Plant Gardens 101

Rainwater Collection in modern urban areas is something that is still new and at its infancy in many respects but with many areas these days experiencing changing climates the installation of rainwater collection systems is now becoming more popular.

The biggest question for many home owners is how to go about implementing rainwater collection and what type of rainwater collection system to install. There are many types on the market but broadly speaking you can divide rainwater collection systems into above ground and below ground systems.

When making your choice there is much to consider. Below ground rainwater collection systems are obviously the most efficient at collecting as much rainwater as possible. The fact that the inlet to the tank is below ground level allows rainwater to be diverted easily by the use of gravity from all of the roof area, thus maximising the rainwater collection potential of your roof. Despite being very efficient, below ground rainwater collection systems can be expensive to install. Installation costs include excavating the site and lack of access to existing residences can make these systems prohibitive to many houses. (more…)

The Great Conservatory at Syon House is not far from the Orangery at Hampton Court Palace that I wrote about yesterday. So if you are visiting one it is worth travelling an extra few miles to visit the other.

Syon House belongs to the Duke of Northumberland and is his family’s London residence.

Set within 200 acres of parkland designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown from the 1750s to 1770s, there are 40 acres of formal gardens, an ornamental lake and a collection of 200 species of rare trees. It is registered as a Grade 1 landscape in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Importance in England. (more…)

The botanical name for peony.

Plumbago family
Plumbaginaceae
Ly-mo’ni-um. Sea Lavender ; Sea Pink . About 150 species, several widely grown for cutting and for dried flowers.

Description
Leaves mostly basal, often tufted. Flowers small, numerous, in open, loose panicles or in branching spikes, prevailingly lavender, rose-pink, or bluish, but sometimes yellow or white. Calyx tubular, often membranous or colored. Corolla of 5 nearly separate and often clawed petals.

How to Grow   (more…)

Why?
Organic gardening compost solves many problems. So much so that it’s tempting to wax philosophical on the merits of making compost. Compost isn’t just a gardening topic. It relates to conserving energy, reducing pollution, protecting the environment, feeding the hungry, reducing waste … and we could go on. See what I mean about philosophical?

Many times, maybe even most times, valuable organic gardening compost is made from household waste that would end up in a landfill. Now that’s a waste … burying valuable raw materials in expensive landfill space.

In many cases, there is little you as an individual can do to solve many of the social ills of our day. Making compost is a small step you can take to make a valuable product from waste. Now that’s a good deal!    (more…)