local community, local life ...............
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out & about Kilmacolm Horticultural Society The Virtual Flower Show, undertaken by the Kilmacolm Horticultural Society when the traditional Annual Show needed cancellation, provided a delightful alternative. 43 members provided a huge range of photographs including the traditions of the usual Flower Show plus some views of their gardens in bloom. The website continues to entertain visitors, please go to www. kilmacolmhorticultural.com and click on ‘Virtual Show’. Until the restrictions are eased to enable us to meet together in larger groups once more, until the public halls are open for meetings once more, we are unable to hold our popular Lectures, Plant sales, Coffee morning etc. But normal activities will be resumed a.s.a.p. Enjoy the changing colours of autumn into winter, prepare your bulbs for spring blooms, take care of each other.
Bridge of Weir Horticultural Society During benign October weather, gardeners were able to catch up with end-of-season chores. Autumn tints were splendid with surprising flourishes from Springtime shrubs, such as Azaleas and Rhododendrons. Christmas Cacti owners were remarking that some were budding nicely and likely to flower for Christmas or earlier! Bulbs should be planted by the end of November. If not..... check the recommended depth for each bulb, not just the ‘rule of thumb’ of 2.5 times the depth. Add horticultural grit to the bottom of the hole, or Vermiculite or Perlite. This helps drainage so keeps the bulb healthy. The last bulbs to plant are normally tulips. Sometimes delays occur but bulbs will catch up or fall into dormancy depending on conditions. For best results, place one type of bulb in a pot and when they flower, arrange these for effect. ‘Lasagne’ type planters may be fashionable but are disappointing. Different bulbs pop up at different times and often the display is sparse because bulbs are over or yet to come. Remember bare-rooted shrubs etc., ordered earlier, will be appearing and need to go in promptly. Give these a good drink, keep moist in a bucket in a cool shed and plant when the ground is frost-free. Prepare a hole wide enough to spread the roots freely over the soil, add compost and mound slightly in the middle to encourage roots to grow downwards, then sprinkle the roots with organic Micorhizzal powder and position on the mound. If roots are too long, this is the time to trim them and will do no harm. These are the plant’s anchor roots. The fibrous ones are those which suck up nourishment. Firm the soil to support the plant. If the tree has a trunk, include a stake to prevent root rock. This should be angled at 45 degrees and point into the prevailing wind. Tie the stake to the tree lower down the trunk but not too tightly. Movement should be limited near the roots but allowing flexibility for the trunk to sway. A little tugging on the roots encourages them to get working! Find us on Facebook and read our new e-letter with members’ contributions.
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