a link to this rather lovely short film. The Excalibur Estate in Catford is being redeveloped, and the gardens will disappear. The film is produced for the Garden Museum, and features Matthew Wilson.
The Woolwich Garrison Church Trust has commissioned Chelsea Gold Medal winner Juliet Sargeant to create a Commonwealth and Gurkha garden on their site. They already had outline drawings, above, by local designer Don Albrecht, and are now looking for feedback about the plans.
The idea is to have an English Orchard and wildflower garden on one side of the church, and the Commonwealth countries and Gurkhas reflected in the planning on the other side. Chair of the Trust, Tim Barnes, says that in Gurkha villages there is always a central tree which acts as a focal point for village life – so there are plans for a circular seat around the base of one of the trees to reflect this tradition.
There are some lovely ideas, download the full document below if you are interested.
3 June National Volunteers Week. Thank you for the muffins Charlton House!
Rheum and foxgloves in the Long Border (foxgloves courtesy of Greenwich Park – thank you!):
30June The pomegranate is flowering in the Peace Garden (top left) the stag beetles are hatching and marching, there is a lovely Malope trifida ‘Vulcan’ annual in the Long Borders (bottom left) and the gravel garden has a new addition of Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ to add some more zing!
Our Papaver orientale ‘Burning Heart’ have exploded into flower this week. They are fabulous plants, look at the size of them! They came as bare roots, all the way from West Lothian. Thank you Binny Plants.
Here is Carolyn’s lovely peony before it was battered by the recent rain storms! And a picture of her lovely clematis Hagley’s Hybrid.
This is our Treasurer Ron’s lovely rose “Tender Loving Care”. Must ask him for some cuttings!
Wonderful Echium towers in Mike’s garden in Eltham, which he opened to raise funds for the Hospice Open Gardens scheme.
Member Sharon has sent these two pictures in. She says: “My favourite flower in the garden at present is a cream, fragrant Primula Alpicola. The scent is divine! It grows next to Aquilegias and Nemesia Wisley Vanilla. The best part about this little primula is that I bought it at the CABAHS plant sale in the Old Pond Garden held last summer 2020. Does anyone recognise this as a plant they brought in for sale? Thank you, I am very grateful.”
Here is Jillian’s favourite rose “Rhapsody in Blue” looking wonderful this June.
Libertia is doing its thing in Kathy’s front garden. Idea copied from a lovely dry garden at Winchelsea’s NGS open gardens a few years ago. This year the spiky leaves took a real hit from the cold Spring winds, and look sadly brown, but lots of nice new green ones are coming up from the base.
Charlton and Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society 