Book Review: The Cut Flower Patch

Since attending the British flower growers gathering last year, I've been keeping a weather eye on what they've been up to. This and talking to Cally and Sara about their exciting ideas for Our Flower Patch* has formed a steady drip, drip of influence on my plans for the plot this year.

So it's very timely that I have a review copy of Louise Curley's debut book, The Cut Flower Patch. Many of you will know Louise as wellywoman and that growing cut flowers is a passion of hers.

Louise's easy writing style shines through in this book and Jason Ingram's stylish photographs form an accompaniment which I'm sure will encourage lots of other readers to get growing immediately.

Louise provides a good argument for why growing our own flowers is an enjoyable and sustainable task. She shows how a surprisingly small area can be used to provide buckets of the freshest possible flowers for a good proportion of each year. There's an in-depth guide to around 35 of the best flowers to grow from seed or bulb and she's not averse to a spot of foraging either.

As well as a good growing guide, Louise provides top tips for harvesting, conditioning and arranging your flowers to ensure they have the longest time possible in the vase. Sowing and plot maintenance calenders, plus a list of favoured resources at the back of the book rounds things off nicely.

This is a very practical book, written from a personal perspective with lots of eye candy to flip through for inspiration. I'll be looking to transfer Louise's ideas to not one, but a few smaller patches of ground next to the raised beds I built on the allotment last year.

To balance out my review nicely, here's Louise's thoughts on her publication day last Friday.

* = more on this coming soon :)

A special offer for you...

... would you like your own discounted copy, from the publishers Frances Lincoln?

To order The Cut Flower Patch at the discounted price of £16.00 including p&p** (RRP: £20.00), telephone 01903 828503; or email mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk and quote the offer code APG101.

Alternatively, send a cheque made payable to: LBS Mail Order Department,Littlehampton Book Services,Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 3RB. Please quote the offer code APG101 and include your name and address details.

**= UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.

Tree Following with Lucy

I've decided to join Lucy this month for her Tree Following project. This isn't a new-to-me-meme, but I confess I hadn't taken the time previously to think about a particular tree I'd like to get to know better.

However, that all changed on December 23rd 2013, when one of the neighbouring ash trees crashed into VP Gardens, narrowly missing our house. Since then, I've been taking a picture of the remaining parts of the tree on the 23rd of each month, to see how it changes over the year.

An Unexpected Visitor - 'the tree which came for Christmas'

Here's the tree in much happier times...



If the embedded video above doesn't work, try this link instead. The picture quality isn't that great, but I wanted to capture the tree's sound as well as an impression of it ahead of any potential demise due to ash dieback. How ironic!

Here's the tree as it looked on February 23rd from our bedroom window. This was after its trim back in January courtesy of a local tree surgeon. It didn't look that much different to this on January 23rd.

The birds are using the tree a lot lately as a launching pad for their onslaught on the garden in search of moss and other materials for their nests. The most regular occupant is this rather fat pigeon. I'm also looking at the field maple tree nearby to see if Mr and Mrs pigeon return to last year's nest.

Fancy joining Lucy this month? Here's her kick-off post for 2014 complete with links to everyone who's taking part. I'm not sure if I'll be joining in every month on the 7th, but I will be providing some updates during the year.

I Love March For...

... stirring

Whether March comes in like a lamb or roars like a lion, it's a month which can't be ignored. Everywhere the earth is whispering, plants are stirring and birds are building or spring cleaning their homes. There's an explosion of growth and plants like these crocus open their faces towards the sun.

After weeks of rain, it's good to see the sun again and to have a garden which is warm to work in. This morning sees the garden in steam as the sun sets about adding its warmth to the cold, wet soil. The water vapour escaping into the bright sunshine makes it look like the earth has started to breathe again.

I also have some special days to celebrate soon, so of all the months of the year, March is my favourite.

What do you love about March?

GBMD: This Rule in Gardens

I saw this in the shop at Mount Usher Gardens last year. I'd never come across this saying before - a little light googling shows its origin goes back centuries.

I must admit I found it a little confusing because water is a vital component of seed sowing as long as the soil is damp, not waterlogged.

The source link above also says this was a traditional adage for March, because it's the month when seed sowing gets going in earnest. My seed tin is in agreement as I have the thickest bulge of packets filed away for this month.

This is a perfect example of how a rule shouldn't be taken at face value, but the meaning behind it needs to be taken into account. I'm pretty sure the "sow dry" isn't about the soil needing to be bone dry, but referring to the land drying out after the winter wet.This would typically happen in March most years, when the other conditions most seeds need - warmth and longer daylength - are also present.

However, as we know from previous years this isn't always the case, making this a rule which is ripe for breaking.

Which seeds do you plan to sow this month, or are your local conditions pointing to a delay?