This online course gives an introduction to the anatomy and physiology of flowers, pollination and how seeds are formed, as well as the science of germination. Participants will compare the benefits and limitations of propagation of plants both sexually and vegetatively. Instructions will be provided on how to sow seeds and take successful stem cuttings.
Celebrating the ‘flower that comes before the swallow dares’ we will dance with Wordsworth’s daffodils and sigh sadly with Lenten Lilys. Welcomed in from the wild in the 16th century forms and features proliferated through unstable couplings, with the ‘Great Yellow Spanish Bastard’ and ‘Parkinson’s Double’ delighting the florists of old, whilst ‘Van Sion’ travelled to America with the colonists to multiply in their gardens.
The architect and designer Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, born in 1716, is credited with formulating the iconic English landscape garden. Even today, his rolling lawns, scattered with tree clumps and ornamented with glittering lakes, continue to define our perception of rural Britain. As a result, his hundreds of landscapes have eclipsed the study of eighteenth-century garden history almost entirely.
Has your garden or local park inspired you to want to write? The natural world is a great spur to creativity and whether or not you have ever tried writing before, this half day workshop could be the key to getting you started. Whether it’s a memory of a childhood garden, a poem, or a piece of prose about a landscape you have visited, writing about gardens could be the key to unlocking your writing ‘voice’. During this 3-hour session, participants will have a chance to craft and read their own work, and the tutor will engage in guided exercises and offer advice.
Plants can’t talk but they do communicate with the world around them. This half-day workshop looks at plant-plant, plant-insect and plant-human interactions.
Looking to train, or retrain, as a garden designer? Do it! It’s an incredibly rewarding and diverse career path. Paul Herrington is an RHS Chelsea Flower Show medal-winning garden designer with over two decades of experience who has worked in a range of private, public, commercial and therapeutic gardens. He’d love to share with you some of his experiences and knowledge.
Join him over two relaxed and informal sessions to learn more about it and discuss:
Part 1
Location: online
Date: Saturday 13/02/21
Time: 10am-1pm
The first session of this two part course covers the fundamental processes and key structures within a plant that are responsible for its growth. Participants will be introduced to plant anatomy, and will gain a deeper understanding of how the internal tissues and organs of plants function. We will look at how photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration work in plants and why understanding them enables you to grow better plants.
This online course covers the fundamental processes and key structures within a plant that are responsible for its growth. Participants will be introduced to plant anatomy, and will gain a deeper understanding of how the internal tissues and organs of plants function. We will look at how photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration work in plants and why understanding them enables you to grow better plants.
Have you ever wondered how Ophelia selected her bouquet of plants; which was the ‘little western flower’ that Puck used to cause mayhem, or what exactly Romeo’s friends had in mind when they wished Juliet were a medlar and Romeo a popp’rin pear? What actually is an apple-john, or indeed a peascod or a codling, and which were insults and which not? Why do primroses live and die like virgins and why are some pinks bastards?
English Paper Piecing is a traditional method of hand sewing patchwork pieces. In this introductory class we will teach you how to use paper and fabric to accurately sew hexagonal flower shapes. It is a wonderfully portable project and a very enjoyable method to use.
This technique can be a fantastic way use up scraps, but in this session we will be using fabrics designed by William Morris, famous for his stunning timeless botanical designs.
