Normality Resumes In The Nursery

Summer 2014

In September 2014 the gardener's nursery area was leased out for 2 years to the contractors who would be working on the reconstruction of the former Ruskin College (Exeter College) building. Once the cold frames had been demolished and the nursery area cleared, Portakabins were moved on to the area, see blog entry 6th October 2014 'From Nursery To Portakabins', and temporary wooden cold frames built on the nursery beds. 

 October 2014 Demolition Site (Nursery)

Portakabins In Place For The Next 2 Years

 

Temporary Cold Frames On The Nursery Beds

Two and a half years later, (yes it was supposed to be only two years!), the gardening team have their nursery, cold frames and nursery beds back.  

11th January 2017, The Portakabins Have Gone

As the reconstruction project drew to a close in January the Portakabins were removed and another reconstruction project began in the nursery area.

23rd March 2017, The Old Cold Frame Bases

The nursery site was cleared once again exposing the bases where the cold frames once stood and the temporary frames were also removed from the nursery beds. Over the next few months discussions were held with the gardening team as to the required configuration of the new frames and nursery beds and, once agreed, the rebuild began.

23rd March 2017, The Temporary Cold Frames Are Removed

28th March 2017, Gone

31st March 2017, Reconstruction Of The New Cold Frames

By the end of March the rebuild was well under way, two new brick cold frames, two new nursery beds and a new lawn laid, all completed by the beginning of May.

9th May 2017, Finished And In Use

Within a few days of their completion the frames were full up with plants. Normality has resumed in the nursery, the plants are where they should be a this time of year, gently acclimatising them to the British summer temperatures before they are planted out in to the borders for this year's summer display.

Full

Filled With Plants

Filled Up With Plants, Lids On To Protect From Overnight Frost

9th May 2017, New Nursery Beds