Growing Potential

Plants are such an important aspect of garden retail, but when visiting garden centres, all too often one is faced with the same old supermarket car park planting schemes. A few Euonymus and Photinia dotted around, a mass of Symphoricarpos or Stephanandra and the odd flowering cherry isn’t going to leap out at the customer and encourage them to buy plants.

Garden Centres need to maximise the potential of their landscaping to increase sales. Car park and front of house planting should entice customers by providing tantalising examples of the plants customers will find on sale in the planteria. Planting schemes also have the added benefit of demonstrating how plants can be used in design, whilst making subtle suggestions as to specific combinations. Naturally the customer will also be able to see mature or established examples and if plants are labelled the selling potential is increased.

At Haskins Ferndown Garden Centre in Dorset, front of house plantings have led to increased sales of a wide variety of plants, examples include Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’, Eryngium planum, Lavandula angustifolia and Nandina domestica to mention but a few. The bright red berries of Nandina domestica added colour and interest all winter long. Linking these planting schemes to range plans inevitably encourages sales and helps to improve the entire customer experience from the moment they enter the premises.

As we’re on a plant based theme I think it is only right to mention a plant that I feel should be known better. With the summer season already upon us, sales of Pelargonium account for a huge proportion of seasonal bedding sales. Pelargonium papilionaceum (or butterfly Pelargonium) is an excellent tender perennial for summer bedding or if planted in a sheltered spot it will usually re-sprout from the roots in spring. The huge architectural and aromatic leaves, coupled with the delicately marked, light pink flowers make it a very garden worthy plant (see image below, source: http://gardenbreizh.org/photos/karlostachys/photo-184442.html).

Pelagonium papilionaceum

I love plants, they never fail to amaze me every moment of every day. The last few weeks have been no exception. As the remnants of the winter losses continue to die back and are either pruned to remove the dead material or, more begrudgingly, dug out and disposed of, there have been a few surprising survivors.

Before I go any further I should probably mention that I garden in Dorset, not far from the coast, on delectably gorgeous, fine, rich and free-draining silty loam with a pH of 6.5 (marvelous isn’t it, not that I mean to rub it in of course!).

The garden is still very much in a state of ambitious development, the pond, acid garden and the new succulent house were brought up to scratch last year, including the new cold frame yard for the geophyte collection (I never use the term completed because when is a garden ever completed!?). This year should see further development of the dry garden with associated rocky outcrop, restoration of the fernery and construction of the hardy Agave bed. Not to mention new compost heaps and the beginnings of the new kitchen garden, etc, etc, etc.

I know that The Garden (RHS Journal) were asking readers to write in and tell of any unusual plants (particularly trees and shrubs) that had done particularly well, despite the harsh winters we have experienced in recent years. 

I feel compelled to mention a few fine specimens that I am particularly proud of. This includes Cinnamomum camphora, the Camphor tree. This broad, glossy-leaved tree is highly aromatic and a significant source of essential oil. The orange-green bark and general architectural nature of this tropical South-East Asian species never fails to impress. Supposedly very tender and tolerant of nothing below 10 degrees Celsius, this specimen has come through the last three winters completely unscathed! 

Sticking with the architectural theme, the huge Pseudopanax arboreus (five-fingers or Whauwhaupaku) that holds pride of place in the New Zealand border is again a real survivor. Generally classed as relatively tender, this individual has again stood up to the extreme cold with no trouble what-so-ever. I have seen other, hybrid Pseudopanax available for sale just lately, but surely this species, with so many merits (it does very well in a dry, shady spot you know) deserves better recognition?

Lastly, I have been experimenting with various methods of winter protection. Suffice to say I have been able to over winter extremely tender Sparrmannia africana (African Hemp) outside this winter. It just goes to show what survivors plants can be given the right conditions. I will never get tired of this game!    

The horticulture world has been firmly gripped by change of late. I’m not talking about economic strife, inclement weather, job losses and other undesirable occurrences. I refer to the conclusions of APG III (2009) and the subsequent far-reaching changes to the botanical family tree that have ensued.

No doubt most of you would have come to hear about APG III at some point over the last year or so? A great deal of nomenclature has synonymously changed, although the biggest alterations have of course been at family level. In a bid to keep up to date with the current status of nomenclature for well-known garden plants I have trawled the internet looking for concise information regarding the extent of taxonomical re-developments. Alas these endeavors have proved relatively fruitless. There does not seem to be any concise information available relating to taxonomic changes, particularly generic changes (x Cupressocyparis becoming x Cuprocyparis is one example).

It was only when I happened to mention this to fellow horticulturists and colleagues that I came to realise I was not alone. It seems that the industry as a whole has been poorly informed and if this is the case for the professionals, then where does the general public stand?

Working in an advisory capacity I am frequently reminded of the fact that the British gardening public, including keen amateurs are fairly oblivious to the changes that occur within botanical taxonomic nomenclature. I can’t help but wonder what could be done to alleviate the situation? Answers on a postcard please…  

Finally, as a reminder that spring is on the way, I have attached an image of Lachenalia bulbifera, which is looking absolutely superb at the moment. It is always the first to flower for me, while other species are only beginning to show bud. Enjoy!   

I read with disappointment the article pertaining to claims that the new government unemployment plan will undermine the sector (HW, 26th November 2010). Some things never change!

Then again this is a perennial problem that really no amount of government lobbying will abate. The origins of the stigma attached to gardening as a profession are firmly rooted in the past. Historically most career gardeners were part of the serving class and ranked fairly far down the line at that (bothy accommodation says it all!)! Even though times have changed significantly the status and impetus of gardening as a career has barely caught up at all. This of course is also reflected in the average pay packet of a professional horticulturist.

I completely agree with Kate Lowe that the industry is far too modest and should be doing more to raise the status of horticulture as the fantastic, rewarding and immensely satisfying career that it so rightly is. With the current economic climate concerns may well of course be focused elsewhere (staying in business for one thing). We should not just be lobbying the government but reaching out further to the general public if we seek to shake off past injustice!

I would also like to pose one question: If Britain is a nation of gardeners then why is professional gardening regarded with such low-esteem? Your thoughts please…   

Like many people who choose a career in horticulture my decision stemmed from exposure to the wonderful world of plants at an early age. Several factors played a part in my encouragement and enlightenment; family, media, flower shows, visiting gardens, etc, etc. 

Many horticultural organisations seek to encourage children to get into gardening. I recently made a presentation to a year three school group relating to plants and food on behalf of my employer. We then set about potting up Pelargoniums. I was amazed and delighted by their enthusiasm, I was also pleasantly surprised by the mature, correct and at times profound answers I received to some of the questions I posed.

Working on the allotment with daddy or helping grandma in the garden had certainly paid off for these keen beans. There enthusiasm is inherited, reaching the children from their parents, grandparents, etc. As opposed to channeling all our energy into promoting horticulture to children should we not be making more of an effort to engage families as a whole?

When I was their age I had a great easy-read book on gardening for children. It was full of illustrations, practical ideas and interesting anecdotes about plants, particularly fruit, vegetables and herbs. Thinking about it now still fills me with inspiration. I haven’t got it anymore – I passed it on to another budding young gardener a few years ago. Exposure to TV at this early age also played it’s part, the legend that is the late Geoff Hamilton will forever be remember with true affection and gratitude. 

Another significant pip of inspiration came from a kids show back in the mid to late eighties. The only problem is I haven’t a clue what it was called! In the show a portly, green but kindly troll like gentlemen planted a plethora of seeds in all shapes, sizes, colours, textures and forms each week to see what would grow, whilst ably assisted by a keen young lady. The research was spot on because the seeds, albeit elaborate at times, were pretty much true to nature. One visit to the Millennium Seed Bank will prove to anyone what an incredible array of seeds there are to be found out there. Some of the plants were a little bit like Jack and the Beanstalk but the enthusiasm was there! 

Anyone have any ideas on the show, they really ought to make more like this one? 

Despite telling you all that I would be posting over three consecutive nights, I decided it would be best to spread out the instalments over a couple of weeks in order to give you more time to absorb and appreciate each one. Chelsea might be over for another year, but why not enjoy the exhibits just a little longer… Artificial grass has never looked so appealing. 

The Plantaholic’s Urban Kitchen Garden, designed by Tony Smith in collaboration with artificial grass firm Easigrass who sponsored the exhibit, has a calm, private and above all else a tranquil feel. Escaping from the baking sun into the cool, dark grotto with lush ferns and a curtain of dripping water was the greatest refreshment of the day. It almost felt like one was trespassing on private property as I followed Tony through a concealed door behind the exhibit into the mouth of the grotto. 

This incredible piece of engineering was creating using timber stud work clad with ply to create a frame. But that was the easy bit. Bending thin ply over the frame to develop an even and symmetrical shallow curve was no mean feat!Still, this challenge was ably met by Tony and the resulting organic-looking curve has both softness and lucidity. 420 precisely placed drippers along the curve provide constant movement as water drips down into a channel to be collected and re-circulated. Supplied by irrigation specialist Waterwell Ltd, each dripper was painstakingly installed to create a curtain of water. The stark contrast between light and dark is really accentuated as the sun beats down on the candy pink tulips and other bedding plants in front of the grotto, while a lush, mouth-watering display of delectable ferns revel in the dark, dank confines of the grotto. Supplied by Fernatix, the ferns look quite at home in the cool space and are complimented by the Easigrass artificial grass that lines the interior, resembling damp moss in a woodland cave. The seat at the back of the grotto lifts up like a huge gapping mouth in order to provide access to the interior of the grotto.

To the right of the seat is the kitchen which can be observed from outside via the floor to ceiling window at the far end. The stark contrast between inside and out is even more apparent as bright sunlight floods in through the window to touch the gleaming black cupboards and counters. A hedonistic mix of orchids and poetry fill the room as one begins to lose a slight sense of reality. It really does feel like steeping into a private kitchen in an upmarket London borough.

Although one does not expect to be greeted by orchids, let alone a poetry recital and the result is more than just a little transporting. Designed for a terraced house, this is the kind of private space that is not often viewed at a flower show. The whole garden is someone’s private space, only accessible by going through the house. As Tony describes; “Maybe an eccentric celebrity chef, who doesn’t use the house for cooking, but rather eats at work and goes back to their out of town pad at weekends”. The perfect nightly retreat after a hard day’s work! 

With a flower show as monumental as Chelsea it is often difficult to choose between exhibits. They are all amazing in their own special way. After a painstaking process of elimination I have managed to whittle it down to three particular exhibits that I would like to present to you over the next three nights. Each one is different, but they all share common ground with relation to their message – biodiversity, sustainability, education, inspiration, innovation and many other key factors.

Part one focuses on: 21st Century Hedges by Sparsholt College Hampshire, designed by lecturer Chris Bird (a Chelsea veteran) from an idea by fellow lecturer Carol Sales and built by students from the National Certificate and Diploma in Horticulture year 2. The exhibit has been built in conjunction with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Plant Heritage Group.

Forget leylandii, these hedges have far more appeal. They also have a story to tell. Above all, each of the plants represented on the stand (located in the continuous learning section, curated by Andrew Fisher Tomlin) has a specific use. These uses include urban greening, biodiversity enhancement, wildlife corridors, natural remedies and uses, social and economic benefit and much more.

Plants featured in the exhibit include Lavandula angustifolia, Salix alba, Hippophae rhamnoides, Laurus nobilis, Taxus baccata and Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry). The first five will no doubt be familiar to most, but the Aronia really caught my attention. This exceptionally useful and ornamental plant, with white flowers in spring, followed by black fruit and excellent autumn colour is highly prized in it’s native North America for a myriad of uses. Wine, jam, juice and soft spreads are produced from the berries that are high in antioxidants and vitamin C.

All of the plants featured are tough and adapted to survive various extremes of climate. As Chris pointed out, “It is important to revisit familiar plant groups and consider the wealth of the genus, such as certain types of Bamboo, most of which are largely misunderstood.”

In addition to the hedging plants, the understorey planting is also inspiring. It is no accident that most of these are shade lovers. The greatest assemblage of Lamium one is ever likely to see in one place is displayed in full glory. This special collection is linked to trials and research carried out by the Chicago Botanic Garden. Most of the plants have been supplied by MacGregor’s Plants for Shade, who hold a staggering collection of Epimedium, amongst other delights.        

The exhibit was awarded a very well deserved Silver-Gilt (Lindley) medal and attracted the attention of many celebrities including Chelsea Flower Show BBC presenter Christine Walkden (pictured with Chris Bird, Stephen Hill, Dexter Schwaerzler and Carl Weston).  

Despite running the risk of sounding frightfully aged (youth today!) and seeing as we now have a new government in place, who will hopefully be supportive of the horticulture industry and mindful of the issues within society at large, I would like to draw your attention to a fundamental problem. The big push to promote horticulture in schools and to get kids growing and eating vegetables is brilliant and more than a little overdue in the grand scheme of things! However, has anyone stopped to gaze at the bigger picture? There is one word that rings true…respect!

I was disappointed to see a group of youths trampling a commercial shrub bed the other day, such a wanton act of destruction that I wondered whether it gave them a kick of some kind? In the past I have been involved in replacing vandalised trees (whilst working in landscape contracting), the culprits of which were well known to the local community. A lot of work is being done with primary and middle school children, but what about secondary learners and older teenagers? Will the new coalition seek to address the roots of this matter?

Continuing with my film theme (and I’m not some massive film buff in case you’re wondering), see if you can cast your mind back to Christmas 2002 and the middle installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy ‘The Two Towers’. Forget the grandiose, CGI battle scenes or the ring wraiths on wings, what really stuck in the mind was Captain Faramir of Gondor’s comments regarding gardeners.

Samwise Gamgee introduces himself to Faramir as Frodo’s gardener, but it isn’t until they part company in the ruins of Osgiliath during the final scenes of the film that Faramir turns to Sam and says; “The shire must truly be a great realm master Gamgee, where gardener’s are held in high honour”.

To this day I still think that if only this were Britain. The term gardener has always had a stigma attached to it. But why do we persist with this old and outdated stereotype. Horticulture is a combination of science, art, mathematics, investigation, design and innovation. Gardener’s possess knowledge and understanding to rival any physicist. So why do we often get brushed aside as little more than low level labourers?

The reflection of this in the average pay packet of any horticulturist is just one of the many fundamental problems. As Jerry Gould comments; ‘We can only improve esteem by paying a living wage’.   

James Cameron’s intergalactic extravaganza ‘Avatar’ has now set a course for our DVD collection but the memory of the out-of-this-world big screen alien adventure is sure to last for years to come. Pandora, a distant planet, light years away from Earth may not have been so entirely alien to us after all.

The lush tropical jungle of Pandora contained a plethora of lifeforms, each intrinsically linked, just as all lifeforms on Earth are or rather should be linked in symbiotic harmony. Looking closely at the plants throughout the extraterrestrial ecosystem one realises that the inspiration for the magnificent flora comes from slightly closer to home.

It was easy to spot South African Agapanthus, cycads, Anthurium, ferns, Philodendron and even seaweed lusciously stitched together in a rich tapestry.

Last week I was cleaning seed of Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed). Each seed had a long silky-tailed pappus attached, which clustered together as they were detached from the seed. It was a breezy day so I stepped out of the shed and released them all in a flurry. I was instantly transported back to the moment the ‘seeds of the great tree’ gathered around Jake Sully, as a hundred or more silky entities wafted up into the air, bobbing and swirling as they went.

We don’t need to fantasize about some far off alien world, the wonder is all around us!