Growing gardens today – winners’ blogs
06 June
Sally Wilding Webb
Today we were working under a tarpaulin which we'd put over half of our garden, as it's been raining hard here - very heavy rain fell last night and throughout the day - a really stark change in the weather from last week's mini heatwave we all enjoyed. All the plants coped with the heavy, prolonged downpours, but the ground under our garden is quite waterlogged. The forecast is predicting further rain tomorrow (Sunday). Heavy rain notwithstanding, we've just about finished and we're looking forward to the show opening next week.
01 June
Sheila Dearing
GETTING STARTED
Things are hotting up-and I do not just mean the weather. On the way up to the Midlands today we went via Tiverton to see a client, then on to Ragman’s Lane farm in the Forest of Dean to collect the mushroom logs and then onto Warwick to check on the plants:- which are all looking good!
We are now gearing up to start the build tomorrow (Tuesday) – and it looks as though the weather will hold up. I will be happier when the first post is in – lurking lumps of concrete permitting – and the garden will then start to become a reality.
27 May
Sheila Dearing
The remains of the painting is being done this weekend by my nephew, so hopefully there will just be a bit of touching up to do on site. However, the list of things that I am being told are better left until we are on site is growing by the day! So, I have decided to start a day earlier than planned, and as long as there are no real disasters such as flood and tempest, I should do it comfortably.
The mushroom logs are about to be shocked into fruiting on time by the folks at Ragman’s Lane Farm who assure me that if they are going to fruit they will be doing so by the show – there is still that element of doubt when dealing with living organisms-contingency plans are in place!
The remains of the rope will be arriving from the Traditional Rope Company on Wednesday and the decking has been ordered.
27 May 2009
Sally Wilding Webb
Wagons roll!
We set off in a convoy of three vehicles on Sunday - two of our company vehicles, our 4 x 4 towing a very large trailer, our Smart car, and our motorhome and headed north on the M5 for the NEC and the start of our Gardeners' World Live experience. We set up camp at a campsite near to the NEC. On Monday we dropped off the materials we'd taken up with us and had a good look round the site. Yesterday we levelled the area designated for our garden, including removing very large lumps of concrete and old car park tarmac which was buried beneath the slope. Plenty of progress made today with the arbour and gabions in place. It's very windy here and the site is quite exposed. It's been good to meet the others building their gardens and there is already a good deal of camaraderie amongst those of us on site.
26 May 2009
Sheila Dearing
The remains of the painting is being done this weekend by my nephew, so hopefully there will just be a bit of touching up to do on site. However, the list of things that I am being told are better left until we are on site is growing by the day! So, I have decided to start a day earlier than planned, and as long as there are no real disasters such as flood and tempest, I should do it comfortably.
The mushroom logs are about to be shocked into fruiting on time by the folks at Ragman’s Lane Farm who assure me that if they are going to fruit they will be doing so by the show – there is still that element of doubt when dealing with living organisms-contingency plans are in place!
The remains of the rope will be arriving from the Traditional Rope Company on Wednesday and the decking has been ordered.
23 May 2009
TwentyEightDesigns
Visited Chelsea Flower Show yesterday and saw some really great gardens, one of our favourites were The Daily Telegraph garden by Ulf Nordfjell, love those Swedes. This year we paid close attention to all the veg gardens obviously! There seemed to be a lot more veg this year which was nice to see. Let’s hope our veg will look as good on the day! We are sure it will!
Everything seems to be in place now ready to head up next week, can't believe its come around so quickly. Grow veg grow!
20 May 2009
Sheila Dearing
What a weekend!
I have to say that this weekend has been very productive. I have spent much of it painting the timber along with my workforce. On the way, I called in to the NEC to have a look at the site and to measure the slope – not as bad as I had feared and I am glad to say that I had estimated it almost spot on from the photographs.
In addition to all that, I managed a visit to Jan who is growing the plants. Some need a boost, so I am praying for some sunny weather. However, she has some alternatives in case of emergencies and most of them are behaving.
On the way back home I also called in on Martin who has made my glass inserts for the wire meshing – couldn’t be better!
I am back to work tomorrow for a rest!
14 May 2009
Sally Wilding Webb
Took a day off to go to the Malvern Show, where I met some of the team from NS&I and Andy Tudbury, one of last year’s winners. As ever, it’s good to put names to faces. Learned some very interesting things about lumps of concrete and old car park tarmac.
Back in the greenhouse, previous Dawn Patrols have been successful in dealing with most of the slug problem, although there are still a few renegade outposts, which will need the Patrol’s attention soon. The Wisteria is looking really good now, but unfortunately it will be over by the show. Vegetables and plants are growing in a variety of pots and containers, all of which, of course, need to be watered daily. What I need now is for some rain to refill all my water butts.
While writing this, as if by magic, it’s started raining and the butts will be filling :-)
12 May 2009
TwentyEightDesigns
Last week we took a drive up to the NEC, just to have a look at the site and especially the slope, so definitely a digger job just to get the terracing and trenches for the footings in, but Michael the landscaper seems happy with everything.
Today we went over to see the team at Barters in Wiltshire, the nursery who are kindly growing all our veg for us. They are doing a great job and the veg is coming along nicely! Just 30 days to go!!
12 May 2009
Sheila Dearing
GETTING ON
Things are going quite well at the moment – the ropes have come – they have been soaked in the bath for two days and then dried. The ropes that are to be used for training the beans have been sent on to Jan – she will train the plants up the ropes – the next problem will be how to transport them without damage!
I am currently making plans to go ‘up country’ next week to give me time to see the site and to plan how to overcome any problems. The machined wood will be ready and I can hopefully get the painting workforce organised while I am there. The idea is to have as much preparatory work done as possible before the show so that the garden becomes almost a flat pack!
8 May 2009
Sally Wilding-Webb
Sunday a.m. – Dawn Patrol
Cries of ‘let me at ‘em’ were coming from the ranks. Slug Patrol was under way. Pots were turned, trays lifted and enemy munchers dropped into collection pot. ‘Ha! You’re not turning my leaves into doileys,’ said I, anxious not to see any more of my cabbage leaves reduced to lace. The waiting quartet, Henny Penny, Saucepan, Moonface and Silky (Buff Orpington, Cuvee Maran and two Blue Maran hens), eagerly awaited their breakfast snack. Offending slugs were gobbled up. Slug Patrol was over. ‘Til tomorrow.
My greenhouse is full, overflowing onto the surrounding area, any spare space in the garden covered with pots of plants growing on. My garden, now part plant nursery, part builder’s merchant, looks abundant following regular overnight rain. Three weeks to go before we leave here for the campsite. To build our first ever show garden. Will the plants be ready?
1 May 2009
Sally Wilding-Webb
Everything in the garden
Qualifying in garden design in 1994, having at that time a good deal of horticultural experience behind me both professionally and privately, I believe that the roots of good garden design are in horticulture. My design is a mix of flowers, herbs and vegetables as well as the necessary hard landscaping to pull the whole design together. There is a rainwater harvesting system underneath the path, a pond to attract wildlife and slug predators, and a lavender hedge lining the path to attract the bees which will then go on to pollinate the fruit trees and vegetables.
An arbour, which I’ve commissioned an ironworks’ specialist to build for me, will be covered in scented climbing plants as well as climbing runner beans and sweet peas. The runner beans will be varieties selected to be attractive in their own right. From the seat under the arbour, it will be possible to pick strawberries and tomatoes whilst enjoying the scents and sounds in the garden. The garden has symmetry but is softened by generous planting. I’m currently growing the vegetables in my greenhouse from seed and will be growing on the various flowers and herbs, which I hope will reach a good size by June.
1 May 2009
Sheila Dearing
Forest to Fork
Well, what a frantic few weeks since being informed that I had won the competition – which came as a complete surprise! The organisation really took off when I went to visit friends and relatives in the midlands on a pre-arranged trip.
On the way up we stopped off at Lodge Farm Nurseries to chat with Jan about growing the plants for my garden. She has lots of experience in producing plants for shows, and she is very patient; having to assure me that it ‘will be alright on the night’ as it were.
Once in Leicestershire, I took the opportunity to see a man with a mini-digger (my nephew), a man with joinery expertise (my brother) and various nephews etc who might be able to pick up a paint brush and use it! We had a very productive hour around my brother’s dining table discussing the niceties of decking and angle iron!
Since getting back to Devon I have had my aluminium corner pieces made for the raised bed (completely recyclable –of course!), commissioned a glass artist to make my coloured glass inserts for the wire mesh panel plant supports and seen a man about some rope! The last major organisational feat will be to juggle my work, my husband’s work, booking accommodation and getting it all built!
1 May 2009
TwentyEightDesigns
Urban Veg
'Urban Veg' more like a 'Baptism of Fire', this is our first ever show garden to be built but we are really enjoying the challenge.
Things are starting to come together nicely. We have a great landscaper onboard to bring this design to life and friends and family are always offering their services even if some of their skills are a bit limited! But most importantly the veg is growing, hopefully quick enough for the show!
We are both really looking forward to June and the hectic journey up to the show. Can’t wait!
