Lauren's Show Garden

MAY - 14th Friday

2010-05-14T03:34:00.000-07:00

I've been busy putting together my website! http://www.piltondesigns.co.uk/ Hopefully this link will work. I even had a little article in the local newspaper- a few moments of fame! http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/article-1899369-detail/article.html

MAY - 3 WEEKS TO GO!!

2010-05-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

Disaster has struck!! Fungus has infected my polytunnel, and unfortunately my inexperience meant I didn't recognise it until I loss a whole batch of cabbages! I've had to resort to spraying my Kohl Rabi, Spinnach and Sage - a pet hate of mine! Of course the plants I've put in the ground in my garden are fine, a bit nibbled but healthy. Growing veg in pots is much harder than I thought it would be.

APRIL

2010-05-10T11:51:00.000-07:00

April was a busy month! I spent most of my time re-potting plants which seems to be never ending. I also spent a fair amount of time sorting all those extra admin things you don't necessarily think of i.e. risk assessments, work method statements etc. I did manage to visit the site - it rained fingers crossed thats not a sign of things to come, otherwise my sunken planting scheme will quickly become a pond!

Images of my show garden to date

2010-05-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

March 2010

2010-04-15T15:24:00.001-07:00

The press release prepared by ns&i (my sponsor) was released! My garden design appeared on the BBC Gardeners World Live website and my show garden 'Calm and Centred' is going to happen. An article about me was printed in the local newspaper and I had to dig out pots to stack behind me for my photo.

I set up a polytunnel for my seedlings which released my windowshelves back to use for vases, birthday cards for my daughter etc. I now had Kohl Rabi, carrots, broad beans, masses of petunias, nasturtiums, marigolds, artichokes, lettuces, sweet peas, mint, sage, chives, chard all squeezed into my polytunnel and realised I need more space!!

I commissioned a local artist blacksmith (Simon Ridley) to make a metal arbour that reflects the circular shapes found in my garden. I now have the conundrum of how to move a large, heavy steel object whilst broad beans and sweetpeas are attached to it!

February 2010

2010-04-15T14:36:00.000-07:00

In January I was selected as a winner of the ns&i competition to build a show garden! Brilliant and daunting news!! In February the realisation of the work ahead of me began to sink in and the fun really started.

I made the decision to grow my own vegetables, flowers and herbs for the garden primarily to keep costs down but also as a way to retain control over what produce I put into my show garden. I spent the majority of February frantically sowing seeds in trays which I placed around the house on any available space adjacent to a window.

I looked to experts for advice. I went straight down to my local garden centre (St John's Garden Centre) asking for any information on vegetable growing and what would look good in June. Luckily they offered me plenty of advice and were willing to lend me six bay balls for the duration of the show... phew saving me a cost of £600.