On a visit to RHS Wisely last summer we walked through their lovely gardens and left with many ideas for new plants. Annual poppies, like the one above, seem to be a staple of UK cottage gardens and are on our list of things to add to our coastal garden this coming year.
Much to our surprise we saw rows of conventional chemical insecticides, weed killers, and slug killers with names like 'Plant Rescue', 'Ultimate Bug Killer' and 'Resolva' suggesting purification or cure instead of toxic contamination. We were disappointed to see that many of the products contained chemicals which are no longer allowed for sale in Vancouver.
One sign read: 'Slugs and Snails? Don’t let them ruin your hard work. We have a selection of products to keep slugs and snails at bay.' These contained methaldehyde, nematodes or ferric phosphate. Buyer beware though - one of the slug-control products labelled 'New' and 'Eco' was still methaldehyde at a reduced concentration but would still be highly toxic to pets and children.
One positive trend we saw was an abundance of organic fertilizers for almost every type of plant from roses to rhubarb. We did not note any conventional, non-organic fertilizers nor lawn food.
For more info on Wisely Gardens click here: http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Wisley/About-Wisley
At the entrance to the garden there was a magnificent evergreen Itea ilicifolia with its fabulous shiny foliage and unusual long, drooping catkins which no doubt accounts for its RHS Award of Garden Merit. It is on our wish list for the coming year
There was a wonderful display showcasing ways to grow vegetables, berries and herbs on a patio or deck.
Growing vertically was an emphasis- tomatoes, squash, pole beans, cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes, and blueberries (2 different types in one pot to maximize pollination and fruit production) were grown in pots, compostable containers and in purchased bags of fertilized growing medium. ~ Winter is a great time to begin planning for new additions and changes to our gardens. ~ Jane Sherrott, MG, Vancouver Chapter
