Archive | April, 2013

EU to restrict neonicotinoid pesticides

29. April 2013

Comments Off on EU to restrict neonicotinoid pesticides

A vote in the EU has paved the way for the European Commission to restrict the use of pesticides linked to bee deaths in scientific studies.There is great concern across Europe about the collapse of bee populations. Neonicotinoid chemicals in pesticides are believed to harm bees and the European Commission says they should be restricted […]

Continue reading...

Blooming strange

29. April 2013

Comments Off on Blooming strange

The long winter and a very late start to spring has thrown many flowering timelines way off course. George Anderson from Gardening Scotland says ” Plants that depend on soil warmth are now appearing at the same time as those that flower according to day length. The result is producing some of the strangest flowering […]

Continue reading...

Kew Gardens adapts to changing climate

28. April 2013

Comments Off on Kew Gardens adapts to changing climate

Visited Kew Gardens today and everything  is starting to bloom and look spectacular even though many plants are flowering approximately 3 weeks late Seasons have a habit of catching-up, but  a normal year in our weather patterns is very unlikely now as they have  become so unpredictable. Kew Gardens is at the forefront of research […]

Continue reading...

Bees at crisis point

19. April 2013

Comments Off on Bees at crisis point

  Bee populations in Britain are at ‘crisis point’ as numbers are hit by the freezing and wet weather. Beekeepers across the country have reported a drop in colonies as a wet summer last year gave way to an extended winter. Flowers are not yet blooming and hives which survived the winter are weeks behind […]

Continue reading...

Why was March 2013 so cold?

18. April 2013

Comments Off on Why was March 2013 so cold?

It is really wonderful to feel  the warmth of the sun again even if it is now very windy. Magnolias, daffodils, tulips and other beautiful spring delights are sprouting all over the country bringing some much needed colour into our gardens after months of cold and grey days. UK gardeners are used to every type […]

Continue reading...

Gardening in a changing climate survey

15. April 2013

1 Comment

                      It is now three weeks since the RHS and the University of Reading  launched an online survey about gardening and climate change. They  are asking members of the public to share their view on climate change and its impact on their choices and plans […]

Continue reading...

National Gardening Week 15th to 21st April

13. April 2013

Comments Off on National Gardening Week 15th to 21st April

The weather has warmed up just in time for National Gardening Week from 15th to 21st April .The RHS  have given by giving away 10,000 packets of wildflower seeds – they want to get Britain sowing! The RHS and Mr Fothergill’s have donated 10,000 packets of annual wildflower seeds for people to sow acres of […]

Continue reading...

Chelsea Flower Show hit by cold snap

8. April 2013

Comments Off on Chelsea Flower Show hit by cold snap

Next month’s Chelsea Flower Show, which marks its 100th anniversary and as usual sold out months ago, is only  six weeks away. Hard to imagine that May is also just 22 days away when you look out the window and see the state of most gardens and the temperatures on the weather forecast every night. […]

Continue reading...

Cold weather affecting plants

2. April 2013

Comments Off on Cold weather affecting plants

This photo taken at Capel Manor Horticultural College shows very clearly how plants are being affected by the very cold weather in Spring 2013. This time last year the blossom was out and many shrubs and spring bulbs were in full bloom. The growing season is starting very much later this year and it will […]

Continue reading...

Coldest Easter but spring arrives next Sunday

1. April 2013

Comments Off on Coldest Easter but spring arrives next Sunday

The UK just experienced the coldest Easter Sunday for more than 50 years, with overnight temperatures dipping to below -12C in Scotland. The Met Office confirmed it had registered a temperature of -12.5 in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, in the Scottish Highlands. With modern records dating back to 1960, Sunday’s freezing weather beat the previous record of -9.8, set in 1986. […]

Continue reading...