#gardeners in london

[localgardeners]

Camellias are among the most popular evergreens and garden shrubs that flower early. They provide a short but amazing amount of colour to your garden. As woodland plants, they tend to grow best in light shade, though watering them and caring for them could help them grow in sunnier locations.

[allthingseurope]

Covent Garden. London (by Elissar Haidar)

[michaelnordeman]

Birds of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. London, England (February, 2020).

[etherealyearning]

Edinburgh Botanical Gardens & London's Kew Gardens

[majormisunderstanding]

Edward Bawden’s linocut of Covent Garden Flower Market, 1967.

[nooskadraws]

over the garden wall button badges 🍂✨️🎃

[florealegiardini]

The famous door in Holland Park 🍇🍇🍇 Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom wander_linaa

[arc-hus]

Highgate House, London - Carmody Groarke

[huariqueje]

Rising Sun, London Blackheath - Francis Edgar Dodd , 1942.

British , 1874-1949

Oil on canvas

[thenordroom]

London apartment | design by Chris Dyson Architects

THENORDROOM.COM - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST - FACEBOOK

[localgardeners]

How to Grow Campanulas in Your Garden?

These beautiful, bell-shaped flowers make an excellent addition to your flower borders. They will flower throughout the warm summer months, giving you a sheer amount of colour. These plants will come in cool shades of blue and white, sometimes in warm pinks.

They come in various shapes and forms, which makes the campanula suitable for most areas in the garden. Low-growing ones are great for pots and rockeries, with bells hanging over walls and edges. The taller ones will look great on the border. Campanulas area is great at growing and propagating, mostly resistant to pests and diseases, except for snails and slugs. The wide varieties of campanulas are perennials and do well in the UK. They will return next year and give your garden a flowery look yearly.

Here are Some Ways on  How to Grow Campanulas in Your Garden

Campanula Care Tips

Campanulas are tolerant of most soils and easy to grow and care for. They’re not susceptible to diseases, tough and hardy enough to give you plenty of flowers for many years. Some of the varieties may even seed themselves around the garden.

Light Requirements

Most varieties will prefer a sunny, warm place. The wall bellflower, Campanula portenschlagiana, will do well with a bit of shade.

Water Requirements

Once the plants are established, campanula is relatively resistant to drought. However, to get the best out of the plants, you should water them regularly when they’re growing. It’s important not to let them dry when they’re flowering. Otherwise, you’ll lose the blooms. Reduce watering when the plants aren’t growing actively. They don’t like sitting in wet soil, so water them deeply once they start drying out instead of watering them regularly.

Soil Requirements

Campanula does quite well in most kinds of soil, even when alkaline or acidic. They do best in light, free-draining and moist soil.

Fertiliser Requirements

You should avoid fertilising too much as that may lead to sappy growth vulnerable to snail and slug infestations. Look for a fertiliser higher in phosphorus than nitrogen, which will help with flowering. You may also apply a boine meal as this is a natural source of phosphorus. Container-growing plants will also need liquid fertiliser regularly in their growing season.

Planting

It would be best if you spaced out your campanula around 40-45 centimetres apart unless you’re planting in containers where they may be packed closely. Plant the campanula, so the crown is around 2.5 centimetres below soil level. Mulch it slightly to suppress weeds and help the plant retain moisture. The taller varieties may need light support to grow. If you’re planting them in a container, use loam-based compost with some added grit for better drainage. Include some water retention crystals if you want to help them stay moist in days of drought.

Maintenance

Bellflowers may require little maintenance, but deadheading will help promote better flowering. It’s only necessary to do this for self-seeding varieties, as you don’t want them spreading and dominating your garden.

Repotting

Choose a pot larger than the existing one, using loam-based compost with a grit added in. The plant will need repotting once the roots fill the pot. If the plant doesn’t need repotting, you should remove the top layer of compost every year and replace it with fresh one to add more nutrients.

Pruning Advice

Pruning campanula isn’t something you need to do, necessarily. It would be best to deadhead it regularly, pinching flowering tips to encourage new blooms. You should also remove any damaged or diseased growth. Trim the plant back if you want to keep it in shape.

© Local Gardeners

[flourahl]

[allthingseurope]

Osterley Park, London (by David)

[jacindaelena]

Kew Gardens by foxglove_and_ivy

[bebemoon]

look inspired by "valerie a týden divů" (197o), (requested by anonymous) | cream silk georgette step-in teddy w/ embroidery, lace insertion and ribbonwork (c. 192o's), adriancompany (on etsy) lily of the valley dangle earrings in silver, gucci the alchemist's garden "a nocturnal whisper" perfume oil, small french wicker basket bag (c. 19oo's), askew london brooch w/ a pair of cherubs amid hearts and flowers and an oval mother of pearl medallion, intricate italian iron hand mirror (c. 192o's), vintage ombré green and gold millinery roses (195o's)

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - August 15-21

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my new(ly repurposed) Patreon!

1. Smart hives and dancing robot bees could boost sustainable beekeeping

“[Researchers] developed a digital comb—a thin circuit board equipped with various sensors around which bees build their combs. Several of these in each hive can then transmit data to researchers, providing real-time monitoring. [… Digital comb] can [also] be activated to heat up certain parts of a beehive […] to keep the bees warm during the winter[…. N]ot only have [honeybee] colonies reacted positively, but swarm intelligence responds to the temperature changes by reducing the bees' own heat production, helping them save energy.”

2. Babirusa pigs born at London Zoo for first time

“Thanks to their gnarly tusks […] and hairless bodies, the pigs are often called "rat pigs" or "demon pigs” in their native Indonesia[….] “[The piglets] are already looking really strong and have so much energy - scampering around their home and chasing each other - it’s a joy to watch. They’re quite easy to tell apart thanks to their individual hair styles - one has a head of fuzzy red hair, while its sibling has a tuft of dark brown hair.””

3. 6,000 sheep will soon be grazing on 10,000 acres of Texas solar fields

“The animals are more efficient than lawn mowers, since they can get into the nooks and crannies under panel arrays[….] Mowing is also more likely to kick up rocks or other debris, damaging panels that then must be repaired, adding to costs. Agrivoltaics projects involving sheep have been shown to improve the quality of the soil, since their manure is a natural fertilizer. […] Using sheep instead of mowers also cuts down on fossil fuel use, while allowing native plants to mature and bloom.”

4. Florida is building the world's largest environmental restoration project

“Florida is embarking on an ambitious ecological restoration project in the Everglades: building a reservoir large enough to secure the state's water supply. […] As well as protecting the drinking water of South Floridians, the reservoir is also intended to dramatically reduce the algae-causing discharges that have previously shut down beaches and caused mass fish die-offs.”

5. The Right to Repair Movement Continues to Accelerate

“Consumers can now demand that manufacturers repair products [including mobile phones….] The liability period for product defects is extended by 12 months after repair, incentivising repairs over replacements. [… M]anufacturers may need to redesign products for easier disassembly, repair, and durability. This could include adopting modular designs, standardizing parts, and developing diagnostic tools for assessing the health of a particular product. In the long run, this could ultimately bring down both manufacturing and repair costs.”

6. Federal Judge Rules Trans Teen Can Play Soccer Just In Time For Her To Attend First Practice

“Today, standing in front of a courtroom, attorneys for Parker Tirrell and Iris Turmelle, two transgender girls, won an emergency temporary restraining order allowing Tirrell to continue playing soccer with her friends. […] Tirrell joined her soccer team last year and received full support from her teammates, who, according to the filing, are her biggest source of emotional support and acceptance.”

7. Pilot study uses recycled glass to grow plants for salsa ingredients

“"We're trying to reduce landfill waste at the same time as growing edible vegetables," says Andrea Quezada, a chemistry graduate student[….] Early results suggest that the plants grown in recyclable glass have faster growth rates and retain more water compared to those grown in 100% traditional soil. [… T]he pots that included any amount of recyclable glass [also] didn't have any fungal growth.”

8. Feds announce funding push for ropeless fishing gear that spares rare whales

“Federal fishing managers are promoting the use of ropeless gear in the lobster and crab fishing industries because of the plight of North Atlantic right whales. […] Lobster fishing is typically performed with traps on the ocean bottom that are connected to the surface via a vertical line. In ropeless fishing methods, fishermen use systems such an inflatable lift bag that brings the trap to the surface.”

9. Solar farms can benefit nature and boost biodiversity. Here’s how

“[… M]anaging solar farms as wildflower meadows can benefit bumblebee foraging and nesting, while larger solar farms can increase pollinator densities in surrounding landscapes[….] Solar farms have been found to boost the diversity and abundance of certain plants, invertebrates and birds, compared to that on farmland, if solar panels are integrated with vegetation, even in urban areas.”

10. National Wildlife Federation Forms Tribal Advisory Council to Guide Conservation Initiatives, Partnerships

“The council will provide expertise and consultation related to respecting Indigenous Knowledges; wildlife and natural resources; Indian law and policy; Free, Prior and Informed Consent[… as well as] help ensure the Federation’s actions honor and respect the experiences and sovereignty of Indigenous partners.”

August 8-14 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)