NEWS FROM BALLYROBERT COTTAGE GARDEN AND NURSERY
JUNE 07
Unfortunately the very wet weather has continued into June but this has created a good opportunity for further planting in the garden. With the hope some good weather to come the garden should be in prime condition for our special Open Day in support of the RSPB on the 28 and 29 July from 2-00 to 5-00 pm.
Thankfully the rain disappeared during the Garden Show at Hillsborough. This turned out to be a fantastic event and was one of ther best flower/garden festivals ever to be staged in the province.
We had a very successful time winning the Gold Medal for our display which was also best in the show. This was an opportunity to meet many of our present customers in a garden party setting and also to introduce others to the services we provide to the gardening public.
We have decided to proceed with the development of a Garden Resource Room which will cater for workshops, meetings and basic catering. We have undertaken a number of Graden Workshops this year and would welcome suggestions and expressions of interest for others.
JULY/AUGUST 2007
Summer has eventually arrived after one of the wettest summers on record.
One of the few benefits for us to come from such a wet period has been the ability to plant without the need to irigate and we also took the opportunity to do some turfing in mid summer!!!
Hundreds of new plants have been planted in the garden in this period and this is 6 months earlier than planned. The current spell of good weather being experienced at the end of August has ensured very good growth and we are looking forward to a superb display in 2008.
Fabulous new dayliies and cone flowers are amongst the newcomers.
The new rhododendron border has been completed and planted with mainly Yak hybrids.
Joy and I have taken the opportunity to visit quite a few gardens during the summer especially with a view to identifying high performing herbaceous plants.
Much of our stock has been sold by this time and propagation is the main task with a view to replenishment for the forthcoming 2008 season.
Our new garden room is making good progress and will be ready for opening in spring 2008. This faciltiy will enable us to provide workshops and also provide some basic catering. Any suggestions for workshops are welcome.
SEPT/OCT 2007
The garden at this time of year has not been better with outstanding autumn colour displayed by many plants.
Growth continued until late and our woodlands seem to have suddenly aged!! With this maturity comes an increase in wildlife with goldcrests and long tailed tits in abundance.
In the nursery. the cuttings strike has been good and many of the newly potted plants are growing strongly. The general aim is to sell high performing plants especially under local conditions and 2008 will see the most extensive list of good plants to date.
NOV TO FEB 2008
We had a sharp contrast in weather from early to mid winter with the former having beautiful sunny days and the latter being cold, windy and wet. Luckily we had 10 days of lovely weather at the end of January and early February and this coincided with the blooming of the hellebores and snowdrops. The extensive plantings of both species are at long last looking mature and in future years we are considering a few special open days at this time of year.
Our plant list is bigger and better than ever and we have been lucky to be able to obtain a range of new varieties to add to our own propagation programme of 2007.
We have decided to attend more show venues this year, especially following our best exhibit award at the Garden Show Ireland at Hillsborough in June last year. You can expect to see us at the following:-
4 to 6 May- Glenarm Fair
11 May- Rare Plant Fair at Larchill
17 to 18 May- Mountstewart Garden and Craft Fair
6 to 8 June- Garden Show Ireland, Hillsborough
COTTAGE GARDEN
GARDENING CLUB
Benefits of the Club:
1. 10 % discount on shop purchases:
2. Free access to the Garden:
3. Programme of talks and demonstrations:and
4. Garden visits.
To apply for membership, simply print out this page
and fill in the form below
Send to:
Ballyrobert Cottage Garden and Nursery
154 Ballyrobert Road
Ballyclare
Co. Antrim
BT39 9RT
With your cheque for £
20.
