RHS Garden Harlow Carr

Low energy bulbs....

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:52:00 GMT

When I woke to the sound of lashing rain Monday morning, I heaved a huge sigh of relief – whilst the rest of the country were battening down the hatches for the watery onslaught, secretly we gardeners were celebrating! Why? Because sat waiting in one of our storage rooms are over 20,000 tulip bulbs just waiting to be planted! Whilst the ground conditions are such on the whale border, their intended location - the back breaking mud bath has been suspended!

So with the bulb extravaganza on hold, we have been mending leaky buildings, soggy leaf collecting and having a general tidy up. There are times, usually when wet through and cheesed off when you question your sanity of working outside for a living! However we are treated this time of the year occasionally, when the sun decides to make an appearance, to the most beautiful light - golden and rich, which highlights all the textures and skeletons in the garden, usually fleeting, in between showers, but definitely worth the wait. The Cotinus and Sea Buckthorn are looking particulary stunning at the moment.

Of preening pheasants and rascally rabbits....

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:13:00 GMT

This week we have had rabbits that only Beatrix Potter could be proud of! I have searched in vain for small blue coats on the shrubbery. Joking apart though, they have been decimating the borders with a vengeance: there we were merrily planting bulbs for next year’s display, when out one of them popped from behind the Beech hedge. Less than a foot from where we were working, up on his back legs not caring a jot for us and started to settle into a jolly old snack! Even much shooing from us only saw him retreat to the other side of the hedge before sneaking back when he thought we weren’t looking.

Sparkling Jewels

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:52:00 GMT

What a glorious week it has been for our ‘Taste of Autumn’ event over the half term holiday. It has been fantastic to see the garden so busy and enjoyed by all. Autumn colour is continuing to liven up and brighten up the garden sparkling on a dull misty day. Many events have taken place during this week including Apple festival, where our visitors have been able to sample and have tasting sessions, advice and admire the display supported by the Northern fruit group. Now our displays have changed again and we have many fabulous pumpkins. We have grown some ourselves in the productive area and Wisley have supplied many more to add to the event. They look stunning with whole variety of shapes, sizes, colours, textures and not to mention there funny quirky names which add a smile

to everyone’s face!

Flaming Pumpkins and Rubber Bats

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:29:00 GMT

It's ‘ooh', ‘aaah' time in the garden right now as the landscape is on fire for autumn. Sometimes autumn creeps in by stealth, not this year. Cold, crisp, clear nights and bang the garden is suddenly like a box of favourite fireworks. Every turned corner brings a new explosion of reds, yellows, golds and greens.

Funky Fruits and Brilliant Blooms

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:19:00 GMT

This time of year in so many ways is one of the most colourful times, mostly hot fiery shades from the clearest of yellows through to the deepest of purplish reds, and that’s just the autumn foliage.

This however can vary greatly from year to year depending very much upon the temperatures and the ground conditions, this year at the moment it has been very dry for the last few weeks and so some things are looking a little wilted and not reaching their full colour potential. But many of the reliable favourites are still doing there best. Many of the perennials at this time are also in the fiery colour spectrum, with probably the best of all being the Rudbeckias always very reliable putting on the most fantastic show for many weeks brightening the most dull of autumnal days and harmonising wonderfully with the autumn foliage.

Others however seem to stand out and clash with there vivid blues, purples and shocking pinks like a last blast of fireworks before the darkness of winter falls upon us.

New recruits and Ginger Lillies

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:32:00 GMT

Hi it’s Kath here, writing today’s blog, I shall start with our two new trainees: Nicola and Ryan who are coming to the end of their third week with us, they have had a whirlwind of lessons in how to use this and how to use that piece of kit and today they are to be tested on their first ‘plant identity list’. They have been busy learning some of our Herbaceous Perennials on the main borders. They are given a list 40 plants to find, learn and recognise and then they are tested on 25 of them. No pressure eh guys? Good luck to you!

A Taste of Autumn

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:45:00 GMT

I am sure we have had a real taster of autumn this week, and feel more of this is to come. It is particularly a good time of year although there has been a nip in the air and drop in temperature to add to the dew and damp mornings. This is however great for autumn colour. Already out in the garden we are experiencing the change as the leaves begin to turn and fall in particular the Prunus sargentii at the top of the winter garden. This is helped by the cold evenings and warm sunny days, as this enhances the rich autumn colours we will be able to admire and enjoy. Bright autumn days help enhance this colour change.

Our volunteers have been busy helping us in the winter garden clear the boat bed, named because of the shape as the mature trees in the centre of the bed act as funnels to the boat. They were hard at it with saws and loppers removing saplings and poor woody shrubs which had performed badly due to the lack of light. Underneath is a carpet of ivy which is ideal ground cover. We hope to plant Narcissus bulbs through this in the spring, the ivy will enhance this and be a great foil so bulbs will be able to shine and nod there heads gracefully.

Late Summer Fire, Embers Aglow!

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:58:00 GMT

Harlow Carr is basking in glorious late summer sun! The garden is looking beautiful and the colours of vibrant late perennials are mixed with the first soft hues of early autumn.

Blinked and missed it!

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:23:00 GMT

Woke up wondering if I had maybe missed summer this morning – the cool nip of autumn is very much upon us and we are busy collecting fallen leaves already from the trees off the paths in the garden. All the autumn fruit is looking delicious too…there are lots of blackberries in our boundary hedges, so I have been busy picking for my apple and bramble crumbles! All the crab apple trees too are laden and the gorgeous tints are glowing in the morning sunshine, I do love autumn, but it would have been nice to have had a summer first!

GIFT SHOP SUMMER SALE!

Harlow Carr Shop — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:55:00 GMT

The summer sale is under way in the shop at RHS Harlow Carr, with a range of items at half price!

Fine quality linenware in neutral colours, burgundy and cream, and pastel shades including greens and blues are a fantastic opportunity to update your table, kitchen or living room. Napkins, teatowels, aprons. oven mitts, placemats and cushions are amongst the items on offer. China mugs, trays and plates in a variety of designs complete the look.

Nasturtium Nostalgia

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:07:00 GMT

This week at Harlow Carr has been another busy one, the weather has been rather good, and with all children getting in free this month the garden has been very busy. Even so all teams across the garden seem to be managing well and are all on top of their work making sure that everything is looking tip top for the beginning of Family Fortnight which kicks off this Sunday with Carnival Day. The garden is looking really good at the moment, all the late summer vibrant colours are beginning to do their thing and all the containers across the site are at their summer best. This year for two of my containers in Gardens through Time I wanted bold, bright, vibrant colour combinations that would burst from the large original 1950’s pots, in the Festival of Britain inspired garden. To achieve this I knew from the beginning I would be planting some Dahlias to get the height in the centre of the pots, but was unsure what to use to trail down the sides and then I thought about using Nasturtiums. It’s been almost 25 years since I have grown them! When I was just four my uncle brought me my first packet of nasturtium seeds for me to grow in a little corner of the garden. I had until this summer forgotten how much I enjoyed, as a small boy watching them grow bigger and bigger every day sprawling out from their undersized bed.

Growing these simple annual trailing/ climbing plants has brought back memories from years back and I can defiantly say I have really enjoyed growing them again watching them change on a daily basis.The containers have been amazing so far, bigger and better than I could possibly have imagined, although they have had a few minor problems with leaf miner, and in the last week cabbage white caterpillars. However this has not been too bad, and the vigorousness of the plants has allowed me to remedy this is by removing the affected leaves every few days. I will defiantly be growing these lovely plants again and much more often.

In fact I myself am now a uncle and I think that maybe next summer my lovely niece might just be old enough to grow her first packet of fantastic Nasturtiums, and I hope one day she will be able to look back at fond memories of growing these brilliant plants with her uncle as I do.

High days and Poppy days

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:34:00 GMT

It's Sale Time at Harlow Carr Plant Centre!

Harlow Carr Plant Centre — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:19:00 GMT

Well, this changeable weather has got us all in a tiz - one moment it's hot and sunny and the next it's lashing it down with rain! We've let it go to our heads a bit and gone and put lots of plants in our summer sale.

If you fancy a bargain at Harlow Carr's Plant Centre, come along and check out our savings on selected shrubs and herbaceous perennials with a whopping 75% off. Yes - that's right - selected plants at only 25% of their original price - what were we thinking?

Lazy summer days

Harlow Carr Shop — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:47:00 GMT

Summer is here and what could be better than the Great British Picnic! Here at Harlow Carr Plant and Gift Shop we have a whole range of picnic essentials, whether you plan to enjoy it in the beautiful gardens or elsewhere.

Be Amazed

Harlow Carr Gardeners — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:07:00 GMT

What a scorcher of a week it has been. It really lifts your spirits when the weather is dry and fine and a bonus when the sun shines. Garden teams have been busy planting around the garden making the most of the beautiful weather.