For your interest we have
an archive newsletter section.
Please note that any special offers and prices mentioned may not
now be current.
 Apple
Day 15th and 16th October 2005
 Everyone
here at the Garden Centre is hoping for good weather for the Apple
Day weekend. Last year the sun shone down on our first weekend of
hosting this event, and as it was such a success we are planning
the event again, with more attractions.
Firstly our three ‘Apple Experts’, Dr Barrie and Sarah
Juniper and Alan Watson will be bringing a selection of British
Apples for visitors to taste. When deciding what to do early this
year they were planning to have over 60 varieties to view and taste,
but as anyone with apple trees will know, it is not a good year
for apples with some trees bearing virtually no fruit or very little.
We will still have plenty of varieties both eaters and cookers.
There will be a large stand with good British apples and pears
to buy plus related goodies such as chutneys and jams. As we are
keen to promote good British food we shall have a Gloucestershire
cheese maker with Double and Single Gloucester cheese, a local farmer
with meat and a local bee keeper with honey and other ‘bee’
products. Apple Day would not be Apple Day without apple juices,
ciders and meads so ‘The Drunken Monk’ will be providing
these again, and we will also have an apple press to demonstrate
how you can use your own surplus fruit to make home produced juice
or cider.
During the day there will be a series of talks and demonstration.
Ali Templeton will be with us again giving cookery demonstrations
at 11.30 and 2.30 on both days, and members of HDRA will not only
be manning a stand to display work on the Heritage Seed Library
but also giving talks as well. We will also have talks on bulbs,
flower arranging demonstrations and there will be hanging basket
and pot planting demonstrations.
For the children – and adults – there will be a falconry
display with wonderful birds to view and some to handle.
For those wanting to have a bite to eat whilst with us we have
arranged for extra caterers to come to provide excellent soups and
other home made goodies, then there will be breakfasts and lunches
served in our restaurant.
All in all a good day out for the keen or budding gardener and
with no entrance charge what could be better!
New
2005-2006 Catalogue
 Our
new catalogue has now appeared from the printers this year in corporate
colours of green and cream. In order to fit in the forty new items
we have increased the length by four pages, two of which are used
for extra illustrations. So, what is new?
Firstly, four exciting new hedging lines, Berberis
Golden Rocket, Cotoneaster
Lucidus, Etna Laurel
(Prunus laurocerasus Etna), sometimes known as English Laurel and
Pendulina Rose (Rosa pendulina,
or rosa alpine). The inspiration for including the new rose came
from a plant hunting holiday in Slovinia earlier this year when
we came across this gem of a small rose growing high up in the mountains.
A local plantsman with us explained that you could always be sure
it was pendulina as you can pull your hand over the rose and as
there are no thorns you will not get injured! High up in the mountains
it only reached about 1ft (30cm) but lower down it can reach 3ft
(90cm).
We have introduced a new elm which has considerable resistance
to Dutch Elm disease, Ulmus
Sapporo Autumn Gold. This is a fast growing tree, which tolerates
exposed positions, and has good autumn colouring.
A new mixed hedge we are offering this year is ‘Edible
Hedging’. There has been considerable interest in planting
fruit trees and soft fruit in gardens and on allotments recently,
so with this in mind we have put together a collection of hedging
plants which all bear some edible element, and which can be planted
as a garden hedge or as an edging for an allotment area. The fruits
can either be harvested or left on giving a valuable source of food
for wildlife.
Another really attractive shrub which bears an edible crop is
in the ornamental
shrubs section, that being the Japanese
Quince Cido. Anyone who has gone to the trouble of making jelly
from fruit from their ornamental quince will really appreciate this
new variety! It has the traditional orange-red flowers in spring,
but is followed by very large, tasty quinces which make delicious
jelly. We have also added the popular Mexican
Orange Blossom (Choisya ternata), its Golden Form Choisya
ternata Sundance and the Strawberry
Tree (Arbutua Unedo), so that people are able to buy these plants
in much smaller pots than normally available thus paying a more
economical price.
There are seven new varieties in the Ornamental
Tree section including Liquidambar
for those with a large garden or the variety Rudolf
Crab Apple for those with less space. These young ornamental
trees prove more popular every year as customers have found how
quickly they develop and, therefore, what good value they are.
The Ground
Cover section has been extended to include some perennials,
including a good selection of bare
root bearded iris and four varieties of hemerocallis.
Also listed is Mount
Vernon Laurel, which, with its dark shiny leaves, makes a perfect
ground cover especially under birch as the contrast is so dramatic.
In the Climbers section there are five new items, two of which
we would not have recommended for outside planting a few years ago,
but now with our warmer winters both the Blue
Potato Vine (Solanum crispum Glasnevin) and Star
Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) have survived very happily
here on the nursery for several years.
Ornamental
grasses seemed to be on the decline in popularity recently,
but gardeners seem once again to realise how useful they can be
in so many situations, so we have increased the range with three
beautiful tall varieties and two low growing ones. In the Fruit
section we are really happy to be able to offer the fascinating
apple variety Bardsey.
This first hit the headlines on the BBC news back in 2000 when they
reported that a visitor to the remote Welsh holy island Bardsey
discovered the apple growing on a tree against an old building.
It is believed to date back to the 13th Century when it was grown
by the monks who lived on the island and it has been said to be
on only one of its variety in the world. Experts at the Brogdale
Agricultural Trust have examined the apple and named it ‘Bardsey’.
The monks were obviously wise fruit growers as it is completely
disease-resistant, self fertile, bearing sweet dessert apples which
can be eaten between September and November.
If you would like a copy of the New Catalogue do just give us
a ring or pop into the shop and pick one up from the Customer Information
point, or download it online,
order a free copy online,
or visit our online shop where
you will find the all the descriptions and in some cases illustrations
as well.
Autumn Planting Bulbs
 ‘Salome’
is Daffodil of the year. It has a delicate pink trumpet which stands
out against the pure white petals. This is a later flowering daffodil
so will prolong your spring displays. These are available in a net
of 25 bulbs for £2.99 or any 4 nets for £10.00. Green
is the new Black! ‘Spring Green’ Tulip is bulb of the
year. The white flowers with fresh green stripes start to appear
in May and as this variety will grow up to 50cm tall it will add
height to any bedding displays in your garden. They are available
in a pack of 8 for £2.49, a carry pack of 25 bulbs for £3.99,
or you can buy any 4 carry packs of bulbs for £15.
We have a range of species Narcissi which come in a range of colours.
Many are multi-headed like the golden yellow ‘Jumble’
and ‘Minnow’ and some are heavily fragrant like the
ivory and peach ‘Bell Song’ and the pure white ‘Silver
Chimes’. Species Narcissi are much smaller in habit than their
daffodil cousins which makes them perfect for patio pots or in alpine
gardens.
If you want to bring spring in to your home this winter, then
why not try planting some daffodils in pots? ‘Paper White’
is an all time classic that will not fail to disappoint you with
is multi-headed, fragrant white flowers or ‘Hugh Town’
again a very fragrant multi-headed daffodil that has an orange cup
against golden yellow petals. Loose Paper White bulbs are 60p each
or 5 for £2.50.
Other offers in the bulb department are Loose Crocus bulbs 10
for £1.50 or 30 for £2.99. Loose Hyacinth bulbs 50p
each, any 5 for £1.99.
Time
to potter…. At The Potting Bench
 If
you are looking for some autumn planting inspiration over the next
few weeks then look no further than our new display area aptly named
The Potting Bench. The basic concept of this area is all about giving
you the ideas, the plants and know-how on how to create your own
wonderful planters, hanging baskets and pots, crammed with colourful
plants.
So, if you fall into any of the following categories then do please
come along and let us help you. Our container and basket planting
service is now available. We can...
- Re-vamp your tired looking displays with bright, colourful
seasonal plants.
- Offer a while-u-wait planting service, courtesy of our trained
gardening team.
- Give you practical advice and inspiration to help make your
containers look gorgeous whatever the season as well as ideas
on colour themes.
- You can choose from our wide range of ready to go containers
and baskets.
- You can also choose from our massive selection of containers,
baskets and plants and we will pot them up for you.
- Or why not just use us for inspiration and have a go yourself?
- Pubs, hotels and commercial premises: do please ask about our
bulk planting service
Ten
Jobs for October
HALF-HARDY fuchsias are best given a rest period
over the winter, allowing them to dry out slightly and drop their
leaves, rather then forcing them into active growth with lots of
heat, water and feed. Just keep them alive with gentle heat in the
glasshouse, or in a cool room, and they will reward you with strong
growth next spring.
FLOWERS Now is a good time to plant new herbaceous
perennials, as the soil is still warm, but moister than it was during
the summer. Check any bulbs being forced in darkness. If they show
signs of top-growth and have a healthy root system when knocked
out of the bowl, bring them into a cool, light room to induce flowering.
FRUIT Lift and divide old crowns of rhubarb.
Pick grapes when ripe, as well as nuts (hazelnuts, cobnuts and filberts)
when the husks begin to yellow. Put up sticky greasebands on fruit
trees to protect them from female winter moths. Tree stakes will
also need banding if they provide a route up into the branches.
VEG PLOT October is a good time for digging over
vacant areas of the vegetable plot, as the approaching cold weather
will help to improve the soil structure by breaking it down into
crumbly particles. After digging, any vacant ground should be covered
with new planting or with black polythene, to prevent re-colonisation
by weeds.
Remember garden hygiene at this time of year - regular clearance
of fallen leaves and debris will do much to prevent the spread of
disease and the overwintering of pests, so reducing problems the
following year.
BEDDING Plant wallflowers, forget-me-nots, winter-flowering
pansies and other spring bedding plants in prepared ground. Keep
them well watered if no rain is forecast.
HERBS Lift and divide sections of selected herbs.
Once potted, they can be brought into the kitchen to provide easy
supplies over the winter. Basil will not survive outside during
the winter, so bring it into the greenhouse, or to a heated conservatory,
to protect it from the cold.
HARDY PLANTS Reduce the height of roses to prevent
wind-rock. These plants are generally shallow rooted and can become
loose in the soil if buffeted by strong winds. Bare-rooted plants
usually become available next month, so you could think ahead and
prepare the ground for them now. They are a cheap way to buy plants
in large numbers - a new hedge for example.
LAWNS Rake fallen leaves off lawns before they
block out light and moisture to the grass. On large lawns a leaf-blower
will make the task much easier. This is the last chance to mow recently
sown grass areas, to neaten them up before the winter. Don’t
cut lower than 2.5cm (1in). Topping with the mower will also prevent
any weeds from getting out of hand.
GENERAL TASKS Consider building a post and chicken
wire leaf pen for autumn leaves. They turn into leafmould, very
useful as a soil improver or as an ingredient in potting and seed
composts. Clean water butts by emptying them and spraying out with
a jet nozzle on the hose. They will then be ready to catch the extra
water expected at this time of the year.
POND PLANTS Give winter protection to Gunnera
by cutting off old leaves and placing them over the crown of the
plants. Use gloves when handling Gunnera foliage as it is covered
in vicious spines. Protect Zantedeschia (arum lily) by covering
in a layer of straw or bracken.
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