Website changes.

I have been making changes to the website today. I’ve taken down the online borders page and the testimonials. I’m making space for more substantial content. I hope to have up soon some more information on what ecologically informed planting design is and some reports on some of the great work going on in this field across the globe. I’m also going to devote a page to the method of seeding perennial planting schemes in situ. This is something I’ve been researching and continue to develop as a landscaping option in Scotland. Of course the big event of this year is the Olympics and James Hitchmough of Sheffield University, who developed the method, has created in the Olympic Park huge areas of perennial meadow type plantings in this way. I expect knowledge of this method will grow as a result of this high profile event. I certainly hope so, it seems so well suited to many of the challenges that face urban developers these days. Also I want to include a page on the teaching that I do, both by myself and in collaboration with CGM Garden Design. Teaching is something that I’m really enjoying. Even the basics of planting design can be a great help if you want to d.i.y it, saving you a fortune at the garden centre by avoiding the classic mistakes if nothing else. Hopefully the content will be up soon before the inevitable mad rush in the spring. Oh yeah if you are reading this and thinking about having me design your planting schemes, if you can, think about getting the designs in before spring. You get the full season of growth from your plants and I don’t get too overloaded in spring. It’s a win win situation if ever there was one.

Posted by John, January 25th, 2012

Welcome 2012.

Happy New Year! As usual I have lots of projects planned for this year. How many will happen is another thing. Main project of course is the further use of the seeding method for creating sustainable planting schemes. The image below was taken just before Christmas. This is a germination test experiment to help broaden the palette of plants available to me with this method. 2012 will see this method become more widely known as huge swathes of the Olympic park have been landscaped this way. Sustainable planting doesn’t have to be done by seeding. There is some interesting work being done in America by landscape architects that I’ve started following. Conventional planting where plant selection is much more rigorously ecologically informed is gaining ground across the pond. I am still inspired by such work that I saw in Bavaria last summer. I hope to make some more connections this year to people in the industry over in Germany. Hopefully 2012 will see Britain start to catch on. Teaching continues this year with more courses planned. So far the community education at Balerno High starts again in February and I’m doing a day course for local garden designers here in Edinburgh in March. Another ambition for the year is to try more ways to encourage better planting in public spaces. The usual shrubs clipped to within an inch of death have to go sooner or later.....right?.....Then there is the getting fit, and so on that always make the list......mmmmmm

Posted by John, January 2nd, 2012

Counting seeds ...blogging distraction....

In the middle of counting out seeds for a germination rate test. What a dull way to spend a dull afternoon! Essential though to getting the crucial data required for creating perennial meadows from seed. Last night's meeting of the Scottish Ecological Design Association was enjoyable. Lots of interesting talks on ecologically sound buildings, gardens and even wool! I think I will join in the new year. Ok well I guess that's enough distraction - I have another few hundred seeds to count out before I stop for the day. What's next? Verbena stricta. OK here goes..............

Posted by John, Dec 14th, 2011

December winds...

Another windy day, I hope your gardens are holding up well. I was planting semi mature trees yesterday and specimen Rhododendrons and took extra care over staking. I have this system of underground staking using tree stakes and ratchet straps - very effective it is too. Tonight I am going to the annual show and tell of the Scottish Ecological Design Association. From their website they seem to be mainly architects with an interest in ecologically sound practices and methods. I came across them by accident the other week and I'm keen to hear what many of the members do. The format is 5 minute talks with maximum three slides. It's a long evening so I should get a sense of many projects and products. Looking forward to it - though not the journey through to Glasgow!!!

Posted by John, Dec 13th, 2011

Book Review

This week at our monthly meeting myself and my garden design colleagues are discussing books we have bought this year. The one I have chosen to review is by Piet Oudolf and Noel Kingsbury called Planting Design, subtitled Gardens in Time and Space. It certainly gets my recommendation. In large part it acts as an introduction to the emerging field of ecologically informed planting design. There is more to it than that of course, but much of the most interesting material in the book is drawn from the experience of professionals in this field, often working in Germany. If you are keen to learn how to associate plants with great effect and reduce the amount of maintenance required then this is your book. I'm not sure if it is a drawback but for sure you will finish this book wanting to get on and read more. The bibliography is short but has some of the key sources of the literature in this area. The complexity is undeniable; the challenge is to understand plants at a deeper level than is usually demanded by horticulture. But the prize is great. Noel manages to describe the effects of being immersed in these planting schemes, wandering the narrow paths and getting right in amongst the plants, looking out over them. You will be hooked I'm sure and itching to rip up your lawn at the first opportunity.

Posted by John, Nov 14th, 2011

Pleached Trees

Just spent the weekend planting a row of semi mature pleached ornamental pears. They arrived last week from Majestic Trees and are fantastic specimens. Half the street was out watching them being off loaded. As it turned out they were a lot more heavy than anticipated. Come time to plant my client went knocking on the doors of all the neighbours and there was a great response. Five extra men on sight in a flash and we got them all in before dark. What great community spirit, I was so impressed. The trees look great, a stunning garden feature in its own right. A day of rest for me tomorrow though....just a few knocks and scrapes.

Posted by John, Nov 6th, 2011

Winter Weather On its Way

Ok all I know is that today it was very very cold. There was a flurry of hail and I drove past a grit lorry. It might not be the best evidence but I wouldn't be too surprised if a cold snap were to decend on us quite soon. So it's time to get on with those autumn garden jobs lest we get caught out again like we did last year. Brrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Posted by John, Oct 19th, 2011

Native Meadow Improvement

I've been working on prairie meadows now for about a year. Currently I'm working on a private commission to be sown this winter. As a consequence of my research into these novel plant communities I've also taken an interest in native meadows. For one thing, in rural areas these are more appropriate. But also I like the idea of improving them through management rather than re-sowing from a seed mix. It seems that the standard advice sometimes works but more often the results are disappointing. Each site will be unique and that is what makes it a challenge to come up with a suitable management plan. I will begin work on one next spring, aiming to increase the species richness of a former pasture which has had the sheep removed for going on twenty years. Anecdotal evidence suggests that during the first few years after the sheep were removed floral diversity increased significantly. In the last ten years or so this has declined to the point where large areas are dominated by vigorous grasses. So the plan will be to mimic the effect of grazing to some extent, reduce the vigour of the grasses and encourage natural seeding from the surrounding countryside of the species that have been displaced.

Posted by John, Oct 17th, 2011

Britain in Bloom

I have just heard the news that Edinburgh was awarded a Silver Gilt award in this years Britain in Bloom contest. A good result for the city as they have improved year on year aiming of course for Gold. Bristol walked away with Gold this year so well done to them.

Posted by John, Sept 28th, 2011

Talk for the SGD.

This coming Saturday the 17th I am giving two talks as part of a symposium of talks for the Scottish region of the Society of Garden Designers. The event is called Planting for Northern Habitats and is aiming to encourage a broader appreciation of plant ecology beyond the basic range of environmental tolerances we usually learn about. My first contribution is going to be setting the scene by introducing some very basic ecological principles. My second talk later in the day will be specifically about the ecologically informed prairie/meadow approach I've been researching this past year. Here is the link for details.

Posted by John, Sept 13th, 2011

Perennials from seed trial.

More blooms now from the seed trial. I am now working on new mixes of prairie plants for sowing this winter.

Posted by John, August 20th, 2011