Jim Gardiner

Phew-sha – what a show!

Jim Gardiner — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:58:00 GMT

It comes to us now just once a year, but when it does, it does it with a bang. Last week we held our annual Flower Show on Seven Acres at Wisley. The theme was fuchsias, and we had them inside, outside, all over. This tied in nicely with those that greet you as you approach the Garden from the the car park, guide you up past the Canal, and dazzle you in the Glasshouse.

It’s time to get lost…..in one of our mazes.

Jim Gardiner — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:47:00 GMT

Kids go free at Wisley this month, and families have been positively swarming through the gates, attracted by a host of activities. Among them are our mazes.

Kids go free as wellies go "wheeeee"

Jim Gardiner — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:26:00 GMT

What a busy time we’re having at Wisley right now. And what a lot of fun! Kids go free this August, and we’ve so many different activities to keep everyone entertained in the world of horticulture this summer.

Friends reunited with a centenary celebration

Jim Gardiner — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:48:00 GMT

Isn't it sad when you've trained or worked somewhere for a while, but then move on to pastures new and leave good friends and colleagues behind. Well, in 1908, just three years after the RHS moved to its first permanent garden here at Wisley, the Gardens Club was established as a means of keeping students and employees past and present in touch with each other.

Going Bananas!!!

Jim Gardiner — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:15:00 GMT

Over the last few months regular visitors to the Glasshouse would have been watching with interest the gradual formation of a big bunch of bananas. In the middle of the Tropical Zone a banana plant flowered a few months ago and Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ (AAA Group) AGM has been growing bananas ever since. Yesterday we noticed the first one had ripened, meaning it was time to harvest.

Your invitation to see the 'secret' science side of Wisley.

Jim Gardiner — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:29:00 GMT

A visit to Wisley is a visit to a truly inspirational garden. There is so much to see here. But there is also so much that our visitors generally don’t see and that is the behind-the-scenes science that we carry out in the Laboratory, the beautiful 'country house' (actually purpose built as a lab in 1914-1916) at the front of the Garden that provides such a magical backdrop.

Street Party

Jim Gardiner — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:33:00 GMT

We had a street party last Thursday evening. Witan Street is a development of 8 very small gardens up beside the Orchards Café, opposite this year’s Maize Maze (on the site of the old Glasshouse). The 7th and 8th gardens have just been completed, so we had a ‘party’ to celebrate and commemorate the official opening.

Scarecrows on Seven Acres

Jim Gardiner — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:50:00 GMT

On Tuesday 24th June, Wisley was transformed into a midsummer wonderland by the WI with their scarecrow-inspired evening. The night was in honour of the 90th Anniversary of the Surrey Federation WIs and thousands of WI members from across the county came to celebrate.Click on www.thewi.org.uk/surrey or http://www.thewi.org.uk/standard.aspx?id=11462 for more information.

A carpet you can't walk on in a bed you can't sleep in.

Jim Gardiner — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:14:00 GMT

At the very front of the garden members of the Glasshouse team have been planting up the traditional carpet bed display in front of the Laboratory building. This 14ft square is the most intensely planted part of the garden, with approximately 10,000 plants here. Lucinda Lachelin, Senior Supervisor of the Glasshouse created this year’s design. With the help of many from the Glasshouse team it is now finished – as I’m sure you can appreciate, it’s a somewhat time-consuming task.

Outside Glass

Jim Gardiner — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:59:00 GMT

Over at the Glasshouse the team have been busy potting up and moving large planters for outside display.

Golden Eye

Jim Gardiner — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 10:56:00 GMT

The finishing touch to the Top Terrace Chinese Dragon bedding display is the golden eye for each of the 8 dragons. All in all this display involved 20 members of staff plus invaluable help from our garden volunteers.

Chinese Dragons

Jim Gardiner — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:36:00 GMT

Over the last couple of weeks, the Floral Ornamental Department have been at full capacity planting out the summer bedding displays. Seasonal bedding and makes up a large amount of our displays, and the team are flat out.

Pot up a house leek

Jim Gardiner — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:57:00 GMT

Meet the Gardeners continued throughout half term last week. On Thursday it was the Alpine Department who enthalled our youngest visitors. They had a field day with Sempervivum, otherwise known as house leeks.

Scarecrows in situ

Jim Gardiner — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:49:00 GMT

And here they are, the finished scarecrows in position guarding the germinating sweetcorn that will grow to become the Maize Maze.

Meet the Gardeners... and make a scarecrow!

Jim Gardiner — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:18:00 GMT

This half term has so far been warm and wet, but that hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of our youngest visitors. Our Meet the Gardeners activities today were based up at the Maize Maze.