There are a few ways to get free plants – collecting seed, taking cuttings,
digging up your neighbours’ beds in the middle of the night. But recently I
came across a simpler – and thankfully legal – method of increasing our
plant stock. I signed up on behalf of the nature garden to provide a home
for orphaned plants left behind after the Hampton Court Flower Show.
Facilitated by an organisation called Wayward, we were allowed to select a
maximum of 50 plants from the selection that might otherwise have gone
to the dump. It was a bit of a lucky dip as the plants weren’t labelled and
the person collecting on our behalf (thanks Jo G) claimed no horticultural
knowledge. But when the haul eventually arrived in Upton we found some
real gems. I used Picture This – the plant ID app – to identify what we’d
rescued. Specimens included false buck’s beard with splendid purple
spires, an attractive Japanese fern, a substantial juniper, and lots of
perennials including some useful evergreens.
Volunteering opportunity: Sunday August 11
You can see the new batch for yourself if you come to the working party on
Sunday August 11, from 10am. We’ll need help to site the plants according
to their preference for light and soil type, and to get them planted.
The plants we put in this spring are flourishing for the most part. The
eleagnus ebbingei in particular have put on a mass of berries and look very
well. Also the hebes, sedums and spirea. In spite of the wetter weather it
can be dry, especially near the large trees, so if you’re in the garden feel
free to fill the watering can at the butt and give some things a dousing.
The water point for birds and insects often needs a top-up too.
If you’d like to see a more detailed list of jobs, head to www.naturegarden.co.uk/get-involved. You can pitch in (and delight us all) by
knocking something off the list. No need to ask – the garden belongs to
everyone.
Recent joys in the garden have been delicious cherries on the tree Caroline
planted for Kit Maunsell, gorgeous gooseberries, a splendid great mullein in
the meadow, and a wonderfully disguised dragonfly. Long live nature!