Dulwich Park - A Queens Park but Not a Royal Park (Part 2)Dulwich Park is famous for its Rhododendrons and Azaleas in May, but there is a lot more to this wonderful place than that. Its wildfowl and wildlife abound; it is managed with the environment in mind, proving an area of outstanding beauty and historical interest can be a place for everyone as well!
Dulwich Park - A Queens Park but Not a Royal Park (Part 1)Dulwich was known to exist as a hamlet in 967AD and the word Dulwich in old English literally means "where dill grows." In the later Victorian era 'American Gardens' were becoming popular so an "American Garden' was designed in 1887 and opened to the public in 1890. Queen Mary enjoyed her visits here to see the Rhododendrons and Azaleas; she in fact made an annual visit every year in May! Although a much loved park by Queen Mary, it is not a Royal Park like our eight Royal Parks in and around London.
Meet Fritz!Fritz is a welcome visitor to our garden. He is not always a regular and doesn't stay long, but his popularity is unmatched - if and when he does show up!
My Tree Ferns, or Dicksonia AntarcticaThese beautiful plants have been found as fossils over 150 million years old. Like a lot of plants, they are suffering from deforestation and are taken from the wild as the loggers can sell them. Unfortunately they are expensive and have become a sort of status symbol for some.
All About BegoniasBegonias come in many shapes, sizes, types, and leaf colors. They make good houseplants, but they require a bit more care than the average houseplant. I rate them as an 8 out of 10 on the scale of difficulty indoors in the winter but they're 2 out of 10 outdoors in the summer.
Adenium: From Parents to ProgenyI'm no expert, but I've been doing this for 25 years and I've learned a few things; one of them is how to make adenium produce seed pods. The photo shows a few I picked last week. As I said, I ain't no expert, but it sure has worked for me. I will start from the beginning, from what I use to pollinate the flower all the way to planting the seeds and having seedlings sprouting.
Adenium 101I use the same potting mix for starting seed and for growing them to about 8 months. At that point I move them up to larger pots and to one of two mixes.
The beauty of Bark, Flowers, and LeavesAs spring unfolds its true majesty, we gasp at the beauty of spring flowers and rightly so. But there are also some wonderful delights to see in plants, in their bark or in the colour and texture of their leaves.
Beckenham Place Park and Carl LinnaeusThis incredibly beautiful and historic park is a hidden jewel, 237 acres of pure magic and mystery. I always did find something to stare and wonder at years ago when I first worked in it; I still do on the regular visits I take now. It is simply an enigmatic, awesome and breathtaking place of indescribable beauty set in vast proportions.
London's Green ParksPeople think of London as a sprawling mass of concrete or lots of old ancient buildings with an untold history, but it is a lot more than that. Around London is the protected 'Green Belt' and in London itself there are many green spaces; from the giant Royal Parks, Botanic Gardens, privately owned parks to more modest parks, then the Victorian Parks, down to the much used Municipal\Council Parks; all beautiful and each one designed and kept for a different use and reason.
The Runaway BallsMy husband surprised me one day with two large stone balls for the front garden. He had to have two men help him place them. I just loved them peeking out of the salvias near the sidewalk. Our neighbors would walk up the hill and take a rest, letting their kids sit on top of the balls. This is a story of how the balls wound up hidden in our backyard.
Simple Delight: A Hanging Basket with Many UsesHere is a fragrant and simple hanging basket in which many of the plants can be grown from seeds or simply purchased in the spring and planted together for an immediate full display. However, its virtues go far beyond providing basic visual interest in the garden. Read on to find out more!
Talking About NasturtiumsI have a personal fondness for this old-fashioned flower. Its delicate fragrance takes me back to when I was a young girl spending many hours in the garden. The taste of the sweet nectar from the spur of the nasturtium, the skipper butterflies fluttering around, and the ladybugs . . . I'm transported back in time.
A Cold Snap Stops Everything for a WeekEverybody seemed happy in the sun. Instead of looking down at the ground on their way to work, people held their heads high and were stopping to look at the wonderful spring flowers. Then it became overcast and the rain started; cold days and very cold nights set in for a week. On Monday morning we all awoke to clear blue skies; the sun came out, and everything was suddenly happy once again.
Installing a Backyard Rainwater Harvesting SystemIf you've ever watched the rain shoot off your roof, across the yard and soak into your neighbors' garden, you may appreciate this article. What follows is a fairly inexpensive alternative to rain barrels on every down spout. It's easy to do, especially if you can talk someone else into doing it!
Spring Plants and FlowersThe majesty of spring always seems a long time coming, but then suddenly it is upon us in its full glory. Once there was hardly anything, but now it is hard to keep up with the awe-inspiring sights that appear everywhere.
Growing Sempervivum, Jovibarba and Jovibarba heuffeliiThere are hundreds of cultivars to choose from, most are easy to find; others are more difficult. Plant trading is a wonderful way to increase your collection. It really does become addictive to some of us.
Japanese Irises: Dispelling the Prima Donna MythSome of my customers see the pictures of lovely Japanese irises on my website and say, "I wish I could grow some of those; they're so beautiful but so hard to grow." Are Japanese irises really that touchy? No, I don't think so.
How To Make Your Own Succulent WreathThe directions for making a succulent wreath are very simple. The same method can be used for any topiary form using sedum or sempervivum. The directions below are for using semps and a wreath frame.
Spring Flowers 2010After the harsh long winter we all had, the arrival of spring is eagerly awaited. Once the snow was gone the north winds and the frost did not allow much plant growth at all.
All About PurslaneLiving in a dry heat with high temperatures between 105 and 110 during the summer, purslane laughs in your face and thrives here in Phoenix, Arizona. Add some incredible, edible ornamental purslane to your garden this summer! A salsa with purslane recipe is included in the article.
Maintenance of HouseplantsProperly watering, fertilizing, and making sure your houseplants have enough light is just part of the equation to healthy plants. You also have to maintain them.
Hypertufa, the Look of Carved StoneDo you like the looks of carved stone planters? Then hypertufa is for you. Here is my recipe and instructions on how to make your own unique trough, bowl, or box.
Hardy Easy SedumSedum are extremely easy to grow. They prefer well drained soil and full sun, but will tolerate a variety of conditions. No special soil treatment is necessary when you plant sedum, although it’s a good idea to add a little compost.
Big Daddy Drac!Dracuncula Vulgaris - Not as stinky as you think! So you have heard and read about these stinky plants, but have you ever grown one? Try it, they will become the talk of your garden!
