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| Go greener |
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| With a growing number of gardeners eschewing chemicals in favour of natural alternatives, we can suggest some effective products from our organic gardening selection |
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| Relax and refresh |
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| Good food freshly prepared daily, aromatic coffee, chilled wine and a grassy play area for the children. What more could you need? |
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| Food heaven |
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| Our Farm Shop is heaven for food lovers! Delicious handmade food, top quality groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables and stylish cookware and gifts. |
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| The Discovery Walk |
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| As thousands of daffodils herald the spring, stroll or stride around our Walk while the youngsters enjoy the Nature Trail |
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A pot of ‘pot mums’ for mum!
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| Thursday, 28th February 2008 |
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IN THE GARDEN WITH PETA MARSHALL
This Sunday is Mothering Sunday, and it’s the traditional time for offspring to give their mothers a token of gratitude and thanks for a lifetime of care.
A friend of mine always received a kitchen implement from her children. One year a sieve. The next year an egg-whisk…I think it was the round-wheeled pizza cutter that made her eventually see red.
She implored her children to club together and get her something for the garden; something entirely more pleasing on the eye. The following year she received a packet of twine and a bag of labels!
I think where she failed was not instilling in her children the idea that plants are beautiful. Red roses on St Valentine’s Day are the perfect example – but these denote romantic love rather than the motherly kind. A poinsettia at Christmas would work…but it’s the wrong time of year.
So, what would make the ‘blooming’ ideal present for mother? Here is my top list of 10 suggestions:
Chrysanths: To my way of thinking you can’t beat giving potted plants on Mother’s Day. The most popular by far is the pot chrysanthemum (after all, it does have ‘mum’ in its name). Florists call them ‘pot mums’. Yellow, white and pink colours are the most popular, but golds, burnt oranges, maroons and reds are also available. These are long-lasting plants, remaining in prime condition (depending on where they are kept, for up to six weeks after the big day). And seasoned gardeners can repot them and keep them going for several years, but they will need some looking after if they are to produce decent flowers.
Hyacinths: These are seasonal and whose heart wouldn’t melt as the heady fragrance of the hyacinth bloom wafts across the room? They come in blue, pink, yellow and white, and masses of shades between them. Plant the bulbs in the autumn, or buy flowering pot plants now.
Flowering irises: Some of my favourite spring bulbs are the reticulate irises. They come in little pots, comprising miniature iris flowers in colours ranging from deep purple and violet through to light blue and white. Then there is the lovely little yellow Iris danfordiae. Pots of them are coming in to bloom now. And if your mum’s name is Iris, so much the better!
Orchids: Orchids are a bit special. A flowering Phalaenopsis (or moth orchid – not quite ‘mother’ orchid!) is the easiest to grow and will succeed well in usual room conditions. It seems to stay in flower for months, and is generally free of pests and diseases. Whereas most orchids need humid greenhouse conditions for at least part of the year, this orchid doesn’t. Other easy orchids to try include Cymbidium, Cattleya, Dendrobium, Miltonia and Odontoglossom.
Roses: Miniature roses are another favourite Mother’s Day pot plant. Roses are not really considered plants for indoors, but these miniatures have been bred specially for a short life as indoor pot plants. However, if Mum’s a keen gardener she can try her hand at planting them outdoors when the weather is warmer. Feeding, pruning and deadheading will all be required if these pot plants are to pay their way beyond this year.
Narcissus: As with the hyacinths and irises, these spring bulbs are a cheery sight. I’m talking here about the miniature narcissi (such as ‘February Gold’, ‘Tete-a-Tete’, and so on) rather than the trumpet-flowered daffodils. They’re available now flowering in pots, and planted in baskets. And they look the business.
African violets: The Victorians grew these plants when they were just violet-coloured. Now there are hundreds of varieties in practically all colours other than yellow, orange, green and black. The garden centre stocks a range throughout the year, and as there is no real flowering season for them, you can always be assured that there’ll be some in flower for Mother’s Day.
Air plants: If your Mum is a rubbish gardener, then give her an air plant. It’s a real plant but it comes stuck (yes, with glue) on pieces of stone or bark. It’s a small ‘bromeliad’ plant (meaning it is in the pineapple family) with the Latin name Tillandsia. The reason it is called an air plant is that it gets its moisture from the air. An occasional fine spray misted over it, particularly if placed near a radiator, is all that you need to do. It needs no feeding, re-potting or pruning, and is the ideal plant for a non-gardener.
Bottle garden: Known as ‘carboys’, these were very popular during the middle of the last century. A small bottle garden is a self-sustaining environment for a great many small-leaved, tender plants. Water it once, pop the cork back in the top of the bottle and leave well alone. All you’ll need to do is occasionally remove fallen leaves and/or flowers, and give the more vigorous inhabitants a little light pruning. Placed out of direct sun, these can grace a room for years.
And finally, perhaps I could recommend the indoor foliage plant Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’. It’s one of the easiest of all indoor plants to grow; the long, leathery leaves can have decorative, broad yellow margins to them. The trouble is, these plants seem to be everywhere you look, and they can have sharp, barbed points to their leaves – no wonder their common name is mother-in-law’s tongue! Happy Gardening!
This week in your garden
Cover the blossom of apricots, peaches and nectarines with fleece to protect them from frost.
It’s the start of the sowing season! Outdoors sow herbs such as parsley, chervil, chives, fennel and marjoram. In a frost-free greenhouse sow sweet peppers, tomatoes, celery, salads and even globe artichokes.
Divide marginal pond plants, and bog garden plants, before they start into growth.
Peta Marshall is the plant centre manager at Priory Farm in Nutfield. Website: www.prioryfarm.co.uk
NEXT WEEK: The essential tool kit for beginner gardeners
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