Friday, July 17, 2009

Alexander rose teak patio furniture






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Flower - 2618124658_eb1bf23257.jpg



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flowers - 6__34_.jpg



Beautiful Cambodian Hibiscus - wallpaper 1600x1200px. Cambodia is a tropical paradise for flowers, fruits and vegetables and of course a truly trop ical climate. Hot all year long.
Nature scenery in Cambodia is specially beautiful during or early after rainy season when all nature is lush growing and blossoming.
In album Kingdom of Cambodia Pictures

Robert Nyman
Like, flowers

Like, flowers


Another yellow flower

Another yellow flower


This week we interviewed the candidates from the hermit shortlist - there were two! We invited them to Tatton to see how at home they would be living in a cave, with a skull to contemplate and very little else. They were so good, we have decided to let them do half a day each on press day.

The-Crew446x251.jpg On the garden itself, the work goes on apace. We have now stabilised the rock walls and have started planting. We are using three tree ferns, so hopefully the weather will be kind and not destroy them by 'the day of judgement' - all will be revealed.

We also managed this week to smuggle in our gnome to the site ('banned' under RHS rules). However, he did have his reflective jacket and safety boots on. He continues to remain elusive due to not having a 'gnome pass'. Look out for him when you visit the show as he is apt to hide amongst the vegetation until close of play on the Sunday of the show.

The guy across the way has offered a replacement for the gnome and the hermit and has a full size dragon he says he can lend me. Quite honestly, I think he is just trying to palm his mother in law off on us for the duration of the show - I'll keep you posted!


In Friday's programme Joe Swift and Simon Thornton-Wood from the RHS will talk about their peat policy for future shows and some of the growers will be voicing their concerns. If you're concerned about the use of peat and have a question you'd like to ask, post it here.

disa.jpgLovely Dave Parkinson, grower of the even lovelier Disa orchids, is a grower that's worried about the issue. The dainty, brightly coloured Disa orchids that Dave breeds and grows at home in Goole, E Yorkshire, originate from South Africa, where they grow on the slopes of Table Mountain. They thrive in very specific conditions, wet, acid, low nutrient, peaty bogs and Dave has worked hard to get his growing medium just right. This is where the problem arises, Dave has found that his ideal mix is a combination of 60% peat and 40% perlite and, try as he might, nothing else works as well, or is as close to the orchids' natural environment.

The RHS policy on the use of peat is clear, it fully supports the government target of a 90% peat reduction in all growing media by 2010. This policy extends to all its gardens and it encourages all exhibitors at RHS shows to follow suit.

Exhibiting at flower shows is crucial to Dave's business. Shows are where he showcases his Disas (he has won 7 RHS gold medals), and where his customers can place orders. He is worried about how the RHS 'no peat' rule will affect him - will the exhibitors be policed and possibly excluded for using peat?

Is there a case for limited, responsible use of peat in horticulture ?

There are vast world reserves of peat and the industry does seem to be taking notice of environmental concerns. Canada has 25% of the world's peat supply, they only harvest a tiny fraction of their reserves and would have you believe they are responsible environmentalists.

You can read more about their policy for peat use here: http://www.peatmoss.com/concern.php

The Canadians also claim to be finding ways to speed up the regeneration process after peat harvesting, but it's very hard to know who to believe when so many 'experts' have vested interests.

In this country it seems that gardeners have taken notice of warnings about the unsustainability of peat harvesting and the government target of a 40% reduction in peat usage by 2005, was met. However Defra have admitted that the next target of 90% replacement of peat by 2010 is too ambitious. Practically, that means that 84% of growing media used should be non-peat. This will not be achieved, but it's moving in the right direction, so gardeners and growers are to be congratulated.

It's a pity that golfers in desert countries can't be persuaded to take up beach volley ball or boules instead - that would save a few million tons of Baltic peat. Apparently peat is also used in feminine hygiene products - not quite sure how, but ladies, do your duty - ask for 'peat free' in future.


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