I’m sorry! I didn’t warn you. I’ve been on holiday, but now I’m back to a very sunny and warm Worcestershire. And weeds…….. lots and lots of weeds! Here’s a pic – it’s not pretty
But the wildlife is happy….
And this photo of one of the sunflowers I grew from seed has not been edited at all, I promise. The sky really is that blue today!
And the damsons are ripening…..
The sun was shining again. I had done some washing, cleaned the kitchen floor, paid some bills so it was time for a short walk – nothing too strenuous, just a stroll. I went to Gheluvelt Park in Worcester. This is what a public park should be like. It has a superb playground which is always full of families, a bandstand surrounded by a pond with ducks, and a lovely walk down to the river. Moms with kids and dogs sat on brightly coloured blankets, young boys played tennis and the smell of freshly mown grass filled the air. Ah, summer is here at last.
I love farm shops and I love farmers markets. Here is a simple list of five markets regularly held across Worcestershire
1. Droitwich – Victoria Square on the 1st Saturday of each month 9am – 2pm
2. Bromsgrove – High Street on the second Saturday of each month 9am – 5pm
3. Malvern – Abbey Road on the 3rd Saturday of each month 9am – 2pm
4. St Peters Garden Centre – south of Worcester on the 4th Saturday of each month 9.30am – 2pm
5. Teme Valley Market – at the Talbot, Knightwick on the second Sunday of each month 11am – 1.30pm
Worcestershire Farmers Markets Group http://www.wfmg.co.uk/
Rain, rain, rain. At last the torrential down-pours have stopped. The grass is waist-high and weeds are everywhere. It has been interesting to see which plants have struggled or flourished in all the rain earlier this summer. My garden has very free-draining sandy soil so it has been unusual for my borders to be so damp in mid August. My collection of bamboo has loved it!
If you don’t select the right variety for your garden you could have trouble. Once established an aggressive variety can send up vigorous runners all over the place. Many varieties form very dense clumps and nothing else will thrive in its immediate shadow. But the right variety, placed thoughtfully can enhance your garden immeasurably. My black stemmed bamboo Phyllostachys nigra is looking gorgeous this year. It was originally in a pot but sulked so three years ago it was moved to disguise an ugly tree stump. This year it has shot up. Inspired, I have decided to invest in another bamboo and so made a trip to Pershore Plant Emporium
I have been meaning to visit this independent nursery for some time. Specialising in mature tree, bamboos and shrubs it was clear as soon as I started walking round, this is a business which really cares for their plants. I particularly love the way in which the plants are presented. It feels like a private garden, no wide open public paths. In particular, I was taken by the displays of statues and garden ornaments – metal horses, white vases and decorative windmills.
In the end I walked away with a bamboo called Phyllostachys vivax ‘Aureocaulis’ with thick, yellow canes are marked with random green stripes. This is a clumping bamboo which should not spread and which makes good screening or a striking specimen plant.
Pershore Plant Emporium is located on the A44 near Peopleton, WR10 2DY and is open 7 days a week. They also offer a garden consultation service to help with planting
Tel: 01905 841412 www.pershoreplantemporium.com
