Archive | May, 2010

Eco Charlie gardens grow greener

31. May 2010

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The chemical gardening season is currently in full flow and I have noticed how every other ad on the TV promotes a range of horrendous potions which are supposed to keep your garden looking good. Surely gardening is about being connected to the earth and nature? Scattering a cocktail of chemicals around the garden seems […]

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Buy olive trees in UK

29. May 2010

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Buy olive trees in UK

Olive trees are now a common site in UK gardens, even olive groves can be seen if you travel around the south of the country. Probably the first commercial olive growers in England are Sarah and Stephen Nunn. Their olive grove in Sussex is flourishing and from half an acre last year they produced 200 […]

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Tropical garden wins gold at Chelsea

28. May 2010

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The first ever full size tropical garden to be built at the  Chelsea Flower Show was awarded a gold medal this year. James Wong, best known as the BBC TV presenter of Grow Your Own Drugs, built this incredible Malaysian garden to inspire UK gardeners to step outside their comfort zone. Growing tropical plants in […]

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Rare orchid gets police protection

27. May 2010

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/science_and_environment/10164012.stm

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Chelsea inspiration

26. May 2010

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My quote of the week from Chelsea: “Like the month of May in the course of the year, the garden is meant to be the place where, somehow, the realities, which are too cold or too hot, too busy or not busy enough, too greedy or too slothful, are all suspended and you can float […]

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Chelsea tweets reveal all

24. May 2010

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Reading the BBC and RHS tweets during Chelsea is a great way to catch up on what is happening behind the scenes – apparently Jamie Oliver loves the new RHS iPhone app – bet this canny chap will have his own app very soon. http://www.rhs.org.uk/iphone The word tonight is Best in Show is a surprise  […]

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Chelsea highlights climate change story

24. May 2010

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Designing a garden at Chelsea isn’t just about beautiful plants.  Its about telling a story, painting a picture that appeals to all our senses . With the medals awarded tomorrow morning, I wonder if Stephen Hawkins Garden caught the judges attention with its evolutionary story. The inspiration for this garden is taken from MND sufferer […]

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Exotic plants lovin the heat

24. May 2010

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Exotic plants lovin the heat

The very hot weather over the past few days is great for exotic plants growing in UK gardens.Temperatures are expected to reach an impressive 30c in London today – equivalent to 86F. http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/HOME/ I have a wonderful flowering exotic plant in my garden at the moment that looks completely bizarre – like something out of […]

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Indigenous people bring Rainforest to Chelsea

23. May 2010

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Good to see that Chelsea 2010 delivers on environmental messages as well as horticultural trends. For the first time ever, an indigenous people are creating a garden at Chelsea .The Green & Black’s Rainforest Garden tells the story of how their lives are being devastated by the destruction of the rainforest, their homes destroyed and […]

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UK slips into summer

22. May 2010

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UK slips into summer

This was the scene in Gordon Square next to where I work at the University of London at 8.30am  yesterday morning. London looks absolutely stunning at the moment with the beautiful trees displaying their newly acquired green attire and the many parks and squares full of May blossom. Not to be beaten by the summer […]

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