yardz

LAST CALL FOR TULIPS

 

Parrot Tulip Green Wave

Highly unusual tulip with large ruffled flowers, pure green in the early stages, turning to a vibrant pink at the outer edges when fully open.

Last call for buying tulip bulbs. There are still a few left around on garden centre shelves which are by now usually marked down to clear.

It is now rather too late to plant daffodils and many other spring bulbs but tulips if in good condition can be planted as late as January.

Try looking for Parrot Tulips which flower in the middle of spring and are just an amazing splash of colour and form, Plant in low containers or bowls so you can look down right into the mouth of the tulip and enjoy the colours to the full.

   

MORE THAN JUST VEGETABLE SACKS

 

These little planters made from re-cycled vegetable sacks are great. Plant them up with herbs for a quirky and original look for the kitchen windowsill or on the patio.

'Each one is unique and therefore the pattern will be different. Some have a partly meshed bottom, whilst others have a full bottom'

http://shop.theurbangarden.co.uk/planters/re-cycled_planter_vegetable/3124_p.html

SUMMER FLOWERS YIELDS WINTER SOUPS

 

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE

Jerusalem artichokes make a great decorative screen or just an architectural feature in the smaller garden. Planted in spring, the tubers that look like knobbly potatoes soon grow into tall stems of fresh green foliage. In late summer and autumn these stems produce bright yellow daisy like flowers, a welcome bonus at that time of year. Mine this reached almost eight feet high and survived the winds of North Devon.

The bonus of all this growth is what has been going on underground! The plants produce large quantities of new tubers in the same way that potatoes do. Dig them up at the end of autumn and dry the tubers out and store in a cool dark place.

'Jerusalem artichokes are very rich in inulin, a carbohydrate linked with good intestinal health due to its prebiotic (bacteria promoting) properties. These health benefits come at a price; the food can have a potent wind-producing effect.

Jerusalem artichokes also contain vitamin C, phosphorus and potassium and are a very good source of iron.

Cook as you would potatoes - roast, sauté, bake, boil or steam. If peeling or cutting, drop pieces into water with a squeeze of lemon juice to prevent discolouration. Unlike potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke can also be used raw (e.g. in salads) or lightly stir-fried.'

One of the best ways to use artichokes is combining them in soups with other things.

Carrot And Artichoke Soup

Serves 6 - 8 people

• 700 g (1&1/2 lb) Jerusalem artichokes
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 450 g (1 lb) carrots
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 75 g (3 oz) butter
• 1.5 L (3 pints) light stock
• salt and freshly ground pepper

Peel and slice artichokes then put them into a bowl of cold water to prevent them from discolouring. Peel and slice the carrots. Melt the butter in a cooking pot and soften the onion and celery for 5 minutes, then stir in the carrots and artichokes. Add some salt and put the lid on and let the vegetables sweat for 10 minutes on a low heat. Then pour in the stock, stir well, put the lid back on and simmer for a further 20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft. Then liquidise the soup. Taste to check the seasoning, re-heat and serve.

Recipe from www.abelandcole.co.uk

IN THE PINK FOR CHRISTMAS

 

Myflower- Luminous Screen designed by Flavio Lucchini

'Flavio Lucchini, a leading figure in the cultural, fashion and artistic field, interprets for Slide a new way to divide and decorate space. My Flower is a cheerful, funny sculpture made of polyethylene, an high and stylized icon-flower joining art and design intended for a wide audience and both for private or public outdoor spaces.'

Available in green,pink and white - would make a great alternative Christmas tree for the yard!

£887.69

http://www.madeindesign.co.uk/prod-Myflower-Luminous-screen-Slide-refsdflo180-p.html

MATT JAMES YARDZ HERO

 

MATT JAMES

 

'Matt's gardening career began as a teenager working on a small farm. He then went on to study at various horticultural colleges and work at nurseries. Matt was honoured in 2000 as Londoner of the Year in the field of Environment and Regeneration, in recognition of his work establishing a successful circuit of Farmers' Markets in the capital. Today his enthusiasm has led him to teaching and he lectures at a South London college.'

Matt James has a passion for small gardens, yards, balconies, etc. that stands him apart from the other celebrity garden designers. His book 'The Urban Garden Bible' is more than just a 'how to do it'  tome but a realinsight in to his views and understanding of how to make the most use of small outdoor spaces. He is a great plantsman and this shows in his makeover projects. Matt lives in a flat and just has a balcony so he understands how to be creative in the smallest of spaces.

Matt James is without doubt a Yardz Hero

CHRISTMAS BALLOONS

 

Great acrylic balloons and giant decorations that are perfect for putting a bit of creative festive spirit in your yard. Available in funky mixed colours or traditional gold, silver and red.

Look out for stockists of Festive Products www.festive.co.uk .

MORE THAN JUST OUTDOOR LIGHTING

 

The Uovo outdoor lamp from www.madeindesign.co.uk is more than just a light its illuminated sculpture of the highest level.

'Table or floor lamp for outdoor. Diffuser in satin white polyethylene manufactured through rotational moulding process. Mounting in stainless steel. Black feeding cable, 5 meters long, provided with a plug in protection class IP X4. It can be installed on a top by means the version with base in stainless steel or into the ground by means of the version with anchor rods.'

£539.95

A NEW LOOK AT SEDUMS

 

This image of a roof top garden in central London reminded me of how useful sedums can be in these type of exposed situations.

Sedums are hardy and evergreen and come in endless variations of foliage and flower colour. They are reasonably priced and spread quickly so are great for filling containers.

 Sedum are succulent-leaved plants with large flat flowerheads. Their leaves often have a bluey-grey tint to them, and are attractively fleshy, the flowerheads are shaped like umbrellas. Each flower has a papery case around it, giving an interesting texture to the flowerhead.

    

www.crocus.co.uk

 

POP PINK GOES GREEN

It's very punk rock..........

From Adam Sherwin's coloumn in the Tuesday 11th November Times

'Pop artist Pink has green fingers. "I have an organic vegetable garden with four raised beds, I grow cucumbers, tomato, melons, jalapeno peppers, spinich, kale and chillis," she tells Q!."I also grow sunflowers, marigolds, and herbs like basil and marjoram. I like to get out there in my wellies." Sounds more Percy Thrower* than punk? "It's very punk rock to be out in a yard growing your own food."

* Percy Thrower was the first British television gardener!

SELF-WATERING WITH STYLE

 

Self watering pots for windowsills or on the patio tend to be rather functional in design. These from www.madeindesign.co.uk are far more stylish and interesting.

'In nature, plants draw up the water they need through their roots when they need it. The same principle is behind this functional and self-watering flowerpot which consists of two parts. On top a ceramic flowerpot, and beneath it a glass container, which functions as a water reservoir. Water is drawn up through nylon threads which hang down from the bottom of the pot, like extensions of the plant's roots. The Eva Solo flowerpot has been made to extend and improve the life of your house plants and indoor herbs. Just glance at the water level in the vase, and you will know immediately if the plant is thirsty... The vase reservoir can hold enough water for the plant to only need watering once a week, and possibly less frequently, depending on the circumstances.'

Available in white or anthracite and in two sizes.