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INSTALL A RAIN-WATER HARVESTING SYSTEM

According to a UK survey, sponsored by Save the Rain a significant proportion of homeowners (1 in 3) would be more likely to buy a house if a rainwater harvesting system was already installed. With the increasing amount of rainfall falling from the skies over the UK this is a serious option that many sellers might like to consider to beat the current storms in the housing market.

A rainwater harvesting system will also save you money in the future as many of the water companies are threatening to put up their water rates by up to 60% over the next five years.

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-1043365/Householders-hit-1-000-water-prices-set-soar-60.html

A major reason for installing a rainwater system is that it will help the environment by saving billions of water and prevent flooding which is now a serious threat to many homes in the UK. Not to mention the benefits of having harvested rainwater for your plants on tap when the next drought arrives - seems hard to beleive at the moment but it will!

WHAT EXACTLY IS A RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM?

It comprises a storage tank which can be buried under garden or path, drive or patio which collects water from the roof, filters off leaves and other debris and then stores it. Then, when you flush the toilet or run the taps, a pump in the tank comes on automatically.

The system holds about 3 weeks worth of water, depending on the size of the building. The tank can be topped up by the water mains in case of drought as it should not run dry. If the tank gets too full after  heavy rain, an overflow pipe discharges the excess to a soakaway.

A rainwater harvesting system starts saving you water immediately, and will do so for many years, with minimal upkeep and maximum reliability.There is a very useful website which identifies key questions that you might now be asking about rainwater harvesting systems such as:

1. How does rainwater harvesting work?
2. How much water can a system save?
3. How much would this save on water bills?
4. How much rainwater does a system collect?
5. What can you use the water for?
6. Is it only for new buildings?
7. Is it only for houses?
8. Where is it installed?
9. How much does it cost?
10. Are there any grants available?
11. So, why should people buy Rainwater Harvesting systems?
12. How clean is the water?
13. Could rainwater get into my drinking supply?
14. Do I need a big roof area to make it worthwhile?
15. What happens when there is no rain?
16. Can it be used when there is a hosepipe ban?
17. Do I need to have a water meter?
18. How is the system maintained?
19. Who would install a Rainwater Harvesting system?
20. Is Rainwater Harvesting a new idea?
21. What regulations govern the installation of a system?

Answers can be found at: http://www.savetherain.info/media-centre/rainwater-harvesting-faqs.aspx

Or check out the UK Rainwater Harvesting Association at: http://www.ukrha.org/

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GREEN FINGERED GRIEF?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/aug/18/gardens.gardeningadvice

The RHS reports that half of all callers to its plant advisory service are currently expressing concern about their damaged plants. It appears that many gardeners feel personally connected to their plants as they have often been nurtered for many years or given as a gift by someone special.

This new condition has been on the increase since the hottest summer on record in 2006 followed by the wettest in 2007 and another very wet August this year. Our changing climate is introducing new pests which can cause serious damage to plants when they are at their best. Lily beetle, horse chestnut, leaf-mining moth and the devastating rosemary beetle are just a few of the overseas visitors that you may have noticed?

Leigh Hunt, the principal horticultural adviser at RHS Wisley, explains that “gardeners often go through the same stages of grief - shock, denial, anger, depression and acceptance. These feelings are often laced with guilt, for having failed to treat their beloved plants correctly.”

Mr Hunt suggests that the most important stage of this grief cycle is “acceptance” so he tries to console callers by reassuring them that they are not alone. An example is the honey fungus affliction to which he replies “they are in good company - Kew Gardens has it, as we have at Wisley”

The good news is that our soggy summer this year has not YET beaten 2007 when during June and July there was 10.6 inches of rain and just 303 hours of sunshine compared to 7.4 inches of rain and 358 hours of sunshine in 2008.

However, the amount of rain that has fallen over the UK in the past week may mean that by the end of the month August rainfall will break new records:

August 12th - Norwich received 1.5in of rain - 3/4 of its monthly rainfall in two hours

August 13th - Suffolk had 1.2in of rain in 3 hours - normal August rainfall being 1.9in.

August 18th- Northern Ireland received a months rainffall in two hours

DO GARDENERS WEEP WHEN FLOWERS WILT?

IS THIS JUST A SILLY SUMMER STORY?

LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS?

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Here is a very amazed lady called Mrs Hermione Morrison looking at an enormous flowering Agave which towers 25ft over her home in Helston, Cornwall. Mrs Morrison, 70, planted this in her garden in 1982 after bringing it back as a tiny seedling from a holiday in Gibraltar.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1043993/Pictured-The-rare-plant-towers-owners-house-Britains-barmy-weather-causes-grow-25ft-weeks.htmlAgave,

Large Agave plants like this are normally only found in Mexican deserts or the Mediterranean and normally take up to 70 years before such a spectacular eruption occurs . It seems that our increasingly milder winters have not only allowed the seed to germinate in the ground but have also protected it from frosts.

The Royal Horticultural Society said the plant will have reacted to a series of mild winters:”These plants build up their resources over the years and when strong enough shoot up a great big stem. This uses up all its energy and it dies.The run of mild winters seems to have suited agaves which is consistent with what we’d expect from climate change. Normally they would be happier in hotter climates such as Spain or Portugal but mild winters here are protecting them and allowing them to flourish.’

Agaves only flower once before the original plant dies. During flowering a tall stem or ‘mast’ grows from the centre of the leaf rosette and bears a large number of short tubular flowers. Agaves are used to make tequila in their native Mexico. The flowers, leaves, the stalks and the sap - which is known as ‘honey water’ - are all edible.

Mrs Morrison may think about what she brings back from any future overseas visits. Perhaps she should contact a wonderful seed specialist I have discovered in Liskeard, also in Cornwall, that specialises in providing seeds of palm trees, cycads, bananas and other exotic plants - http://www.trebrown.com/

As well as a wide choice of excellent seeds, Trebrown have a wealth of information about growing these plants that I will be talking about in future blogs.

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The idea came to me when I saw the sun streaming through my kitchen window for just a few seconds - thought it would be good to put a cheery picture on the site as the weather today is predicted to be even worse than yesterday.

I adore these showy, tropical plants - they transport me to a beach in St Lucia where I spent a fabulous holiday a few years back and where I would certainly prefer to be at the moment.

There are more than two hundred species of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals with extravagent flowers in a range of delicious colours. They need full sun and very rich humus soil which is kept moist in dry weather - wet I can do but dry weather is a bit thin on the ground at the moment so this one is staying put on my kitchen window. It has lived there happily since January, repeatedly producing these wonderful flowers which are delightful on a cloudy english day. Not quite as good as being in the West Indies but, for now, it will do.

These photos were taken in the garden about half an hour ago as the sun was out in between heavy showers. Thought I would give my hibiscus a taste of some real sun rather than through a pane of glass.

Maybe you are reading this blog in a country where Hibiscus (Malvaceae) grow in their natural state? Would love to receive your personal experience of these spectacular plants. I remember the colours in St Lucia were breath-taking - but that could have something to do with the number of rum punches I had drunk!

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Not what you expect on this special day, known as the Glorious Twelfth since it marks the opening of the UK red grouse season - the busiest day in the shooting season, with large amounts of these poor birds being shot.

Lewes castle has no trouble weathering our unpredictable climate. Not quite the same can be said in the garden. My veg patch is being devastated by snails, many ripening apples are falling in the strong winds and my melon plant is extremely unhappy about temperatures diving to 16c .

Yet, the most glorious scene for me - apart from the rainbow - was the snow white hibiscus flowers with their blood red centres basking, very briefly, in a tiny slot of sunshine. These impressive flowers emerged over the past week on a very old and withered tree. I thought this tree might be dead when I moved here in January. I had no idea there would be such delights to enjoy.

The joys of english gardening never cease to amaze me!

How is your garden coping with this weird August weather?

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The Guardian ran a story today about Professor Bob Watson, Defra’s Chief Advisor, warning that we should be prepared to adapt to a global temperature rise of 4c.

Drought-resistant plants such as these in the Majorelle gardens in Marrakech, Morocco, would become more common in British gardens. Photograph: Clay Perry/Corbis

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/06/climatechange.scienceofclimatechange

UK gardens are already being affected by climate change. We need to help them adapt by considering new types of plants http://www.globalgardening.org.

The Jardin Majorelle is a truly inspirational garden with amazing specimens of drought resistant plants set in a stunning design. It was restored in 1980 by one of the world’s greatest fashion icons - Yves St Laurent. Here is a larger view of the spectacular planting . Not sure UK gardens will end up looking like this but it is a great place for ideas. Visit http://www.jardinmajorelle.com/ for the full tour.

Visit the web-site for the full tour http://www.jardinmajorelle.com/

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This remaining plant is thriving on my south-facing patio and I am keeping a very close eye on its progress.The leaves are healthy and there have been 4 flowers but, to date, no fruit has emerged.

I read that melons like companion planting so I have put them next to the morning glory and nasturtuim in the hope that they might attract bees for pollination.

It would be great to have some horticultural advice on growing melons. I lovingly spray, feed and water about 3 times a day and tuck the little darling up with two cloches at night - maybe I am missing something?

Rumour has it that we are in for an Indian summer in September/October which would be perfect timing for ripening the fruit - if I can just get them to appear!

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I visited Kerala in Southern India during 2005 and witnessed for myself the wonderful plants that grow abundantly in “God’s own Country”.This experience was the seed for Global Gardening. Could rising temperatures in the future mean that a few of these tropical and exotic delights might survive in my UK garden?

Kerala deserves its reputation. With its charming network of backwaters and rivers, it receives 6 months of rainfall, 2.5 times higher than the national average. As a result, it is an extremely green state with 28.90% of the total land area covered in forests. This is greater than the national coverage of 19.50%. -http://www.prokerala.com/kerala/maps/kerala-forest-map.htm

There are a staggering 4600 flowering plants growing in Kerala and around 900 of these possess medicinal values.http://www.keralaforest.org/html/flora/medplants.htm. Over 150 species of indiginous or naturalised plants are used in Ayurvedic medicine . This unique system of healthcare has been practised in India for centuries but today its benefits are used across the world. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurveda

Approximately 540 Keralan plant species occur in delicate eco-systems that are now being challenged by climate change as well as economic “progress” - India’s economy is growing at around 9% a year. Local tribal communities harvest around some of these lesser-known wild plants for their own medicinal purposes but it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to maintain their way of life and earn a basic living.

Here is a story about a social enterprise project aiming to address the impact of economic progress and climate change on the rural population of this area:

If you would like to get involved with this worthwhile project or make a donation to help the Honey Shepherds of Southern India, please contact Kirsten Germann at padmalaya@gmx.net

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Traditional gardens with herbaceous borders come to a crescendo in June and early July and then gently wither and fade into their autumn colours.Many years ago I also used the more traditional border planting that goes with this style of gardening. I found it disappointing when August and September arrived to find vast blank areas in the garden with little to spark the imagination, thus the search was on to find plants that would be coming to a peak at these times.

With much experimentation and head scratching, I began researching plants that would look fresh and full of vigour with months of growth ahead of them. Tropical and sub-tropical plants were incorporated with the more traditional perennial plants in the borders at the Exotic Garden, thus creating a more jungle-like world of huge shiny leaves, bold outrageouscolours and ferny textures. It is possible to change the look of a traditional perennial border by skilfully placing just a few tropical plants in the right place for impact. This garden style relies on using traditional tropical plants as well as tropical looking temperate zone plants to create the feel of a more exotic/tropical setting. Many fast growing exotic annuals can also be used to give almost instant height and colour to the garden.

Using tropicals in the garden is nothing new. Plant collectors have grown and collected them for hundreds of years. Annuals such as pelargoniums,impatiens and begonias are actually tropical in nature. During the Victorian period, tropicals were all the rage, especially in the larger London parks and gardens. Lavish outdoor displays were created during the summer months which gained enormous proportions by high summer. These more tender plants were then moved into “glass houses” to be over-wintered for use in the next season’s garden. This style of gardening was novel and new at the time.

In recent years this style has seen a revival, because it tends to draw attention to the garden in a way no other planting can. If it’s attention you want, just incorporate a few tropical plants into a flower border and wait for the second looks, stares, ooh’s and aha’s from visitors to your garden. Many of these plants are truly jaw-dropping in their proportions and overall appearance. Your guests will be transported to much hotter climes where the planting is lush and the senses over awed.

It is relatively easy to create a unique display of tropical foliage as long as you have some form of protection from the prevailing winds and a tranquil corner of the garden to grow some of these gems. In most cases, we enjoy summers that are relatively sunny, with heat and humidity along with the occasional (or should I say frequent) heavy rain storm, which plants love.These conditions fuel the growth of tropicals into high gear so that even ifyou start out with relatively small specimens, they grow unbelievably fast and turn into large, imposing plants in a matter of weeks if the environment is favourable for good growth and they are well fed – most important!

A border planted with tropicals gets better as the season progresses and can continue through September into October. Many popular houseplants such as the rubber plant, dieffenbachia, Chlorophytum,Spathiphyllum, and croton, when rescued from dark corners of your home, make excellent additions to the exotic border once acclimatised to the stronger light conditions. You can grow these tropical exotics directly in the ground or in containers placed together in imposing groups. Many exotics like cannas, bananas and ferns can be planted outpermanently if correctly sited. Most of these plants are now relatively easy to obtain from garden centres and DIY stores as well as specialist nurseries.

Debbie has created impact outside her front door in Lewes with this group of house plants and exotics in containers - the banana was bought as a small plant from a garden centre in April for just £5.

Plants in containers can be placed by entrances, patios and decks or plunged into the ground in perennial borders or amongst shrubs to brighten up dull areas. This makes it easier to move them inside for the winter. If you do not own a greenhouse, plants will often survive tucked against a house next to a south or west facing wall which will give your cherished plants extra protection on the coldest knights of the year, especially if you use some sacking or fleece to give them a little extra protection. If you do decide to try plants such as the rubber plant outside, these must be brought back in to a cool room in your house for the winter as truly tropical plants will not take frosty conditions at all.

Create an instant garden by moving exotic looking house plants such as Bromeliads, Chlorophytum, Monstera, Tradescantia and Platycerium into the garden for the summer months. Tie them to the branches of trees to create a truly exotic and magical feel.

My next blog will discuss the use of plants that look tropical in nature but are in fact hardy, thus giving a similar effect without having to over winter them in frost free.

The Exotic Garden is open every Sunday afternoon until the end of October from 1.00 to 5pm ht.tp://www.exoticgarden.com/opening_times.html

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