horticulture

For PETE'S PLANTS on WIKI CLICK HERE



Click on bottom R/H corner of pictures to enlarge

 AN EARLY SPRING...

Whilst we were making the fourth episode of 'Nikki & Pete's Indian Summer Warning' for YouTube on boxing day, 26th December, we noticed a wild primrose coming into flower, and a group pf snowdrops.

The snowdops usually come into flower in our garden in the last week in january, and the primroses usually begin flowering in March.

So, following our 'Indian Summer', it seems we are now in for an early spring!

 THE QUEST FOR THE WHITE DANDELION

Well, in fact, as you can see below, Pete has already found his white dandelion, as well as a pink one and one with red leaves, - but it's the spirit of the quest that counts, and Pete has found something new...

Whilst walking to the local shops, he spotted a strange plant growing in the grass of a local garden, and upon close inspection, found it was an ORANGE HAWKWEED! He knocked on the door and obtained a sprig of the plant, with seed heads. WATCH THIS SPACE FOR THE FIRST SEEDLINGS!

On the left, a common hawkweed, and on the right, the orange hawkweed.

...and now the PINK dandelion!

We have just given you news of Pete's new white dandelion seedlings,(see below) - now hold on to your gardening hats, - here is Pete's PINK dandelion seedling...

If you want to read about more of Pete and Nikki's unusual wild plants, there was an illustrated feature, written by Pete, in the July Edition of HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE available from all good newsagents.

If you live outside the area, or have trouble getting a copy, call Martin Small on 01462 422014

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AT LAST THE WHITE DANDELION!

After years of searching for the elusive White Dandelion, Pete has finally seen the first of a batch of his seedlings, sown in the spring, blooming for the first time...

Above are the first pictures of Pete's White Dandelion.

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THE RETURN OF THE LOG GARDEN

Back in the Sixties, Pete Invented his own form of gardening for primulas and woodland plants. He used logs in the same way as gardeners use rocks for rock gardens. It is known as Log Gardening, and Pete has started to create a new one at his home in Stevenage (see pictures above).

Below are pictures of some of his other log gardens over the years...

Left : His Log Garden at Offley in 1966.       Right: In Stevenage, in 1989