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Orchidarium Update (part three)

August 16, 2018April, August, December, February, Indoor Trials, January, July, June, Long-Term Product Reviews, March, May, More Gardening, National Collection, November, October, SeptemberAerangis biloba, Aerangis luteo-alba var. rhodosticta, Angraecum distichum, Bulbophyllum ambrosia, bulbophyllum falcatum minor, Bulbophyllum sessile, carnivorous plants, Ceratocentron fesselii, Chiloschista lunifera, Chirita tamiana, Dendrobium moniliforme, Dinema polybulbon, Haraella retrocalla, Humata heterophylla, Humata repens, Leptotes bicolor, Masdevallia decumana, miniature orchids, Oncidium hians, orchidarium, orchids, ornithophora radicans, Pellaea rotundifolia, Phalaenopsis appendiculata, Phalaenopsis braceana, Phalaenopsis celebensis, Phalaenopsis deliciosa, Phalaenopsis deliciosa var. alba, Phalaenopsis finleyi, Phalaenopsis honghenensis, Phalaenopsis lobbii, Phalaenopsis lobbii f. flavilabia, Phalaenopsis lowii, Phalaenopsis malipoensis, Phalaenopsis micholitzii, Phalaenopsis parishii, Phalaenopsis parishii alba, Phalaenopsis stobartiana, Phalaenopsis thailandica, Phalaenopsis wilsonii, Pinguicula hybrid, Restrepia citrina, restrepia purpurea rayas vino tinto, restrepia sanguinea, Restrepia seketii, Schoenorchis fragrans, Schoenorchis scolopendria, Schoenorchis seidenfadenii, Schoenorchis tixieri, Stelis musciferaPumpkin Beth

In the early part of 2017, (which as I am writing to you, was over eighteen months ago now) I decided to create an Orchidarium: an enclosure complete with an automated misting unit, LED lights, and fans, to house some of my miniature and small sized orchids and provide them with automatic care. I chose to create this orchidarium as a functional terrarium, the planting and style of this Orchidarium is not designed, or intended, to be naturalistic or beautiful, instead this Orchidarium allows me the opportunity of growing a greater number of plants, all mounted individually, so the plants can easily be removed or rearranged as I wish.

Book Review – Daffodil

August 10, 2018Book Reviews, Daffodils, Easier Gardening, Flowers & Floristry, More Gardeningdaffodils, Jo Whitworth, Noel Kingsbury, Timber PressPumpkin Beth

Daffodil: The remarkable story of the world’s most popular spring flower
Author: Noel Kingsbury
Photographer: Jo Whitworth
Publisher: Timber Press
ISBN: 978-1-60469-318-8

Daffodils are one of the most recognisable, most popular, and most widely revered flowers. If you love daffodils and want to hear their story, then may I suggest a lovely book, Daffodil, which was written by Noel Kingsbury, and is illustrated with beautiful pictures taken by photographer, Jo Whitworth.

Plant Heritage’s 40th anniversary celebrations at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show!

August 3, 2018April, August, Container Gardening, December, Easier Gardening, February, Flowers & Floristry, Interviews, January, July, June, March, May, More Gardening, November, October, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Roses, September, Shows & Events, Urban Outdoors, Vantage PointAlan Titchmarsh, Allium 'Ostara', Alliums, Downderry Nursery, Geum 'Lemon Drops', Geums, Gill Groombridge, Graham Stuart Thomas, iris, Iris 'Jane Phillips', Jackie Currie, Jonathan Hogarth, Julian Reed, lavender, Linda Heywood, Lorraine Smith, Mottisfont Abbey, National Plant Collections, Nigel Hewitt-Cooper, plant conservation, Plant Heritage, Plant Societies, RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018, RHSChelsea, Rosa 'Madame Isaac Pereire', roses, Sarah Cook, Sarah QuartermanPumpkin Beth

Plant Heritage are a plant conservation charity, based in Guildford, that encourage horticulturists, botanists, and gardeners to grow, propagate, share, and conserve a wide range of plants to protect and safeguard the variety of plants we have available to grow and enjoy. This year, Plant Heritage are celebrating their 40th anniversary, so to mark the occasion they asked garden designer Jackie Currie to create an exhibit for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018, to publicise the value of Plant Heritage’s work.

A catch up with some of my white flowered, epiphytic orchids

July 27, 2018BiOrbAir Terrarium Trials, Houseplants, Indoor Gardening, Indoor Trials, Long-Term Product Reviews, More Gardening, National Collection, Orchidariums, Orchids, Product Reviews, Terrariums & Bottle Gardens, Trials, Urban Gardening, Urban Indoorsaerangis, Aerangis biloba, Angraecum, Angraecum distichum, BiOrbAir terrarium, biorbair terrarium features, biorbair terrarium review, Humata repens, orchidarium, orchids, Phalaenopsis, Phalaenopsis micholitzii, terrariumsPumpkin Beth

A catch up with Phalaenopsis micholitzii, Aerangis biloba, Angraecum distichum, and Humata repens!

In November 2017, I conducted a large scale reorganisation of my orchids, moving plants from one terrarium into another. My intention, and the end result of all of this disruption, was to group my orchid plants more interestingly: placing plants from different orchid species that originate from the same genus together wherever possible.

Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count 2018!

July 21, 2018Easier Gardening, More Gardening, Other Shows and Events, Saving Money, Urban Gardening, Urban Outdoors, WildlifeAgastache 'Blackadder', big butterfly count, buddleja, butterflies, Hebes, Hedera helix, insects, lavender, nettles, Scabious, Verbena bonariensis, wildlife gardeningPumpkin Beth

The Butterfly Conservation Big Butterfly Count runs from the 20th July 2018, until the 12th August 2018. During this time, Butterfly Conservation – a registered charity who work to protect British butterflies and moths, are asking members of the public to take 15 minutes out of their day, to take note of the butterfly and moth species they see around them.

Nemaslug® Biological Slug Killer

July 17, 2018April, August, Container Gardening, Easier Gardening, Glasshouse Growing, July, June, March, May, More Gardening, Outdoor Trials, Pests & Diseases, Product Reviews, Sustainable Living, Trials, Urban Gardening, Urban Outdoors, WildlifeBiological controls, edible gardening, irrigation, Nemaslug® Biological Slug Killer, Nematodes, organic gardening, Outdoor Trials, potatoes, protecting plants from slugs and snails, slugs and snails, Trials, vegetables, Vigoroot Planters, water, wildlife gardeningPumpkin Beth

Wildlife friendly ways to kill slugs and snails

I don’t like slug pellets. Slug pellets have had a disastrous effect on the wild food chain – as well as killing slugs and snails, slug pellets harm hedgehogs, song thrushes, and other creatures. Slug pellets kill these dear animals in the most cruel, drawn out, and painful manner. Nothing could induce me to use slug pellets in my garden, allotment, or anywhere for that matter – however large the slug or snail population had become, and however many of my precious plants had been eaten.

Some of my orchids that are in flower this week!

July 8, 2018April, August, Container Gardening, December, Easier Gardening, February, Flowers & Floristry, Houseplants, Indoor Gardening, Indoor Trials, January, July, June, March, May, More Gardening, November, October, Orchids, September, Terrariums & Bottle Gardens, Urban IndoorsBiOrbAir terrarium, Chiloschista, Chiloschista lunifera, houseplants, indoor gardening, orchidarium, orchids, Paphiopedilum, Paphiopedilum concolor, Phalaenopsis, Phalaenopsis lobbii, Restrepia, restrepia purpurea rayas vino tinto, restrepia sanguinea, terrariums, terrariums and bottle gardensPumpkin Beth

During periods when I find myself at home, working longer hours than I would like, I am ever more grateful for my plants, especially my houseplants, terrarium plants, and orchids. At these times, when I am unable to escape to a meadow or a forest, my orchid flowers remind me of the beauty of our natural world, providing me with a cheerful pick me up, just when I need it most!

W & S Lockyer Auricula Specialists win Gold at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018

July 5, 2018April, August, Container Gardening, December, February, Flowers & Floristry, Interviews, January, July, June, March, May, More Gardening, November, October, RHS Chelsea Flower Show, September, Shows & Events, Urban Gardening, Urban Outdoors, Vantage Pointauriculas, Bill Lockyer, Eleplants Nursery, Gold Medal, Gold Medal Nursery, Independent specialist nursery, Jim Buttress, Joan Lockyer, Louise Batchelor, Martin Batchelor, National Plant Collections, Plant Heritage, Primula auricula 'Bradford City', Primula auricula 'Brenda's Choice', Primula auricula 'Gay Crusader', Primula auricula 'Good Report', Primula auricula 'Gwen Baker', Primula auricula 'John Wayne', Primula auricula 'Kevin Keegan', Primula auricula 'Lincoln Cuckoo', Primula auricula 'Miss Bluey', Primula auricula 'Piers Telford', Primula auricula 'Poacher's Sky', Primula auricula 'William Gunn', rhs chelsea flower show, RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2018, RHSChelsea, Simon LockyerPumpkin Beth

I love to visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, for me this is the most prestigious and exciting event of the horticultural calendar! I enjoy seeing Chelsea’s show gardens of every size and style, I am always interested to discover the latest gardening products, and I really look forward to finding new favourite plants, whilst being reminded of old favourites. I so enjoy visiting Chelsea’s Grand Pavilion, which is filled with over one hundred exhibits created by expert growers, from nurseries that seem to specialise in growing almost every kind of plant.

Would you like to see my orchids that are flowering this week?

July 1, 2018April, August, December, February, Flowers & Floristry, Houseplants, January, July, June, March, May, More Gardening, National Collection, November, October, Orchids, September, Terrariums & Bottle Gardens, Urban IndoorsAerangis hariotiana, houseplants, indoor gardening, Oncidium hians, orchidarium, orchids, Phalaenopsis, Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi, Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi 'Green', Phalaenopsis equestris 'Aparri', Phalaenopsis lobbii, Phalaenopsis lobbii f. flavilabia, Phalaenopsis malipoensis, Schoenorchis, Schoenorchis fragrans, Schoenorchis tixieri, terrariumsPumpkin Beth

Orchids in flower this week

This weekend I have been admiring the beauty and grace of some of my orchids that are in flower. I am very fortunate to have been able to gather my orchid collection together, I don’t want to keep these orchids away from prying eyes, far from it – I’d love to share their flowers with you!

The Madagascar BiOrbAir Terrarium (part ten)

June 28, 2018BiOrbAir Terrarium Trials, Indoor Trials, Long-Term Product Reviews, More Gardening, National CollectionAerangis citrata, Aerangis hyaloides, Aerangis macrocentra, Aerangis punctata, Aeranthes arachnites, Angraecum dollii, Angraecum equitans, Angraecum ochraceum, BiOrbAir, BiOrbAir terrarium, biorbair terrarium review, Madagascar, Madagascar BiOrbAir Terrarium, miniature epiphytic orchids, miniature orchids, moss, orchidsPumpkin Beth

Welcome to the tenth part of my Madagascar BiOrbAir Terrarium Trial – growing epiphytic orchids, which are endemic to Madagascar, inside the BiOrbAir terrarium. In this update, I am delighted to share with you the extraordinary blooms of Aeranthes arachnites! I’ll also be showing you an update on the progression of my Aerangis citrata specimen’s flower spike production, alongside updates on the growth and development of all of the orchids that are growing inside this Madagascar BiOrbAir Terrarium.