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Cash plea over deadly plant virus
- 2nd July 2008 |
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A
fundraising appeal has been launched by the National
Trust for Scotland to safeguard rare plants from
disease. The charity hopes to raise £50,000 to back up
species which are currently under threat. |
| Deadly
plant diseases have already affected several of the
trust's 60-plus gardens and landscapes around Scotland. |
| Phytophthora
ramorum, also known as Sudden Oak Death, has been found
at trust gardens in Arduaine in Argyll and Inverewe, in
Ross-shire. |
| More
on this story - Source: BBC
Scotland |
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Smelly fungus found at Rosemoor
- 30th June 2008 |
| There
has been a strange discovery at RHS Garden Rosemoor. A
rare Clathrus archeri, more commonly known as
‘Octopus Stinkhorn’, fungus has been found by one of
the volunteers working deep in the shrubbery, and it is
not a pretty sight, or smell. |
| Clathrus
archeri (also called Anthurus archeri)
occurs only rarely in the warm southern counties of the
UK, and originates from Australia and New Zealand. It
starts off as a little 'egg' which later ruptures and
the enclosed four to six bright red arms spread outward
resembling a squid. It is related to the Stinkhorn
family and produces a foul carrion-like smell in the
form of a sticky slime in order to attract flies to the
red, flesh-like ‘tentacles’. The flies spread the
spores of the fungus thereby ensuring its survival. |
| More
on this story - Source: RHS |
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Bees seeking 'sugary' garden pest
- 27th June 2008 |
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A lack of
suitable flowers may be forcing bumblebees to seek out
aphids to feed on their sugary secretions. |
| The
Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BCT) said it was a
behaviour that appeared to be becoming increasingly
common. |
| Images
captured by the BBC Scotland news website in a garden in
Nairn, in the Highlands, show the bees visiting tree
leaves covered with aphids. |
| The
secretions offer a substitute for nectar, but do not
contain the protein the insects need to stay healthy. |
| More
on this story - Source: BBC |
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Contaminated farmyard manure causes abnormal growth |
| 18th June 2008 |
| Farmyard
manure contaminated with weedkiller residue is causing
abnormal growth of vegetable crops throughout the
country. |
| It
is believed that the manure has been inadvertently
contaminated with aminopyralid. This selective,
hormone-type herbicide is used on pastures to control
weeds. Manure from animals fed on treated pastures
contains chemical residues sufficient to damage
susceptible crops. |
| Gardeners
buying this manure to apply to vegetable crops and
gardens are coming across abnormal growth particularly
on tomatoes, potatoes and legumes, although ornamental
plants such as delphinium, phlox and roses may also be
susceptible. |
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More
on this story - Source: RHS |
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Gardeners warned after man's death
- 14th June 2008
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He inhaled fungal spores
from rotting plants
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Doctors issued the warning
following the death of a man who inhaled fungal spores
from rotting plant material.
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The victim, a previously
healthy 47-year-old welder from Buckinghamshire, was
admitted to hospital after a week of symptoms including
chest pain, shortness of breath, and a sputum-producing
cough.
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The man had a fever, and at
first was assumed to have developed pneumonia from a
bacterial infection. But a battery of antibiotics failed
to improve his condition, doctors reported in The Lancet
medical journal. Within 24 hours he became so short of
breath, despite being given oxygen, that he had to be
transferred to intensive care.
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More
on this story - Source: Which
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Lily is a blooming big surprise
- 12th June 2008 |
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A giant 9ft
(2.75m) lily has delighted gardeners at a Devon stately
home by blooming four years earlier than expected. |
| The
giant Himalayan lily normally takes about seven years to
flower after the bulb is planted. |
| But
the specimen at the National Trust's Saltram House has
bloomed after just three. |
| "We
are very pleased with its growth," said Penny
Hammond, Saltram's head gardener. |
| Source:
BBC
News |
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Invasive plants make waterways green around the
gills
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| 29th May 2008 |
| As
the Government launches the first co-ordinated plan to
reduce the threats from non-native species*, The
Wildlife Trusts are encouraging everyone to join their
campaign to prevent particularly unwelcome water
features wreaking havoc on England’s ponds and river
systems and getting ‘all choked up’. |
| Gardeners
can help by not buying these plants, and by ridding
ponds of them by composting, burying, or drying and
burning them. New Zealand pygmy weed and floating
pennywort can grow between 20-30cm in a single day,
creating thick mats of vegetation. |
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2008:
The best RHS Chelsea Flower Show ever!
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| 21st May 2008 |
| The
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has pronounced the
2008 RHS Chelsea Flower Show to be the best one ever!
Sixteen of the 43 gardens at this year’s show and 41
floral exhibitors in the Great Pavilion, have been
awarded coveted RHS Gold Awards at the world’s best
flower show. |
| Robert
Sweet, organiser of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, said:
“Chelsea stands for the highest level of horticultural
excellence, and this year is no exception with the
number of gold medals awarded for gardens increasing by
30% above any previous year. The show gardens have gone
the extra mile to set the backdrop for some of the most
exciting trees and plants ever seen at the show. Within
the Great Pavilion, trees are tickling the ceiling and
the floral exuberance is better than we have ever seen
before.” |
| “The
RHS Chelsea Flower Show continues to surprise, and
annually it brings new plants and innovative designs
from world class designers. Exhibitors have given
special attention this year to environmental
responsibility by designing in features including water
harvesting, recycling and using plants which are carbon
dioxide guzzlers.” |
| ‘The
Laurent-Perrier Garden’, designed by Tom Stuart-Smith
received the Best Show Garden award at the 2008 show. Robert
Sweet said: “The judges were particularly impressed
with the unique cloud clipped hornbeams, and the
subtlety of pastel green shades used by experienced
designer, Tom Stuart-Smith. The garden provides a
tranquil setting complete with infinity water
features.” |
| The
award for Best Courtyard Garden was presented to Dorset
Cereals Ltd, for ‘Dorset Cereals Edible Playground’.
Robert Sweet said: “First time exhibitors Dorset
Cereals, have provided a perfect setting for an edible
garden which includes exciting elements for children.
The perfectly executed, environmentally friendly garden
includes a wide range of grow your own fruit and
vegetables, enabling children to understand where their
food comes from.” Encouraging children into gardening
is key to the RHS, which launched its Campaign for
School Gardening in September 2007. The Campaign has
since attracted more than 4,000 primary schools. |
| Adam
Frost’s ‘A Welcome Sight’ was announced as Best
Urban Garden. Robert Sweet said: “Adam has taken
special care to choose appropriate, all year round
planting and an achievable structure for his front
garden. His attention to detail in this eco-friendly
garden really impressed the judges.” |
| The
President’s Award is given to an outstanding exhibit
in the Great Pavilion, and is personally chosen by the
RHS President. This year’s winner was the Alpine
Garden Society. |
| Mr
Peter Buckley, President of the RHS, said: “Chelsea
Flower Show celebrates the efforts of not just seasoned
professionals, but also highly accomplished amateurs.
The Alpine Garden Society has assembled an exemplary
display within the Great Pavilion.” |
| A
new award at the show this year is The President’s
Most Creative Award, which was presented to Kirstenbosch
Botanic Garden from Cape Town, South Africa, for their
climate change display depicting indigenous South
African plants dealing with the various stages of
drought and heat tolerance. |
| Peter
Buckley said: “The RHS is very keen to help gardeners
to adapt to the impacts of climate change.” |
| The
annual assessment of trade stands within the show
resulted in a total of 106 awards being made, including
seven trophy winners. The judges specifically look for
stands which have been designed and built to extremely
high standards, including an appropriate element of
planting. |
| The
trophy winning trade stand exhibitors were Alitex, David
Goode, Fletcher & Myburgh Designs, Flights of
Fantasy, Hartley Botanic, JC Climbing Frames, and Oak
Leaf Gates. |
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Monty
Don Steps Down After Suffering A Stroke -
21st May 2008 |
| The
BBC have revealed today that celebrity gardener, Monty
Don, has stepped down from his role as presenter of
Gardeners World due to a series of recent strokes. The
BBC released a statement today saying: “Monty Don has
decided to stand down as the main presenter of
Gardener’s World. |
| “Monty
has presented the series for the past five years but has
been off our screens for the past six weeks as a result
of a minor stroke." Although he is making a good
recovery he feels unable to commit to regular filming
for a while.” |
| It
added that Don would be “sorely missed by viewers and
the production team”. |
| In
a statement, Don said: “I am proud to have led
Gardener’s World for the past five years and have
enjoyed every minute of sharing my passion with the
programmes viewers. “I intend to take some gardening
leave for the rest of the summer to make a full recovery
and so that I am ready to tackle new projects.” |
| Link:
Monty
Don |
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