New Young Plants

Ali has been checking the cuttings daily to see whether roots can be seen growing through the base of their pots, see blog entry 'Cuttings 2012' 11th September .

A number of pots now have roots growing out of the holes and are therefore ready to be potted up individually. Simon and Kieron spent a few hours this morning carefully prising the cuttings apart and potting them up, the first of our new young plants for the 2013 display.

Egg Shaped Fleece

 

The dead turf in the Goldfish Bowl had been stripped earlier in the week so Joss spent the day working on the area to create a beautiful lawn. First he added top soil to the area and levelled it to make a flat surface. A light dressing of autumn/winter fertiliser was then scattered across the area followed by the grass seed. An egg shaped blanket of fleece is now covering the newly seeded area helping to keep it warm, as the grass emerges the fleece will be removed.

Six Old Beds

When old beds no longer provide a comfortable nights sleep, what other possible use could they have? New compost bays is the answer. Ady and Kieron recycled the six beds that had been removed from an accommodation block and used them to replace the broken wooden sides, a perfect solution, sides that allow the air to flow through.

The Winter Display Planting Begins

Summer 2012
 

Having cleared the oak pots of their summer display on Monday, today they were planted up with the winter display plants. Many of the plants used, Holly, Phormium, Willow and Fatsia were removed from displays around the college at the end of May and heeled in to the new nursery bed where they were stored until now. Wallflowers and Pansies, grown from seed, were also added to the new display.
 

Winter 2012/13

Freshers 2012

 

Today was Freshers Day at college, the arrival of the new first year students. Every year the garden team welcome them as they arrive, many in fully loaded cars and assist in transporting their bags to their accommodation. Graham, Joss and Kieron were on the tractors, Ali, Callum and Ady on car park duty guiding the cars in and Simon welcomed the students as they arrived. The photographs show the team in action.

 

Turf Stripping

With the grass now dead, see blog entry 'Dead Grass In The Goldfish Bowl' 20th September 2012, Joss and Callum have started to remove it. Using turfing irons, tools designed specifically for the cutting and lifting of turf, and shaped to reduce user fatigue and strain, they gradually work their way across the dead turf.

Back To The Greenhouse

 

Provost's Yard 23rd May 2012



 

Provost's Yard 1st October 2012

Just over four months ago the plants that would create this summers display in the Provost's Yard were brought out from their winter home, the large greenhouse, and placed in the oak pots. The first photograph shows the pots as they were being planted, the second, the display in all its glory.
The dark leaved banana plant was so small it couldn't be seen in the first photograph, but believe me it is there. The Albizia tree also put on a huge amount of growth during the summer to give a wonderful display.
With the summer at an end, and the cold mornings fast approaching, the plants have had to be removed from the oak pots and returned to their winter home, the large greenhouse, where they will wait till May 2013 to create another wonderful display.