Events Past
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- Written by: Anne McCord
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Amelanchier canadensis April flowers in Anne's garden
Barry Gayton
Trees and Shrubs
A talk by Barry Gayton. HPS 10 November 2018
Mr Gayton’s talk concentrated on trees suitable for small gardens. Numerous slides were shown of examples including Acers, Malus, Sorbus, Cornus, Euonymus and others with recommendations made for specific varieties. I noted audience members busy writing down the names of their favourites but there were several that I was not familiar with but nevertheless looked interesting.
Sorbus scalaris is a spreading tree to 10m tall with leaves downy beneath which turn to orange, red and purple in the autumn. The small white flowers appear in spring and are followed by rounded red fruits.
Aesculus x mutabilis Induta is a small tree or large shrub and is a variety of Horse Chestnut known as Buckeye. It has palmate leaves and many yellow-flushed pink flowers born in panicles with good autumn colour.
Robinia hispida Casque Rouge forms a small tree with delicate Wisteria-like foliage. Fragrant, drooping clusters of, pea-shaped flowers appear in late spring and early summer and are followed by dark red-brown seed pods in the late summer. This variety has large purple pink blooms rather than the rose-pink flowers of the species.
A favourite small tree of mine is Amelanchier canadensis which grows in my small back garden. It has white flowers in spring set off against coppery foliage, black berries which are quickly devoured by the blackbirds and glorious autumn colour. It can also be pruned successfully to keep it within bounds.
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- Written by: Barbara Back
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Pollinators in your garden
A talk by John Cullen. HPS 13 October 2018
John is part of a family based nursery in Lincolnshire specialising in plants for the pollinators, scented plants and edible plants since 2009.
Part of his training background was at Hampton Court and he was tutored by Juliet Sargeant. He learnt from her that every plant should have a purpose and so looks for a plant to look good, taste good and be pollinated. He has shown at Hampton Court, Chelsea and Tatton Park.
In his early gardening life he found that good plants were hard to source in London and so started growing his own. John Cullen plants are neonicotinoid-free.
Neonicotinoids are a class of neuro-active insecticides chemically similar to nicotine and are used by some growers as a wash/drenching insecticide. They are used on crops to control pests such as vine weevils and aphids but also kill bees. The insecticide is taken into a plant’s system and there is debate as to whether it remains in the plant system or is diluted over time. It may also be present in it’s seeds. If it is present in pollen and taken back to a hive, the hive will become sterile and collapse.
John's talk covered this reaction on pollinators; bees, butterflies and moths. There are around 250 species of bees in the UK; bumblebees, solitary bees and a single species of honeybee.
Some facts:
Bees
They select plants according to the length of their tongues. If their tongue is not long enough, they will pierce the flower.
They prefer single flowers (not doubles) as it is easier to collect pollen.
They are attracted to plants with scent.
They like herbs that flower.
Solitary bees are likely to pollinate tomatoes, cucumbers etc.
Solitary bees don't sting.
Bumblebees have a lot of predators like tits and badgers.
It's only lady honey bees that collect pollen.
After coming out of (sleepy) hibernation in spring, they tend to go for low plants like pulmonaria.
Butterflies
They taste with their feet - to see if the plant is good for laying eggs.
Ivy and nettles are preferred egg laying sites. Have some in your garden to discourage caterpillars on your favourites.
Butterflies in your garden show that you have a good eco-system.
Moths
Very important pollinators as they are attracted to night scented plants.
When considering plants for your garden think of a year round plant food source for pollinators like flowering shrubs - which often flower twice in a year. Planting in blocks gives a good display but helps pollinators feed easily.
To avoid insecticides encourage birds into your garden especially overwinter.
Did you know you can buy ladybirds? John averages 1000 over 3 acres released in spring.
Keep a corner for ivy and nettles away from your borders for hungry caterpillars.
You can always ask when you buy if the nursery uses neonicotinoids.
You may be aware of the yellow RHS sign on plants indicating that a plant is "bee" friendly. You may find this press release from RHS last year interesting. http://press.rhs.org.uk/RHS-Outreach/Press-releases/How-to-bee-friendly-this-summer!.aspx
- Garden Visit: Parham Hall, Woodbridge, Suffolk
- Garden Visit: Batteleys Cottage, Wortham, Suffolk
- Norfolk and Suffolk Group HPS Summer Social 2018
- Indoor Meeting: Talk by Mel Collins 'Beware of Gifts'
- Indoor Meeting: Talk by Richard Hobbs "Spring & Early Summer Bulbs & Plants"
- Indoor meeting: Talk by Joe Sharman on 'Variegation'
- Indoor Meeting: Talk by Jim Payne 'Celebrating Winter'
- Indoor Meeting: Talk by John Massey 'Autumn into Winter'
- Indoor Meeting: Talk by John Summerfield 'Pride in the Fall'
- Garden Visit: Peter Beales Nursery, Attleborough