Gardens of the World

RHS Olympic Park Garden 2012

25 Oct 2011 at 07:45

kplatt

The RHS Olympic Park garden 2012 is well underway. Designed by Rachel and Hannah, the garden is a colourful journey through gold, silver and bronze areas. The quarter of an acre riverside garden overlooks the Olympic Stadium in the London 2012 Olympic Park.

Whether you are visiting the Olympics or not, this is the perfect time to overhaul your own garden no matter where you live. No matter how large or small your garden, why not create your own Olympic garden at home? Re-discover the delight of plants by concentrating on colour. Divide your garden into different areas if space allows – silver is calming and perfect for seating areas and space to relax in. Gold is vibrant and is perfect for reflecting on the good things in life. Bronze is invigorating and refreshing.

Reflect the splendour of the men and women who achieve gold by creating your own golden area of the garden to bask in the sunshine all year long. My own golden plot brings me warmth year round. The centrepiece is Sambucus ‘Sutherland Gold’ surrounded by golden foliage plants that look good most of the year. If I had room for one large golden tree it would be Acer platanoides ‘Princeton Gold’ – this I yearn for. Discover over 1300 plants in my book Gold Fever and you’ll be bringing home the gold medals.

My silver patch is enhanced by blue flowers. Key to planting silver is good drainage. Artemisias play a major role along with the spears of Astelia chathmanica. Many silver plants have golden flowers but gold and silver foliage don’t usually look so handsome together, so they are often best in different parts of the garden. Discover 2400 silver plants in my book Silver Lining – there’ll never be another cloud that overshadows your garden.

Bronze is one of my favourite foliage colours from Heuchera to Uncinia and forms part of my black garden. I have had a black border since the 1990′s and launched my first book on black plants in 2000 after many years of research. In the garden, bronze shades can also encompass the brighter tones of marmalade to toffee so it is an exciting area to create in the garden. Think Bronze Adonis. These colours work well with both gold and silver and can be used to connect the other two colours effectively. To create this kind of area you have the choice of Black Magic and Purple Passion, the last few copies of the third edition in print featuring 3750 dark plants, so hurry and the new 4th edition as an ebook only with 650 new plants not found in the 3rd edition. You could also choose Fruit Cocktail and discover 2300 plants from butterscotch to peach and orange to give you bronzed tones in the garden. All these books were firsts in their field in gardening, so we know what its like to take gold, silver and bronze into the garden. The books are suitable no matter where you live as you will find plants available at your local garden centres and nurseries and the books also have USDA zones. All books are illustrated in colour with many more photographs than you would normally find in books of this type plus all the know how you need to start your colour garden. Enjoy creating your Olympic garden at home. I’ll sign every book ordered through this website.

The photograph of the Olympic Garden is provided by Getty Images.

The Falling Leaves

23 Oct 2011 at 10:07

kplatt

United Kingdom

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It’s been an odd year with particularly unseasonal cold and then hotter than hotter spells of weather. The last unusually warm spell came about a month ago, since that glorious week we have returned to ‘normal’ weather for the time of the year.

The wind never seemed to leave us since March. The tomatoes never really got started and are now, at last, full of flowers – full of promise that won’t be realised alas as the nights turn frosty and the days are barely making it above the 10C mark. We have already had one night down to 2C. If I had somewhere warm to move the tomatoes to I would and I curse my ambition for growing so many – but inquisitiveness and the eagerness to grow overcome the small detail of where to put the plants when I am sowing seeds -I simply get carried away. Seedlings are small and easily accommodated. Plants are large and need space.

It’s our last recycling garden scheme collection on the 30th. Just 7 days to cut back and make sure everything is ready for the quieter dormant season. Time soon to say hello to the hardy plants that can see us through another winter. Foliage plays a key role and supports the steadfast flowers that create a finale in the autumn garden. Black foliage often looks at its darkest and best at this time of year and plays an excellent background supporting role to flamboyantly coloured flowers. Play pink Schizostylis against Berberis ‘Pink Lady’ or any purple Berberis for that matter. A bed of pink Sedum looks handsome in front of Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’. Already I am fast forwarding to spring. I’d hibernate in Hawai’i if I could.

All photos copyright Karen Platt 2011.

Tribute to Steve Jobs

06 Oct 2011 at 20:53

kplatt

United Kingdom

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Steve Jobs may be remembered by the younger generation for the iphone, iPad, iPod, all excellent in their way. However, to me and many of my family, friends and acquaintances, he is primarily the man who brought the computer into our homes, user-friendly, designer friendly, you were proud to have a MAC. No self-respecting designer would have touched a PC, Microsft simply did not cut the mustard.

In the 80′s my husband, a graphic designer, was lecturing at a College in the north of England. He discovered the MAC and promptly fell in love. We had to drive some 40 miles to the nearest stockist and when I saw this computer I thought he was mad. I remember saying

“How the hell are you going to work on that tiny screen?”

I had never seen a home computer and the SE looked impossibly small. The screen was almost non-existent. But love is a funny thing. It cost a small fortune. He brought it home and I still believe to this day he was the first to have this in his line in Sheffield, none of the advertising agencies had invested in computers at that time.

One of his first jobs on it was a newsletter for a hospital. We didn’t know how to use the damn thing but I ended up doing most of it as he lost patience as the hours spread out before us. I had never touched a computer in my life and I am pretty technophobic. I think the job worked out at about 10 p per hour. But of course, I fell in love with it too. As we learned to work on it, things became simpler and quicker and soon we could not live without the MAC. In our household Steve Jobs was a familiar name.

When I set up my book publishing business I did it with a MAC. When people started saying they were too expensive and Microsoft was almost the same these days, I stayed loyal not just to Apple but to the man himself. I’ve worked on PC’s in Colleges and schools – I’m sorry I just don’t like them – give me a MAC every time -it’s the Rolls Royce of computers. They look good, they do the job (no pun intended) and nothing else is the same. I have had problems, like many, with MACS over the years. Frankly I have never had one last more than three years and that’s not very good. But it’s like nicotine or alcohol, neither of which I indulge in, but Apple is one habit I can’t give up.

Someone once said I was a visionary for my work on colour in the garden, principally the use of black plants, I haven’t forgotten what he wanted – his name on the front cover of my books. Steve Jobs had the dedication, the vision, the passion for the wonderful products he created. He lived Apple and Apple will not be the same without him, but every morning when I switch on my computer, I shall think of the man who made things different, the man who achieved his goal. Perhaps it will spur me on to achieve my vision.

Phantom amongst the petunias

22 Sep 2011 at 09:14

kplatt

United Kingdom

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Did any one else try those new black petunias from Ball? All my black ones had the yellow stripes of Petunia ‘Phantom’. Which leads me to one conclusion, either ‘Black Velvet’ is unstable and naturally sports the yellow stripes or I had been sent ‘Phantom’ instead. I wonder. The nursery said it was stress and would revert to black – what???

Tomato Black Brandywine

16 Jun 2011 at 08:34

kplatt

United Kingdom

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As the first trusses appear on the tomato plants, I thought I would write in some more depth about a favourite heirloom tomato, an Amish variety passed down through the years. Brandywine comes in black, red, yellow and pink and first appeared commercially in America in 1882 when offered by a seed company that is still going strong today. It was originally offered as ‘Turner’s Variety’ and was not given the name ‘Brandywine’ until seven years later.

‘Brandywine’ is a little different from other tomatoes – its leaves are more like potato leaves and not as ferny as others. It needs a long season maturity, 70-90 days so there has been some cursing of the cold nights here as that does not help. However it’s ahead of some of the others I am growing, but not first in the league table of trusses because it was not the first to germinate. No tomatoes like cool temperatures and draughts are a definite no-no. ‘Brandywine’ plants can grow to over 2m (8ft) and can get leggy. They can be pinched and pruned, and although you will get fewer tomatoes if you do this, they will be better.

‘Brandywine’ is grown first and foremost for its sweet taste. The taste is a million miles away from a supermarket hybrid. There is nothing bland about this tomato. As ‘Brandywine’ is an open-pollinated strain, the flavour can vary – if the taste is not up to your expectations, then try a different seed company next time. The fruits can be huge, a half kilo or 1lb fruit is not uncommon. Picking them with green shoulders is often best as they do have a tendency to split if left on the vine. Go easy on the nitrogen – you’ll just get lots of foliage. Plant in rich, organic soil that is slightly acidic about 1m (36″ ) apart in an open, sunny position sheltered from winds. Mulch well to conserve moisture. Be consistent with watering – even watering is the key to good tomatoes. Make sure plants are well staked. ‘Brandywine’ tomatoes are indeterminate and can be trained on trellis or caged. I am going to stake mine as I know I am not going to get many fruits this year – we’re having a typical English summer. Planted in a good -sized container,four strong bamboo supports at each corner will withstand the onslaught of heavy fruits.

The ‘Black Brandywine’ often produces smaller fruits. Once picked you can kill the taste in the fridge, so store in a cool, dark place – that’s if you can resist eating them straight off the plant. If you have a glut – make and freeze sauce. Enjoy the fruits of your labour.

If you love tomatoes as much as I do, check out my book 2,000 Tomatoes.

Black Petunia

30 May 2011 at 09:03

kplatt

United Kingdom

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I first wrote about Petunia ‘Black Velvet’ in the 4th edition of my book ‘Black Magic and Purple Passion’. No plants were forthcoming for me to test the variety from Ball Horticultural in the USA. However, I bought it from a UK nursery earlier this year and it was launched at the Chelsea Flower Show last week.

I wish I could say it was as black as the photographs sent to me by Ball Horticultural, but it is not. True it has a measure of blackness, but I do not find it to be as black as they claim. In fact in some conditions it looks very purple. It reminds me of the launch of Hyacinthus ‘Midnight Magic’ that was claimed to be as black as night, but again had a good measure of purple and I, for one preferred Hyacinthus ‘Menelick’. I could name many others that have gone down the same road.

So my question is, when are breeders and promoters of plants going to realise that it is ok not to be solid black? That it is quite alright, and even preferable to say – this is black-purple. Honesty is always the best policy. It’s also a measure of who has grown the plant and who has swallowed the publicity wholesale. To promote a plant as the blackest, is only to lead to disappointment when it does not live up to its image. Of course, black is a fleeting nuance of colour in the plant world, one minute a plant can appear black and then the light changes. Some soil conditions and light are more liable to produce the effect of black. Petunia ‘Black Velvet’ is a rather smallish flowered, black-purple flower and that’s just dandy as it is. It is the darkest petunia I have seen so far and it is sumptuously velvety.

There was coverage of black plants at the Chelsea Flower Show, although is it no longer politically correct to say ‘black plants’? I wonder as the presenter called them purple. Ball must have been disappointed as the main feature was the old standby Ipomoea – one of the blackest foliage plants. If the presenter called this purple – what would he have called the petunia? I sometimes think people are more hung up about the colour and stuck in a time-warp of ten years ago when black was IT and that they cannot see the plant for the colour.

When it finally stops raining, I shall take a pic of my Petunia ‘Black Velvet’ growing in my garden, meantime here is Ball’s photo promoting this as black, blacker than black.

Growing from seed

09 May 2011 at 16:04

kplatt

United Kingdom

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The weather is on such a yo-yo that things are growing but slowly. Super quick crops to harvest whilst longer maturing crops get going include radish and rocket. The latter can be harvested at an amazing 25 days. Many salad leaves are best when young such as spinach and this helps avoid its tendency to bolt.

The tomatoes are coming along slowly – still inside at the moment as although day time temperatures have not been too bad, the night temperatures are sometimes still dropping very low. The worst thing has been the wind. I’m pleased to say that Tomato ‘Black Cherry’ is looking strong, along with ‘Ildi’.

The runner beans are up now, so I shall be looking for crops in mid to late summer. I am not growing the purple varieties this year – although I find them pleasant and decorative, I am not fond of the fact that they lose their colour when cooking. For some reason, I have tried two batches of carrots and not had a single one germinate. I have grown carrots before without any problems. Rather disappointed because one of the crops I was trying this year was the purple carrot.

Dark succulents

06 May 2011 at 09:02

kplatt

United Kingdom

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Black plants are not as rare as you might think amongst the succulents.

Adromischus often has leaves that are edged in maroon, red or approaching black. A. caryophyllaceus is one example. The large tubular flowers are white with reddish purple markings. Looked at face on, the flowers look like dark stars on twiggy growth. These stoloniferous plants get rather leggy if not given a lean and mean routine.

Many of the Crassulas sport reddish foliage. Amongst them are C. brevifolia, C. ciliata, C. peploides and C. pyramidalis. C. swazienis has red-flushed foliage and handsome white inflorescences.

Lithops these fabulous, stone-like succulents are widespread in parts of Africa. In its natural habitat it merges in with the gritty, stony ground. This plant seems to survive any climate and therefore has to be appreciated for its accommodating nature. In colder climates it will adapt to window sill cultivation. When in flower, the flowers cover the stones. L. optica ‘Rubra’ is one of the reddest

Mesembryanthemum dinteri has reddish foliage.

The foliage of some Glottiphyllum species is flushed red as found in G. linguiforme and G. peersii, whose leaves are also white-margined and G. pachypodium.

The foliage rarely gets darker than red or reddish-brown on these dark succulents, none really have black foliage. The spines of some cacti are black and the flowers of several succulents are darkest maroon approaching black. Some of these were mentioned in the third edition of my book ‘Black Magic and Purple Passion’. In the update, that is forthcoming in 2012, I shall be expanding this section of near black flowered succulents.

Sowing and growing tomatoes

27 Apr 2011 at 19:31

kplatt

United Kingdom

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It’s not always a sure fire thing growing tomatoes outdoors in the north of England. I used to be too eager and start sowing in February, now I leave it much later and the results are the same as the plants get a better start. This year I didn’t get around to sowing the seed indoors until 22 April 2011. I’ve already got two lots of seed germinated 5 days later, which is pretty good going, no heat being used. The hardy little mites that have raised their seedheads are Tomato Sweet n’ Neat and ‘Black Cherry’.

I have always enjoyed growing coloured tomatoes and not just the ordinary red. The black ones are a must and I’ll let you know when the others germinate. I have in the past grown yellow, orange, green and striped tomatoes. The yellow tomato phase started when I was 10 years old when a gentleman whose wife my mother looked after, grew them and used to save them for me. Yellow was the only colour you could get in those days besides the normal red.

Sweet pea Hi scent, a mixed packet of sweet pea seeds has also germinated in the garden. I look forward to cutting these for indoors colour and scent. In the vegetable patch I have also sown Kale ‘Black Tuscany’ this can be very dark and looks handsome in the flower border too. Radish Rainbow Mixed came up very quickly and are heading for a finish line they are putting on such a spurt of growth. I have sown Beta ‘Bull’s Blood’, which is every bit as decorative as the black Kale. Last but not least I’ve sown Spring Onion ‘Pompeii’.

It’s turned a little chillier but everything recovered from the hail storm and the lettuce are coming along nicely. The rocket has not germinated as well as I expected, so I am going to fill the gaps. It’s a quick crop that can be harvested in 25 days.

I am keeping a watch night and day for pests. The dry stone walls of my garden are a favourite haunt of slugs and snails. I have the pots covered with fleece at the moment until the seedlings get stronger. It helps keeps most of the pests off the seedlings.

The day that the hail came down

23 Apr 2011 at 16:02

kplatt

United Kingdom

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Imagine the scenario – for once England is enjoying pleasant weather for Easter weekend. Temperatures have been a very pleasing 24C, 75F, that’s as good as it gets at this time of year. In fact it rarely gets any better all year round. This bank holiday weekend is one where all good gardeners and ‘bank holiday only’ gardeners alike spend some time tending their patch, big or small. I had taken advantage of the good temperatures to repot, plant and sow seeds. Those who don’t garden (who are they?) were washing their cars or out in the sunshine.

It had reached 24C again and there was a forecast for thunder and heavy rain but the actuality was a little excessive to say the least. The thunder came first, the skies darkened, temperatures plummeted. The hail came from hell, I have never seen so much hail, the road and garden were white over. Gutters were filled to overflowing with huge hailstones, the latter were sliding down rooftops. The hailstones were so big – the size of hazelnuts. My poor garden looked like it had been filled with polystyrene for a shoot in a winterland movie. My poor containers were at least 5cm (2″) deep in hail. Flowers were stripped from branches, some new shoots on Rosa rugosa were just cast to the ground and we had a brand new, unwanted water feature outside the back door. A rolling stream of icy hail. Here comes summer. It went on for 20-30 minutes. Then the sun came out, the hail stopped, the rain stopped but gutters were still pouting water. The thunder is still rumbling on.

Did the black plants fair any better than the others – no they all suffered the same. I ran out as the rain started to cover the back tulips as they are just about to open up and the buds look gorgeous. I don’t know yet how they weathered the storm, not able to manage the steps that are covered in ice.

It is one of the most bizarre things I have witnessed. How does the weather go from 24C to hail, which is freezing water in a matter of minutes, then stop and the sun come out almost immediately and it’s back to 24C? Photos copyright Karen Platt 2011.