The following is information and  my views on new introductions of plants, tools and  materials for the gardener, click on the headings to take you to the text, where there are small pictures click on these to see a enlarged version.

Topiary for the 21st Century

The art of clipping and training plants to form intricate patterns or forms is called topiary. This art was at its height in the Uk in the 17th century and has been in  declined. Yew and box where the two favourite plants of the topiary artist, though other shrubs such as bay, holly, common privet and Lonicera nitida could have been used. The topiary artist  would clip shapes such as balls, cones, pyramids, peacocks and bears.

 This shaping is done partly with shears or secateurs and partly by tying young shoots to a wire frame to the rough outline of the proposed shape. Topiary is seeing a revival in the year 2000, there is a wider range of plants being used by the topiary artist and the there is no limit to the shapes plants can be cut or trained to. To-day you can visit nurseries that sell topiary specimens in many shapes, sizes and types, most are grown in containers. The photo on the right is of a full size motor bike, while the photo on the left is of a full size open top car.  The driver of this left hand drive version is a permanent resident of Euro Plants UK Limited who stock a wide range of topiaries, specimen shrubs, conifers, climbers, hardy palms, phormiums, tree ferns, bamboos and a full range of interior plants. They can be contacted by E-mail europlants@compuserve.com . The picture below is a general view of part of their nursery in Hertfordshire, showing a range of topiaries.

back to top of page

New Patio and Basket Plants for the year 2000

 Every year new varieties of plants are introduced, this provides the basket, patio and container enthusiast with a new challenge. Plants will have to be obtained, some times new varieties can be difficult to find and may be in short supply. To be able to grow something  new and have a variety the others haven't found can be particularly satisfying. If it turns out to very a  successful plant then you could be the envy of your gardening friends as they will be after some cuttings.

 I always try to grow and obtain some new, different and unusual varieties for our University plant sales in May / June. Two relatively new varieties of Begonia semperflorens (fibrous rooted) are 'Cherry Feast' with yellow speckled leaves and strong pink flowers, 'Paint Pink Splash' has soft green foliage splashed with cream with pale pink flowers.

 Petunias are a must for any container or basket in a sunny situation, I shall be growing two new variegated Surfina petunias. 'Pink Ice' is a strong growing plant with appealing pink flowers and purple veins, set apart by its soft, variegated foliage. Surfina 'Two Tone' is a less vigorous type with blue vein flowers and yellow edged leaves. Another new Surfina this year is 'Sky Blue' its a more compact plant with flowers in shades of sky blue.

 Double Petunias are particularly striking, I shall be growing the relatively new variety 'Thumbelina Priscilla' again this year which is an excellent rich mauve colour, flowers are beautifully scented, the trailing habit is compact. Million Bell Petunias 'Terracotta' and 'Cherry' will also be available.

 Two new varieties of Ipomoea (one with gold and one with bronze foliage) will be available this year, both should be suited for mixed containers. Miniature Rose -Bud Phlox 'Mount Hampden' is a Thompson & Morgan exclusive variety new for this year which is suitable for bedding as well as containers that we shall be growing. Last year we hade  the new miniature Impatiens which we shall be growing again this year. 

 Sutera or Bacopa as it is more commonly referred to has become a very popular basket plant over the last 3 years of its availability, this year a yellow leafed variety 'Olympic Gold' is a new introduction. A new cascading  purple flowered pansy 'Purple Rain' will be grown this year, it is suitable for baskets or ground cover.

 Halorages 'Melton Bronze' is a new foliage basket or container plant, Lobelia 'Temptation' is a new trailing dark blue variety. We shall be growing a wide range of Verbenas again this year, 'Waterfall Blue' is a new fine leaved form and Verbena Tapien 'Salmon' is a new colour to this range.

 To see the full list of bedding plants the University of Cambridge is growing please visit our Summer Bedding plant list.

back to top of page

Hanging Baskets

a new design that is easy to plant

At the end of September 1999 I came across a new design in a hanging basket, the picture to the right shows its basic design. The basket is 14 inches in diameter and has 12 pre cut out sections through which  sizeable plants can be inserted. After inserting the plants plastic sections are connected in the holes, the basket toped up with compost and the top layer of plants can be set to complete the planting. The photo to the left shows the size of plants that could be used. 

 The baskets come in black or green, with a chain and I shall have some of these on sale at the University of Cambridge, Plant Sales in May 2000 & 2001 the price will be £5-00 per basket. 

 From my observations they will be much easer and quicker to plant than the conventional baskets. You will get a immediate effect, little damage to the inserted plants and they should establish quickly.

 The photo below taken in July 2000 and was planted in May .

back to top of page

Hydroculture

The easy way to grow house plants

 Plants in order to grow and thrive require light, air, warmth, water and nutrients. Hydroculture is growing plants without soil providing optimal water and nutrients for healthy, attractive plant growth.

 Hydroculture requires you to grow your plants plants in clay pebbles which are used to replace soil and use Lewatit HD 5 which is a slow release nutrient that will when used as directed provide a continuous supply of balanced plant food. The interaction between tap water (which needs to be regulated between a minimum and maximum level), Lewatit HD 5 and the plant grown in the right climatic conditions will produce healthy growth.

  You may find it difficult to locate a local supplier of hydroculture plants and materials, you will find information on the internet and you can convert small soil plants, grow cuttings of plants in a water solution or start plants off from seed on moist capillary mats. You will find hydroculture an interesting and hopefully rewarding experience. 

back to top of page

Interesting / new plants available at our summer 2001 plant sales

 For our plant sales in May / June 2001 we shall have some of the New Patio and Basket Plants we grew last year plus a number of new introductions and varieties new to us.

 A new strain of Geranium which has the habit of an ivy leaf type (but more compact) yet the flowers of a zonal has been introduced. Being a zonal ivy it produces a rounded plant which is suitable for basket, container or bedding. We are growing the variety Sarah which is a very bright pink with a darker eye colour, this variety is supported and was named after Sarah Lancashire. It is a high performing geranium and is sure to sell out,

 New strains or varieties of petunia are produced each year, Flowerfalls is a new strain, it is like the Surfinia but is more compact with strong clear flower colours, we are growing the Lilac Vein colour. The new Surfinia Lime has been chosen as the British Bedding Plant of the year 2001, it is going to receive plenty of coverage on TV, in magazines and at gardening shows. this variety will be available in a limited supply at our plant sales. This year two new Million Bells varieties will be on sale, Lemon is available along with a new soft pink trailing type.

 Jamesbrittenia is a new super container or basket plant, it is very much like a Bacopa or Sutera as they are now called. The leaf is small and serrated it has a full trailing habit with lots of strong indigo flowers.

 Abutilon Bella is a naturally compact variety in a mixture of pastel shade colours. It can be grown as a house or conservatory plant but most will find their way onto the patio. This plant has its own web site where you can gain information and look up a stockists at http://www.bella-beauty.co.uk  but rest assured we have a good supply of this plant. 

 Anagallis is a common blue flowered basket or tub plant but this year a more compact scarlet flowered variety has been introduced called Sunrise.

 Rhodochiton Purple Bells is a tender perennial basket or climber that has been around for a few years. It has masses of deep purple flowers surrounded by an attractive calyx. Not many nurseries supply this plant, as it is not the easiest plant to propagate, but this year we have a good supply.

 Alonsoa I came across last year and found it a very attractive and unusual plant, It has bright crimson flowers over a long period. Its dwarf habit goes well planted in a hanging basket with other trailing plants such as Lysimachia aurea.

 Gaura lindeimeri Siskiyou Pink is a tender herbaceous perennial with spikes of pink small butterfly shaped flowers against dark green / purple upright foliage. Suitable for use in the container, herbaceous border or flower bed it will bring colour for the summer period. This year we are also growing the less vigorous variegated variety with spikes of white flowers. 

 Growing tomatoes in hanging baskets is becoming more popular, Thompson and Morgan have introduced two new varieties this year, Balconi Red and Balconi Yellow. This delightful strain has been introduced as bearing clusters of delicious, small bright fruit hanging against strong compact dark green foliage. No side shooting is required with these varieties as they are naturally bushy producing a heavy crop of fruit.

back to top of page 

Plant Sales Summer 2002

 This is the start of our second season at our new nursery at Laundry Farm, which we are now getting  established. Pictures of our new nursery. The site is open, exposed and as most of the plants have been grown on this site,  you can be sure they will be hardy. We have a good range of shrubs and herbaceous perennials, If you are looking for Ceanothus we have 16 varieties priced between £3-25 and £4-50 each. 12 varieties of Hostas are available, most will be priced at £3-25 each, at the time of writing they are looking very good and healthy. We are growing a good range of Hemerocallis in a range of colours some are very new varieties, this year we also have several types of Agapanthus available.

 If you are looking for some unusual and interesting plants you may like to consider selecting some of the following for your garden, Cynara, Exochorda, Vinca Surrey Marble, Azara, Liriope, Itea, Sophora, Rhamnus, Sollya, Nandina, Commelina, Cimicfuga and Trachelospermum. This year I have tried to use descriptive or colour labels where possible and hope this will help you to select your plants. In future years we hope to obtain and propagate a wider selection of new,  interesting and unusual plants,

 You should find plants that interest you from our selection of bedding, basket, and patio plants, prices are about the same as last year. Petunia Tidal Wave is new this year, flowers in cherry, pink and silver entirely cover the  plant which is best suited to the large container, The Conchita petunias we are growing are new double flowered types for the hanging basket, Rhodanthemum African Eyes is a silver foliage plant it has cream flowers with dark brown centers it grows 10" high and is ideal for planting out, baskets or containers, it is new to us this year.

 We grew Alonsa for the first time last year, it was in flower on our plant sale days and it sold out very quick, This year I have a larger supply of plants, the secrete in keeping this plant growing is to remove dead flower heads. Last year our Cinderella stocks in separate colours sold very quick, the double highly perfumed flowers attracted everyone at our sales. You will be pleased to know that I have propagated many more plants this year and in addition to separate colours we have a mixed variety.

 If you are looking for climbing annuals this year many more types will be available, including The Lablab bean which is a wonderful fast growing plant with bicoloured flowers and dark purple seed pods. Ipomea Star of Yelta and Black Knight, Cobaea scandens and Mina Lobata  are all suitable for the trellis.

 New interesting bedding plants this year include Nicotiana Avalon and Lime, Zea Mays Quadricolor, Larkspur Gentian Blue, Tithonia Fiesta del Sol and a new annual Foxglove called Foxy. We are still growing the tomato Sungold which has a small sweet fruit but in addition we are growing a new variety called Sungella which tastes like Sungold but as a larger fruit.

back to top of page

Plant Sale Summer 2003

 If you have looked at the list of hardy plants we are growing ( this page does take a little bit of time to down load ) you can see that we are growing a wider selection of hardy plants than ever.

 New is Aquilegia F1 Origami, which has a long flowering period in a good colour range on strong compact plants. Our Ceanothus are looking really good this year as are the many species and types of Hostas and Hemerocallis we have available. We are also growing a wide selection of ferns which are suitable for those shady situations in the garden. Anemone Honorine Jobert is a white flowering herbaceous perennial plant that should be planted in every ones garden.

 We have several types of Evening Primrose and although they are not long lived plants they are very colourful for that sunny situation. If you want an interesting evergreen shrub that will grow in part shade try Ribes laurifolium, it can be grown as ground cover, or trained on a fence or wall, its lemon flowers on established plants in Feb / March are very striking.

 Sophora Sun King is a new variety with large golden yellow flowers in May, its best planted in a sheltered situation or grown in a pot, its an  interesting plant that well worth growing. Our Lupins are making good sized plants and the flower bubs are just starting to form and should be in flower for our first plant sale, the variety we grow is a dwarf (18") type with a good colour range including bicolours. Lysimachia atropurpurea is also coming into flower, its a superb border plant with silver green foliage and many spikes of claret red florets its sure to sell out.

 We have 7 varieties of Heuchera this year, 3 of the most outstanding ones include Amethyst Mist, Amber Waves and Ebony & Ivory. We are also growing a very impressive hardy Geranium called Silver Shadow it has amazing silver foliage with masses of bright pink flowers its sure to be very popular and we have grown a good supply. 

 Our range of bedding basket and patio plants this year includes some new as well as some old favorite varieties. We are growing several annual climbers this year but Thunbergia Blushing Susie is a new Thomson & Morgan introduction, it has red flowers with a dark eye its spectacular when used in containers but can also be planted in hanging baskets. We have a good supply of strong healthy plants, but there sure to sell out quickly. 

 New bedding plants we are growing this year include Antirrhinum Tequila Sunrise, its a specially formulated blend of Snapdragon with a unique  bronze foliage and cheerful colour range encompassing yellow, orange, red and pink. Petunia F1 Tidal Wave  is an outstanding shrub like plant that gets covered with flowers, it comes in 4 colours pink, cherry, purple and silver and one plant should cover 5 or 6 sq. feet, suitable for large containers or bedding.

 Nicotiana Perfume  Series is a new dwarf variety with a profusion of heavily scented flowers on vigorous plants in blue, lilac, lime, red and white. Larkspur Seven Dwarfs is a new dwarf Larkspur variety that grows up to 18" high that comes in shades of pink, mauve, rose, purple, grey, white and blue. Its ideal for adding character to containers, tubs, window boxes as well as used in bed and borders.

 Heliophila Mr Blue Sky  has delicate lightly scented sky blue flowers with a vivid white centre and bright yellow eye and is suitable for borders or containers. New for the hanging basket is Petunia Surfinia red, Calibrachoa Superbells (Petunia Million Bells) that have a good hadit, plenty of flower power and disease resistance. We have two Tomato varieties that are suitable for the hanging basket, Gartenperle which is a vigorous type with cherry size fruits and Balconi Red which has clusters of delicious small fruits on compact plants.