For your interest we have an archive newsletter section.
Please note that any special offers and prices mentioned may not now be current.

Last month I was grumbling about the rain, this month it is the snow – we gardeners are never happy! At least the cold snap will help the soil structure and the level of pests and diseases. However, when it is so cold it is important to remember the wild life in our gardens and any fish in garden ponds.

Wild Birds

Make sure the bird feeders are kept well stocked and that there is fresh water available. If you are getting fed up with the accumulation of black discarded husks beneath your sunflower bird feeder we now have available ‘sunflower hearts’, these being sunflower seeds with the husks removed. Inevitably these are more expensive at £2.49 per Kg as against £1.69 for the whole seed but one is buying only the edible part. Watching all the different species of birds around the feeding station is a constant source of pleasure. I was amazed and amused to see a Robin land on my bird bath just after I had filled it with hot water – the water was sending up clouds of steam but the Robin sat on the edge taking beak after beak of warm water!

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Garden Ponds

The layer of ice on garden ponds must have a hole made in it every day in order to let any toxic gasses out and oxygen in. The hole must be made without putting any pressure on the ice otherwise you may stun the fish. If not too thick a hole may be made by just pouring boiling water on one concentrated area, but if too thick a hot poker can be used if you have a solid fuel fire, or a blow torch can be used to heat a metal rod. However you make the hole it is always gratifying to see the fish circling around just below the hole soon after you have completed the task. You could invest in a heater if you are having difficulty in keeping an air hole open.

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Greenhouse Heaters

On the subject of heaters, if you are thinking of putting a heater in your greenhouse to aid early sowings of seeds or to protect tender plants, we have an electrically operated thermostatically controlled EWT 2kw heater for only £19.99. These have proved very popular in the last few weeks!

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Bulbs and Seed Potatoes

Despite the weather the seed potatoes came in on time and are looking very good. As usual we are selling them loose, so you can choose a single potato or a sack full! We have nine main crop varieties, eight second earlies and twelve first earlies including Belle de Fontenay, an interesting old French variety with exceptional cooking qualities. If you want to try this one do come early as they are selling well and we are concerned that we shall not be able to get any more in.

If you want to know all the varieties of seed we have in stock you will find these all listed here, together with a planting guide for seed potatoes.

Apart from the loose potatoes we also have loose gladioli and lilies. As the gladioli were so popular last year we have got thirteen different varieties available this year. Both the large lily varieties which grow to 120cm (48ins) or the dwarf which grow to about 45cm (17ins) are exceptionally good value at 99p, considering the size of the bulb .

We are also please to be able to offer Martagou Lilies (Turk’s Cap) at £2.99 for the traditional purple or £3.49 for the white.

In the houseplant area they are trying to cheer us up with some bowls of early spring bulbs. Of course, outside now are appearing the aptly named snowdrops. These dainty flowers never fail to raise the spirit whatever the weather may be doing.

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New Hanging Basket Liners

Looking ahead a little we have a new product which will we are sure, prove very popular. This being preformed dry moss liners for hanging baskets. These can be put into the basket and when watered will slowly turn into a one inch deep luxurious bed of green moss. They are very quick and easy to use in comparison with loose moss, and you will get a £1.00 voucher to redeem again Miracle Grow Plant food. They range from £2.99 for a 12inch liner to £6.49 for a 14inch liner and basket.

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Local Cards

For some time we have had a reputation for an excellent range of cards and we are pleased to say we have taken in another range from a different local artist. With cards from local artists and pictures in the restaurant area we hope we are doing ‘our bit’ to support local talent!

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Winter Colour

When the snow does cover the ground the colourful berries and flowers seem to be more intense in their colour against the clear white of the snow. Outstanding in this way are the Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) with their spidery scented flowers - Purple Seedling (purple), Diane (orange red), Brevipetala (deep yellow), Arnold Promise (yellow), Feuerzauber (deep orange red), Orange Beauty (rich yellow), Ruby Glow (copper red) and Jelena (orange). Gone are the days when one rarely saw anything but the yellow Hamamelis mollis.

Also outstanding are the red berries on some of the Skimmia, for example japonica reevsiana and rubella, and the yellowish berries on Rosea Select are very attractive. The large berries on Aucuba japonica Rozannie are now turning from green to red. None of the above have been stripped of their berries by the blackbirds, but as soon as the first snow came down the bright red berries on the bare wood of Ilex verticillata disappeared at a rapid rate into our resident blackbirds, despite there being plenty of food out!

At this time of the year the other plant which becomes outstanding is the structural Corylus avelana Contorta with its wonderful contorted pale brown stems. Soon when the catkins appear it is a joy to behold especially when covered with frost and seen is the milky winter sun.

If you were unable to plant out all the bulbs you wished in the autumn due to the very wet conditions now is the time to purchase a few potted bulbs to give that instant splash of colour very soon. There are plenty available:- dwarf iris, muscari, six varieties of dwarf narcissus including Jack Snipe and Jetfire, dwarf tulips including the yellow and white Tarda, crocus, snowdrops and bluebells. These can be useful for any ornamental pots you have empty in the garden.

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The Laafs

One new product which went onto display last week were ‘The Laafs’ from de Efteling. The Laafs are figures from the popular attraction The Laafs in the world’s most beautiful and oldest amusement park, de Efteling in the Netherlands. Each Laaf is produced in a limited, numbered edition. All Laafs come with an original Laaf token and a passport or an numbered certificate. There are eight of these garden or household ornaments named Loeky, Lofty, Loof, Ludo, Limo, Ludwig, Leep and Latijn but if you are smitten by them and think you would like to collect the set beware as they are about £40 each!

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Paving Sale/New Paving Displays

One final point – we are about to change our suppliers for paving so all the existing stock will be cleared in a sale. The new stock is now being displayed in the show area around the sheds and summer houses and there are many new attractive designs available at very good prices. If you are thinking of putting a new path or patio down do come and have a look – we are sure you will be impressed!

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