COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 20...TOKENS

A garden gift token is a great gift to give at Christmas. St Bridget Nurseries sell their own tokens (which can be exchanged at either of their garden centres or used against mail orders) and HTA National Garden Gift Tokens (which can be exchanged at many garden centres across the UK). There is a choice of greeting card to go with the vouchers. If you would like to order some by post today is your last chance, so e-mail marketing@stbridgetnurseries.co.uk

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 19...TREES

If you still haven't got your Christmas tree, St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter have a limited number of real and artificial trees left. Don't forget to buy some spray 'n' save to prevent needle loss and a tree stand. Each real tree is wrapped for free to make it easier for transport.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 18...FURNITURE

Garden furniture is a great gift. Chose from table sets, recliners, hammocks, armchairs, benches and loungers. Available in wood, aluminium, resin or stone, St Bridget Nurseries Garden Furniture in Old Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 7JY has them all.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 17...GET FRUITY!

This is the perfect time of year to plant fruit plants ready for a bumper crop next year. Fruit plants also make an alternative Christmas present - perhaps a Cranberry plant would be nice and then you could have home-made Cranberry sauce next year? St Bridget Nurseries have a huge selection in their garden centres including Blueberries, Raspberries, Blackberries plus currants, apples, apricots, figs and pears to name only a few. Visit www.stbridgetnurseries.co.uk/veitch_garden_centre_news.asp?PK_cats=7 for a full list and prices. Plants can be sent by mail so you don't have to live in Devon!

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 16...HOLLY

Holly has been know to be in short supply this year as all the birds ate the berries earlier in the year! St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter have a supply though of beautiful holly branches ideal for decorating your home and use in floral arrangements. Branches start from £1 each and are available from both the Old Rydon Lane and Sidmouth Road Garden Centre.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 15...JIGSAWS

You wouldn't normally associate jigsaws with a garden centre but St Bridget Nurseries' Clyst St Mary garden centre is beginning to be known as one of the largest jigsaw stockists in the West Country. With lots of sizes, pictures and in fact shapes to choose from you're sure to find something to keep the family entertained for hours.

St Bridget Nurseries' Clyst garden centres is opposite Westpoint Exhibition Centre on Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary, Exeter (EX5 1AE). Tel: 01392 876281.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 14...FUN TO GROW

Many of us are looking for something different and educational for children's gifts and what could be better than the new Suttons Fun to Grow range. The range of seeds come in bright colourful packets and many come in super kits - an easy way to get children learning about nature and how plants grow. With exciting packs like Jack & the Beanstalk and Grow a Rainbow they are sure to capture children's imaginations. Prices start from just 99p at St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres Exeter.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 13..TINSEL

Whether it is to go on your Christmas Tree, make a fairy or angel costume, tie your hair or wrap Christmas presents tinsel will never go out of fashion! St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres have a wide selection of tinsel in different colours, thicknesses and styles. Add a bit of sparkle to your home this Christmas.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 12...WREATHS

St Bridget Nurseries may have stopped offering a full floristry service but their florist is still making beautiful traditional holly wreaths. There are two styles to choose from, one is simply holly using green and variegated leaves and the other is more decorative and incorporates artificial white Christmas Rose flowers. The quality and fullness of the wreaths makes them some of the best for sale in the region. Prices start at £8.99.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 11...CARDS

Don't forget to post your Christmas cards. Royal Mail say the last day for postal delivery in the UK and Channel Islands (by first class post) is Thursday 20th December. If you still haven't got your cards St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres have a beautiful selection of individual, boxed and charity Christmas cards plus the stamps to send them with.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 10...CANDLES

Whether they are real wax candles or battery operated St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres have them for sale. Choose from many beautiful colours, matching stands and accessories or gift packs and scented candles.

Light up your Christmas with St Bridget Nurseries, Garden Centres, Exeter.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 9...DECORATIONS

If you've just got last year's decorations down from the loft only to find that the lights don't work, the baubles have broken and mice have eaten your tinsel don't despair as St Bridget Nurseries have some stunning and affordable decorations in stock. Everything above plus novelty characters, fibre optics, table decorations and much much more! Visit St Bridget Nurseries Garden Centres at Old Rydon Lane and Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary, Exeter.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 8...SNOWDROPS

Snowdrops or Galanthus are so beautiful, who could not be addicted to their winter flowers. St Bridget Nurseries have some stunning double snowdrops for sale as plants in their garden centres and they'd make a lovely Christmas present.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 7...CYCLAMEN

St Bridget Nurseries have just put their home-grown houseplant Cyclamen on a BUY TWO GET A THIRD FREE deal. Each Cyclamen is £2.99 and can be placed in a Christmas sleeve for free making it an ideal gift! Hurry as they're likely to sell out fast.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 6...KISSES

Don't forget your mistletoe this Christmas. St Bridget Nurseries will be branches in this weekend.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 5...MAKE YOUR HOUSE A HOME...

Make your house feel homely and festive this Christmas by using houseplants. Particularly known for its festive cheer are Poinsettias. Poinsettias don't like sudden changes in heat, particularly drafts which is why buying from a market stall may not be the best idea. When you buy a Poinsettia make sure it is placed in a sleeve to ensure you get it home safely.

St Bridget Nurseries grow their Poinsettias in their nursery greenhouses in Exeter, Devon. This means that the plants are fresh, local and not been damaged in transportation. They’re available in a wide range of colours – such as red, salmon and cream. As an alternative to Poinsettias what about planted bowls of beautifully scented hyacinths? Both make great presents and can be gift wrapped by our staff.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 4...CHRISTMAS PLANTS

Helleborus niger is commonly known as 'The Christmas Rose' though it's actually a herbaceous perennial not a rose! It's a gorgeous relatively low growing perennial that flowers in late winter and is perfect for growing in a pot. This would make a lovely Christmas present. Helleborus and a range of stunning outdoor containers are available from both St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 3...HEALTHY GIFT
Sprouting seeds are newly germinated seeds and pulses; baby plants that are bursting with nutrition necessary to produce a fully grown plant. When eaten they are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

Eating sprouts regularly has been researched to result in an enormous improvement in general health, boosting the immune system, revitalizing and strengthening the body, improving digestion, combating tiredness and stress. They are a great addition to salads.

The Thompson and Morgan Seed Sprouter makes growing easy. Simply buy a packet of sprouting seeds (there's over 20 varieties to choose from) and follow the instructions. Each variety has different requirements but generally all you have to do is soak the seeds in water, then transfer to the sprouter trays. Put water in the bottom of the sprouter and then leave in a hot place like an airing cupboard. Rinse the seeds daily and you should have edible sprouting seeds between 3 and 10 days. The sprouts can then be kept in a fridge for 3-5 days. For more information or to buy your sprouter and seeds visit St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter (www.stbridgetnurseries.co.uk) or call 01392 873672

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 2...ALTERNATIVE GIFT BAG..

Tubtrugs were designed as a way of carrying garden products like bulbs, plants, compost, water and garden debris. However, they're so useful that we think they also make great laundry baskets, toy trugs and an alternative Christmas hamper!
Tugtrugs are waterproof, strong, lightweight, flexible and come in a variety of bright colours.
A medium tub trug is 38cm (15") diameter x 30cm (12") deep with a capacity of 26 litres while a large tub trug is 45cm (18") diameter x 35cm (13") deep with a capacity of 42 litres.
Tubtrugs are available from St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter, call 01392 873672 for further information.

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS...DAY 1For Little Green Fingers...

Gardening is fun and a great activity to entertain children and get them out in the fresh air. Encourage little green fingers by giving them gardening tools that they can use. Childrens gardening tools are not only an original Christmas gift idea but they will last for years as the new range from Yeomans (called Yeominis) have telescopic handles that will grow up with them! The lightweight aluminium handles adjust from 78cm to 94cm, and the metal bladed heads are built to last.

There's a spade, broom, rake and how plus matching wheelbarrow to choose from. All available from St Bridget Nurseries' Clyst St Mary Garden Centre in Exeter. If you can't get there in person, e-mail marketing@stbridgetnurseries.co.uk and they will give you a price for the tools you are after plus postage and packing.

New ordering facility...

St Bridget Nurseries have just made things a little bit easier to order plants online. They have added prices to their plant list on their website and each plant has an order button. As mail order prices depend on height and weight of plants you need to get a quote for each order. The order button opens up an e-mail and all you have to do is give your address. You will get an e-mail back that gives availability of the plant, size options and a full quote. It's that easy.

Have a look for yourself at: http://www.stbridgetnurseries.co.uk/veitch_garden_centre_news.asp?PK_cats=7

FABULOUS FOLIAGE!

Create all season magic in your garden with the greens, golds and silver sheens of Euonymus fortunei cultivars.
With stunning foliage and sumptuous sounding names you won’t be able to resist. Fully hardy and able to cope with the winter frosts to come, these cultivars are superb for your winter patio containers.
Pep up your patio as the grey weather sets in with some striking colourful foliage.
‘Emerald Gaiety’ has green leaves with white margins that bear pink tinges in winter. This shrub is compact, reaching an ultimate height of approx 1 metre at 10 years old. ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ - the gorgeous, deep yellow margins and green hearts on the leaves of this plant never fail to get noticed. All of these varieties are grown on the nursery by St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter and are available to buy for £6.25 each at their garden centres.

Don't forget...
Stand containers on bricks or smarter pot feet to avoid waterlogging and drowning roots. Pots containing tender (plants that are not hardy and therefore at risk from frosts) should also be wrapped up warm this winter. Either bring your pots inside or wrap them up in protective fleece and bubble wrap all available from a garden centre like St Bridget Nurseries.

Halloween

Join the witches this Halloween with a Besom Witches broom only £3.99 from St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres, Exeter. The brooms are also useful for sweeping up leaves. Better hurry before they fly away!

LAST WILD DAY TODAY!

Since Monday, Devon Wildlife Trust has been working with St Bridget Nurseries' staff to create a permanent BBC Breathing Place. The event was organised to celebrate St Bridget Nurseries becoming a Silver Level, Devon Wildlife Trust Approved Garden Centre. Devon Wildlife Trust designed a wildlife garden with butterfly border and Invertebrate Hibernation Castle!

Today the garden is due for completion so it is well worth a visit to St Bridget Nurseries Garden Centre in Old Rydon Lane Exeter. You will be able to ask the experts questions and find out why each plant and product has been chosen. Many of the items used have been recycled from materials used on the nursery. For example the hibernation castle is built from wooden pallets, terracotta pots, bamboo canes, straw, rocks, wood and air vent bricks. In addition the obelisk which has climbing plants growing up it was an old shop display stand!

Children visitors are invited to take part in a treasure hunt quiz. Simply pick up an entry form, find the 10 posters hidden around the garden centre and write down what simple step each poster tells you about. The 10 steps are simple ways you can help the environment and wildlife at home. Each completed entry receives a small prize and all entries will be put into a draw to win a ladybird box and £5 St Bridget Nurseries Gift Token.

Call 01392 873672 for further details.

What a specimen!

The team at St Bridget Nurseries' garden centre had an unusual challenge yesterday when they had to move a

15ft tall, approx 1.5tonne very spikey palm tree! The plant was originally planted when the Old Rydon Lane garden centre shop was first built back in the eighties. Surrounded by brick walls the palm has greeted visitors to the garden centre for all those years. However, the area surrounding the palm is due to be transformed into a wildlife garden next week in a joint event with Devon Wildlife Trust. Not known for its major wildlife attraction, it was felt the palm should be moved. It took 4 men half a day to dig, wire undercut and eventually lift with the use of the nursery tractor. Many customers then watched as the huge specimen plant was driven across the car park and temporarily planted in a wooden pallet crate. The staff are still considering what to do with the palm and so if you are looking for a huge specimen then do get in touch on 01392 873672.

Plants for the future

Pick up any newspaper today and you're sure to find at least one article relating to climate change. Our climate is definitely changing and now is the time that we should be trying to minimise the impacts. Just a small change in the average annual temperature will have a large net impact on growing seasons.

In Great Britain many plant varieties will struggle to survive, whilst it will open up the possibility to new varieties to thrive. Plants will be living in a warmer world but will have to cope with winter waterlogging and summer droughts. If we have fewer cold snaps pests will not be killed off leading to more diseases and more weeds!

Climate change could also bring about rapid changes in the character and style of the British Garden.

For the domestic gardener key challenges are likely to include how to manage and maintain soil fertility, how to cope with more pest problems. The smooth green lawn will be even more of a challenge and with extension of the growing seasons comes an extension in maintenance needs. However, it is not just doom and gloom, we have opportunities influding an increased range of plants suitable for growing in the open garden (Cordylines, aloes, sedums, olea (olives), Proteas and Carpobrotus), plus warmer and drier summers and autumns will allow us to enjoy our gardens more and be in them.

Don't ignore climate change, it is happening and you can do things to minimise its impact on you and on others. Start planning your garden of the future too, for further information e-mail marketing@stbridgetnurseries for a short leaflet they have created with scientists on climate change and your garden.

LAWN DAY

Just a reminder that this Sunday Dennis Lane, Grounds Inspector of the Institute of Groundsmanship, will be on hand to give expert help and advice on all aspects of lawns and turf management at St Bridget Nurseries, Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary, Exeter. He will be happy to identify weed problems in your lawn or why you have bare patches so please bring in samples of the weeds or diseases on your grass. Mr Lane will be there from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Call 01392 876281 for further details.

Deer resistant

They are creatures that many of us do not have in our gardens, and one that many of us think we would love but for those who do get deer visiting their garden it can be quite problematic.

In Devon there are lots of deer and many gardeners find their plants eaten over night. If you are one of these gardeners then you may want to take a look at a very helpful guide written by Andrew Halstead for the RHS http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0105/deer_resistant.asp Andrew has listed many plants that deer appear to not favour as much as others! Included in the list are plants like Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Mahonia, Buxus and Daphnes all of which you will find at St Bridget Nurseries Garden Centres.

SMALL PLANTS, BIG BARGAIN!

St Bridget Nurseries Garden Centre has just put our an offer on their home-grown range of small container plants. Each plant was grown on their nursery in Exeter and normally costs either £1.99 or £2.00. They are now offering you the chance to pick and mix 3 plants from this range for just £5! There are cyclamen, small conifers and small shrubs included in the offer. What's more at that price you can afford to splash out on a really nice glazed pot and create a stunning autumn colourful planter. Visit St Bridget Garden Centres today for some great gardening deals.

DON'T MISS OUT JUST BECAUSE OF THE POSTAL STRIKE!

If you would like a copy of any of St Bridget Nurseries' plant lists and don't want to wait until Christmas because of the snail mail, then simply e-mail the lovely St Bridget's team and they will send you a pdf copy.

What's more if you are interested in any of the top fruit varieties listed on pages 19 and 20 of the main price list, you can get 10% off when you order between Thursday 18th October and Thursday 25th October in celebration of St Bridget's Apple Week. BARGAIN!

E-mail marketing@stbridgetnurseries.co.uk for your price list today.

WHAT'S ON?

This weekend at St Bridget Nurseries' Exeter Garden Centres there will be two visitors.

On Saturday 6th October at the Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary Garden Centre a representative from the Devon Wildlife Trust will be on hand to answer wildlife questions and tell you more about how to encourage wildlife into your garden as well as tell you about the great work that the Trust does. As a Devon Wildlife Approved Garden Centre, there are lots of wildlife friendly products at St Bridget's garden centre and the staff are trained and enthusiastic about wildlife gardening. The garden centre is open from 8am to 5pm on Saturday.

On Sunday 7th October at the Old Rydon Lane, Exeter garden centre Dennis Lane, Grounds Inspector of the Institute of Groundsmanship, will be on hand to give expert help and advice on all aspects of lawns and turf management. He will be happy to identify weed problems in your lawn or why you have bare patches so please bring in samples of the weeds or diseases on your grass. Mr Lane will be there from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

Gone Potty?!

St Bridget Nurseries' Old Rydon Lane Plant Area Team have gone potty! The staff have planted up a delightful selection of containers for sale. Just some examples are a herb collection, an alpine collection, autumn flowering collection plus many other stunning plants in containers. Both garden centres will plant up any container for you so if you don't see what you are after just ask!

Get into Home Grown...

The bounty of autumn is also upon us, with fruit trees laden down with apples pears and plums. Top fruit and fruit trees are an excellent place to start your home grown collection. Ornamental or edible, Malus (apple) is hard to beat. Malus offer fruit, autumn colour as well as beautiful blossom in spring. There’s a wide choice of trees that are compact in size and resistant to mildew and scab. There are favourite varieties like Cox’s and Bramleys, as well as the more modern varieties such as Fiesta or Sunset. On the ornamental side, Malus ‘Evereste’ has outstanding characteristics as a garden tree including fabulous blossom (light-purple to pink-white) lovely form and attractive orange-red fruits.

St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter grow their top fruit in an open ground field in Exeter. As well as apples you can get cherries, peaches and nectarines, pears, plums, damsons, quince, sweet chestnut and walnuts. Many of the fruits are grown on what is called dwarf root stocks meaning that they won't grow too big and therefore are ideal for small spaces.

The fruit trees will be dug from the field later this autumn so now is the best time to arrange an appointment to make your selection and pre-order straight from the field. Call 01392 873672 and ask to speak to the nursery manager.

September Pond Checklist

If you have a pond now is the best time to cover up your pond with netting before leaves start falling from trees. Before you cover everything up though, remove dead leaves from waterlilies as they die back and thin out submerged oxygenating plants. Also get a net and remove blanketweed and duckweed.

Also move over to a winter wheatgerm feed for your pond fish.

If you would like to find out more about pond care then speak to St Bridget's aquatic team at the Sidmouth Road, Clyst St Mary, Exeter Garden Centre.

PLANT FOCUS: Schizostylis coccinea Sunrise

There are relatively few flowers that begin blooming in Autumn and put on a good show despite shortening days but schizostylis coccinea does!

Commonly known as Kaffir Lily, the plants have linear leaves and upright flower-spikes, each topped by several flowers that open wide like a crocus.

This single species is vigorous and clump-forming. The flowers are scarlet/pink (coccinea means scarlet) and the plant is a native of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.

To grow well, plant in a fertile moist soil (plants do well beside a pond for example) and shelter from cold winds. You can buy this variety as a herbaceous perennial plant from garden centres like St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter.

Alkaline Soils

My friend recently tested her garden soil using a simple soil tester which she bought from St Bridget Nurseries. The results told her that she had Alkaline soil and so she's ask me what to do about it. My advice with any soil type is unless you want to spend money and time in order to grow something you desperately want it is much easier to accept your soil type and plant plants that will thrive in the conditions.

If you still want a certain plant then try growing it in a pot!

Some soils are unrelentingly alkaline and you can fight it with treatments such as sulphur, watering with vinegar and using acidic mulches but you'll more than likely find it goes back to being alkaline. Therefore plant plants like

Berberis thunbergii, Buddleja davidii, Lavender, Lonicera (Honeysuckle), Mahonia

or herbaceous plants like:

Aquilegia, Cosmos, Geum, Helianthus, Iris, Phlox, Scabiosa

Trees suitable for alkaline conditions include Fagus sylvatica (beech) and Gleditsia triacanthos.

If you're not sure what type of soil you have then buy a simple testing kit to test the pH level of your soil (an alkaline or 'limey' soil will have a pH between 7 and 14)It's easy and fun to do and then you can start planning your garden to work with nature and not against it. For further advice on what plants may be suitable for your garden and to check availability of the above plants call St Bridget Nurseries on 01392 873672.

Spuds!

You should try and harvest all your potatoes by the end of September to avoid them being eaten by slugs! Lift potatoes carefully with a garden fork and try to remove all of them otherwise you'll get some growing next year in a place you may not want them to. Store potatoes in a dark, coo, frost-free place. Natural fibre potato sacks are ideal and are now available at St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres.

September Sunshine!

With the Devonshire forecast looking good for the weekend why not enjoy your garden and invest in a lovely set of garden furniture? St Bridget Nurseries' Old Rydon Lane Garden Centre has a massive garden furniture showroom stocked with wood, metal and resin furniture. You will find everything from a simple garden bench to hammocks, tables, seats, recliners and parasols. Many sets have massive reductions so why not go and have a look this weekend? Don't forget to pick up a Chimenea while you're there to keep you warm outside once the sunsets.

Plant profile: Rudbeckia

The variety pictured is Rudbeckia fulgida sullivantii Goldsturm and is a delightful herbaceous perennial that will add 'Sunflower' like warmth to your garden at this time of year. The variety has a particularly long flowering period from mid-summer to mid-autumn and the first frosts. Flower stems grow to about 60cm high and attract and lovely range of wildlife such as bees and butterflies into your garden.

Plant Rudbeckia in a flower border, as it tolerates light shade, to extend the flowering season late into the year. The Royal Horticultural Society has given this variety its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Rudbeckia Goldsturm is available from St Bridget Nurseries for £5.25 a plant.

Don't forget...

As temperatures drop, pond fish will have a reduced level of metabolism. Now is a great time to buy Wheatgerm food which is better for autumn feeding and colder weather. Wheatgerm food and a full range of pond equipment is available from St Bridget Nurseries' Clyst St Mary Garden Centre, Sidmouth Road nearly opposite Westpoint Exhibition Centre.

Chim-chimminy-chim-chim!

Having had at least 5 nice weather days on the trot, we've certainly seen more people enjoying their gardens in the evenings. But, as September approaches the temperature at night is dipping. Whilst patio heaters recently received some bad press, chimineas, fire baskets and fire bowls are a good alternative that look stunning too.

Chimineas originated over a thousand years ago in Mexico, where they were used as ovens for heating and cooking.
The nomadic tribes that inhabited the mountains in Mexico shaped clay into simple chiminea shapes and then fired them in wood fuelled kilns. The word "chiminea" comes from the Spanish word for chimney.

Chimineas can still be used as an oven to cook food outdoors but many simple use them as an outdoor heater.

Chimineas in all shapes and sizes plus fire bowls, baskets and burning logs can be purchased at both St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter.

What's in a name? - Flaming Katy!

Commonly known as Flaming Katy, Kalanchoes (pronounced KA-luhn-KO-e) are an easy to grow houseplant. They just need warm temperatures (between 12 and 30C) and minimum care. In a moderate climate they can even be grown outdoors (but only in pots and not in the ground). Plants are sensitive to the cold though so really in Britain it's best to keep them as houseplants as they are unlikely to survive a frost.

Kalanchoe plants look great in small pots. You may find that if you plant in a large pot, the leaves grow in size but the amount of flowers or height will grow as normal and rather slowly. If you want to re-pot your Kalanchoe it is best to do so in spring.

Like most houseplants try not to allow direct sunlight on the plant but do place plants in a well lit spot.

This picture shows a beautiful double flower head of a Kalanchoe from St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter. Both garden centres have a wide selection of houseplants and stunning pot covers to complement your home.

Plant focus: Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander'

This is a herbaceous perennial plant that produces elegant light green leaves that have cream margins and red tinges in spring. The light yellow flowers have a fiery orange eye and bloom from mid summer.

Lysimachia like moist but well-drained soil that does not dry out in summer. Plants grow best in full sun or partial shade and these plants look fabulous in a border.

St Bridget Nurseries have Lysimachia punctata 'Alexander' for sale in 2 litre pots for £5.25 a plant.

Rhododendron and azalea flower power for next spring!

Do you have Rhododendrons or Azaleas in your garden? When spring comes do you find they haven't flowered that well? If so, now’s the time to make sure they flower amazingly next year. Rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas all set their flower buds for next year now. They can soon become short of water and then the flower buds don’t set properly. This means that next spring the buds will either fall off or not develop properly. Therefore, make sure you give them a really good soaking before the soil starts to dry out. Mulching the plants with bark, composted bark or similar will help too. Don’t forget to feed with a rhododendron (ericaceous)fertiliser. Liquid ones act quicker and are a better bet in dry weather. It also helps to deadhead this year's flowers. At the base of the flower heads you will see a ring of brown around the flower stem, this is a handy marker of where you should cut the flower head off. It's usually just above the first leaves you come to from the flower head.

VINE WEEVIL
Plants growing in pots or other containers, out of doors or under cover, can be severely affected by vine weevil grubs. The adult vine weevil beetles feed on the foliage of many herbaceous plants and shrubs, especially Rhododendron, evergreen Euonymus, Hydrangea, Epimedium, Bergenia, Primula and strawberry.

Plants growing in the open ground are less likely to be damaged, although the grubs sometimes kill strawberries, primulas, polyanthus, Sedum, Heuchera and young yew plants.

You can tell if vine weevils are killing your plants by spotting irregular-shaped notches on leaf margins during the summer were they have been munching!

Adult have a pear shaped body and are black and just under a cm long. They hide in dark places during the day and are slow moving. They can't fly but they can crawl and climb well.

Far more serious is the damage caused by the soil-dwelling larvae which are plump, white, legless grubs up to 1cm (0.5in) long with pale brown heads. These feed on roots and also bore into tubers and succulent stem bases, devastating many herbaceous pot plants. They can also kill woody plants by gnawing away the outer tissues of the larger roots and stem bases. Plants wilt and die during autumn to spring as a result of grubs devouring the roots.

TO CONTROL

As vine weevil beetles tend to lay eggs in late summer and early autumn it pays to protect vulnerable plants in pots – such as begonias, fuchsias, cyclamen and sedums – with Bio Provado Vine Weevil Killer. A wide range of pests can be controlled by spraying with Ultimate Bug Killer (both available from St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres).

As a Devon Wildlife Trust Approved garden centre, St Bridget Nurseries would rather recommend biological controls. Encourage natural enemies. Vine weevils and their grubs are eaten by a variety of predators such as birds, frogs, toads, shrews, hedgehogs and predatory ground beetles. Alternatively the biological control microscopic pathogenic nematode (Steinernema kraussei) can be used.

For further advice ask one of the St Bridget Nurseries plant experts.

SPRING BULBS NOW IN!
A massive range of Spring Flowering Bulbs are now in at BOTH St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres. Bulbs are a great way of dotting colour around your garden and interest at various heights. Plus if you don't have a large garden you can grow many varieties in a bowl either indoors or outside. Simply, pick a pot that is the right size and will complement your chosen bulbs. If you are using a clay pot with a large drainage hole in the base, place a few 'crocks' at the bottom such as pieces of broken pot. Use a bulb compost and fill your container with compost and plant bulbs, making a hole three times the size of the bulb.
Although different varieties can be planted together, bulbs have more impact when the same variety is planted either singly or packed closely together for a bumper show. If you buy a nice deep container you can layer bulbs and stagger your display by choosing varieties that will flower at different times or grow at different heights. One suggestion is to plant your Daffodils and Tulips at a depth of about 8" and then add a layer of compost about 3" deep and then add a layer of smaller bulbs like Grape Hyacinths and Calla Lilies. Top with some more compost and then water well.

You may also want to add some Bulb Booster. This is a new product that St Bridget Nurseries are stocking. Made by the makers of Miracle_gro, bulb Booster is slow release granules that provide nutrients that feed for up to 3 months. They delivers nourishment to your planted bulbs, encouraging vigorous root growth and encourages lush foliage which is required to support more abundant flowering the following season.

For a great start to your floral display, pop in to St Bridget Nurseries Exeter.

LOW IN PLANT MILES

Unlike many garden centres, St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres grow most of the plants they sell on site, which means their plants are suitable for the conditions found in Devon area. They grow all their roses in fields behind the Clyst St Mary Garden Centre and all other plants are grown on the nursery just two miles away behind the Old Rydon Lane Garden Centre.
It also makes their garden centres low in plant miles - as virtually no carbon energy has been used in getting the plants to you.

If you are buying your plants from St Bridget's it also means you are buying from experts as the company has been growing plants in Exeter for over 80 years! Plus they're so confident about their quality, all hardy St Bridget Nurseries' plants carry a 1 year guarantee.
With nearly 900 varieties of shrubs, over 200 varieties of roses, nearly 300 varieties of herbaceous perennials, over 130 different conifers, over 200 different ornamental and fruit trees as well as over 350 types of bedding plants and other seasonal crops - you'll find it all at St Bridget Nurseries Garden Centres!

INSPIRATIONAL!

The award winning planteria team at both St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres have been really busy and have some fantastic plants on sale at the moment. The use of colour, texture, height and scent gives you wonderful ideas that you can re-create in your garden. This picture is of a lavender, ivy and clematis display at the Old Rydon Lane garden centre. It shows how the whites and purples of the flowers complement the rich greens and tone with the beautiful granite plinth and rustic looking sundial. A lavender border would look fantastic beside a driveway or a simple lavender surrounded by small ivy in a beautiful glazed pot would look suitably Mediterranean for a patio or veranda. Brighten up your outdoor space with home-grown plants from St Bridget Nurseries, Exeter.

RED HOT AND GORGEOUS!

Sumptuous velvety clematis glowing deep in rich reds, pinks, purples and blues. Climbing and twinning up to cover many unsightly objects in your garden! Virginia creeper (parthenocissus) and its glorious autumn reds is a great alternative climber to have on offer
Acer palmatum is a fabulous foliage plant that will almost catch fire with colours of red (depending on variety), as the leaves begin to turn. Some, like ‘Crimson Queen’ are compact enough to be grown in large pots which makes them perfect for patios.
Potentilla presents perfect perennial red choices at this time of year. Use the vivid reds of ‘Gibson’s Scarlet’ to colour the ground level of the display.
All the above plants are available from your nearest St Bridget Nurseries Garden Centre. Old Rydon Lane (01392 873672) and Clyst St Mary (01392 876281), Exeter.

SLUGS!

A few days sunshine meant that I was able to get into the garden in full force over the weekend. My tidying up revealed that while I had been sheltering from the rain so too had hundreds of slugs and snails! There were clearly too many for even my greediest of hedgehog friends and so further help was needed in order to protect my plants from being eaten alive!

Beer is a traditional slug trap - simply fill an old tin can with a malty-smelling beer and set them at close intervals around the garden. To avoid killing beneficial ground beetles don't set them flush with the soil. A slug will happily climb, a ground beetle won't. If like me you'd rather enjoy the beer yourself you can use a mixture of flour, water and yeast in traps instead. Remember to mix up a new batch every day or so.

Another environmentally friendly way to catch them is to use the rinds of grapefruit, lemons and even potatos. Set the rinds, upside down in the ground where you've seen the slugs. Early in the morning lift the rinds up and you'll hopefully have a collection of slugs underneath, either kill your slugs (by crushing them) or give birds a treat and place them on the bird table.

Another trick is to use copper. Copper reacts with the slimey path of snails and slugs and gives them a rather nasty shock! You can buy copper wire and tape from your garden centre, like St Bridget Nurseries in Exeter, along with slug traps for use with beer.

Oh and don't forget a pair of gardening gloves - slugs are very sticky to touch!

BOG GARDENS

Sudden heavy downpours, coupled with soil compaction, poor drainage and landscaping with impervious materials will naturally lead to flooding. Prolonged waterlogging can weaken and kill plant roots. We can improve things such drainage using gullies and soakaways but in smaller gardens this can be more of a problem.

If you have very poorly drained soils that are consistently wet, it is generally better to work with nature rather than against it. Some plants thrive in wet, poorly drained soils such as Fothergilla, Euphorbia, Lamium and Trollius but they won't stand having their roots in wet soil all of the time. for permanently wet soils you could design a bog garden. Not only will this work with your soil type but bogs are a haven for wildlife such as dragonflies, frogs and migrating waterbirds.

Despite the name bog gardens can be extremely beautiful. Some good bog plants you could choose from include Filipendula Rubra (Meadowsweet) , Geum x borisii , Geum rivale (Water avens), Gunnera manicata (Giant rhubarb), Gunnera magellanica ,Gunnera tinctoria , Iris ensata syn. kaempferi , Iris ensata Variegata , Iris sibirica , Mazus reptans Alba, Mazus reptans Blue , Mimulus cardinalis, Mimulus Threave variegated , Peltiphyllum peltatum, Rheum palmatum and Sisyrinchium. All of these plants can be found at St Bridget Nurseries' Clyst St Mary Garden Centre.
Also suitable for the bog garden are Astilbes, Hemerocallis, Hostas, Ligularia, Lysimachia, Lythrum, Schizostylis, Tradescantia and Trollius which can all be found in the Herbaceous Perennial Section at both St Bridget Garden Centres.

If you want help planning your bog garden simply pop into your local garden centre, like St Bridget Nurseries, and ask one of the helpful staff.

Let's Be British!

Ok so the weather is letting us down and not exactly how we dream of summer, but let's be British and not let it dampen our spirits. Let's still brighten up our window sills so at least something is cheery outside. This gorgeous display of bright and cheery flowering plants can be seen today at St Bridget's Clyst St Mary Garden Centre and the plants would look lovely in a container on a window sill. Alternatively both garden centres have a fantastic range of colourful containers already planted and at reduced prices. What's more. nearly all of the plants at St Bridget's are grown on their nursery in Exeter so you'll be buying British too!

TREE FERNS

Dicksonia antarctica (shown left) is a fabtastic tree fern for UK gardens. Like most ferns it likes a partial shade to full Shade position. In areas prone to frost plants can be quite tender and so it is advisable to either wrapping the crown with straw, dead fronds or bubble wrap or keep your fern in a pot and move it into a conservatory. The ferns like to be planted in a well drained soil, preferably acidic. You will likely have acidic soil if plants like Rhododendrons and Camellias grow well in your garden, if you're not sure just plant the fren in ericaceous compost.

The thick mass of roots form a trunk, which can eventually reach about 6m (20ft) in the wild. The foliage appears in spring from the top of the trunk, unfurling from the centre to open up into large, rich green fronds. This particular variety has been given the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which is for plants of outstanding excellence.

St Bridget Nurseries have lots of ferns in stock along with other unusual and exotic plants such as bananna plants so start your jungle garden today.

SUMMER WILDLIFE

During July and August are great for spotting and attracting wildlife into your garden. As an approved Devon Wildlife Trust garden centre, St Bridget Nurseries can advise you on how you can make your garden Wildlife friendly. Here's a few other tips of what to look out for:

- Butterflies will be a round in large numbers at this time of year, so plant good nectar producers like buddleja and red clover to attract them.

- Bumblebees will be mating with bees from different nests. Young males sleep out at night, often on flowers, whereas young queens return to their nests. Only mated young queens will survive the winter to start new colonies next year. Bumblebees may nest in tussocks of grass or moss, so may use a grassy bank at the edge of your garden. Plant clover and catmint to encourage them into your garden. You can also buy or make bumblebee bee boxes. Bumblebee boxes are about the size of small bird boxes but have two compartments: one in which the queen breeds which is filled with wood shavings, and one where the other bees live. Remember bees are great pollinators for your plants.

- Newts tend to breed later than other amphibians and should leave their ponds by August. Most frogs, toads and newts will stay on land until next spring so create log piles and leave the bottom of hedges undisturbed so they can take shelter there.

Another summer deal at St Bridget's

St Bridget Nurseries' Garden Centres in Exeter have just put Phostrogen Plant Food on special offer. Not only have their 1kg boxes got an extra 25% free in them (1.25kg box for £3.49) but you can buy 2 boxes for just £5! That's 2.5kg for £5.

Since many of your plants will benefit from a feed now, this is a great summer offer.

ST BRIDGET'S ARE THE GREATEST - IT'S OFFICIAL!

St Bridget Nurseries scooped a total of three awards and were shortlisted for a total of four at yesterday's THE GREATEST AWARDS 2007.

The Greatest 2007 awards were organised by the Garden Communication and Media Company to recognise team success in garden retailing. Throughout the month of June, the general public were encouraged to vote for their greatest garden centres and the votes were received in their thousands. Over 200 independent garden centres were nominated.

Sir Geoff Hurst, England’s 1966 World Cup hat-trick hero presented The Greatest Awards at the National Motorcycle Museum near Birmingham on Monday 9th July. St Bridget Nurseries won The Greatest Planteria Team, a silver award for The Greatest In-store Merchandising Idea plus their Plantsmans Café won The Greatest Garden Centre Catering Team for the South West. In addition, St Bridget Nurseries was shortlisted in the greatest garden centre category and were voted one of the top 20 garden centres in the UK.

Everyone at St Bridget's would like to thank all of you who voted for the company. The entire team is thrilled and it is great to put the West Country on the gardening map again!

SUMMER SAVER AT ST BRIDGET'S

Heathers have just been put on special offer at St Bridget Nurseries. Plants in 9cm pots were £1.49 each or £12.50 for ten.

They are now 75p each or £5 for ten only while stocks last.

Heathers are beautiful dense, low growing evergreens that provide excellent ground-cover. The give colourful displays in both flowers and foliage throughout most of the year. All plants require acid soil conditions, though the Carnea varieties will tolerate some lime. If you live in an alkaline/lime area you can plant heathers in pots or raised borders using ericaceous compost. As plants get to the size you want them to stay at give them a clip to shape and remove daed leaves by the end of March or early April, this also prevents plants getting too woody.

Give your plants space

Good spacing will help to reduce your garden feeling overgrown and crowded. Spacing also allows air to circulate freely around the leaves which keeps plants healthy. If you have a damp garden and have had problems with fungal diseases, one of the best remedies is to take out some plants and move them to a spot with more space as plants close together will spread diseases. Pruning can also give your plants some breathing space. Make sure you prune each plant at an appropriate time. The general rule is if a plant blooms on old wood, prune after it blooms (spring or early summer). If a plant blooms on new wood, prune it in late winter/early spring. Have a look at your plants and you'll soon see the difference.

Sorry for the break in news, I've been on holiday - don't worry like you I also got the rain!

Most gardening tips at this time of year tell us about watering young plants and other water related tasks. Whilst this may not be an issue at present we should think ahead. Although the forecast remains unsettled the great British Summer may come late this year and so why not harvest the rain we are getting now and stock up with water for when it gets hot? My 300L water butt is already full so I'm going to invest in an overflow one. It's surprising when the sun does come out just how thirsty hanging baskets and containers can be and that stored water will soon go. St Bridget Nurseries have a wide selection of water storage aids in their garden centres so pop in and start harvesting the rain!

Go wild in the garden...

Native wildflowers will attract plenty of wildlife to your garden and are unusual additions to borders and contaners. Here are some of the best:

For sunny borders try Lythrum (Loosestrife). Lythrum can grow to 1.2m tall on moist soils so works well at the back of a border, plants are also the caterpillar food plant for two species of hawkmoth.

For a shady bed choose Digitalis (foxgloves) which are good in sun or shade and reach a stately 1.5m when they flower in June. Lamium galeobdolon Variegatum (Yellow archangel or Dead Nettle) can be invasive BUT the whorls of yellow flowers are loved by bees.

For some edible fruit try planting wild strawberry, a mini version of the cultivated variety that look great at the edge of a border.

Wildflowers are easy to grow. Sometimes it is difficult to cultivate from seed but you can get a large selection already cultivated as plants. Have a look in the herbaceous perennial department at St Bridget Nurseries for some great additions. For wildflowers native to your particular location visit the Natural History Museum website at www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/life/plants-fungi/postcode-plants

Following on...

from the post about garden time savers we previously listed great evergreen foliage shrubs. Today we are going to list great flowering shrubs that will bring colour to your garden with minimum care needs.

- Amelanchier canadensis (Snowy Mespilus)

- Brachyglottis (also known as Senecio)

- Camellias

- Ceonothus

- Ceratostigma

- Chaenomeles

- Erica (Heathers)

- genista hispanica, G. Lydia

- Hypericum 'Hidcote'

- Olearia

- Perovskia

- Potentilla fruticosa

- Spiraea japonica

- Syringa micropylla

- Viburnum plicatum

Plus don't forget scented flowers like Abelia, Lavandula, Mahonia, Osmanthus and Viburmum x bodnatense to name only a few.

The secret is out...

Mrs S. Crowys from Tiverton, this weekend won St. Bridget Nurseries’ Poinsettia Competition.
Poinsettias are traditionally sold in winter as a Christmas houseplant. The showy part of poinsettias that most people think are the flowers are actually coloured bracts (modified leaves) and these can be pink, white or the traditional red.
Whilst very beautiful, Poinsettias do not travel well and are sensitive to rapid temperature changes. Most poinsettias offered for sale in this country have been grown abroad and travelled through several countries to make it to various shops. At St. Bridget Nurseries, however, they grow their own poinsettias to a very high standard locally on their nursery in Exeter. This ensures that customers get the best plants, which have only had to travel two miles at the most to their garden centres. If cared for Poinsettias can give years of satisfaction in the home. In fact at St. Bridget Nurseries, they have customers who time and time again tell them how good their poinsettias are in their homes in mid summer! For this reason, St Bridget’s started the Poinsettia competition and challenged local green fingered gardeners to produce the best looking poinsettia from their Christmas 2006’s purchase.
The competition was judged on Saturday 2nd June at St Bridget Nurseries’ garden centre in Old Rydon Lane by Gordon Newton from Exeter University. Prizes were awarded to plants with the best shape and colour.
First prize winner was Shirley Crowys from Tiverton, and her beautiful red poinsettia was a clear winner. Shirley won £25 of St Bridget Nurseries gift vouchers, which she put to immediate use on buying plants for a new hedge. Shirley said that her secret to success was not using tap water. Instead, Shirley boils her water, lets it stand and cool in the room before watering the plant.