Latest news with #Delphinium
BBC News
14-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Meet the Leeds man with one of the UK's best garden displays
Tucked away in a quiet Leeds village is a garden containing thousands of Delphiniums that is thought to be the largest collection of the species in the for their tall spikes and dazzling colours, these flowers - a favourite of King Charles himself - have become more than just a devoted nearly five decades to growing them, Colin Parton, 70, has carefully expanded his collection to include more than 100 cultivars, preserving many types that are now on the verge of Saturday and next, he opens the gates of Delph Cottage Garden in Methley for two special open days, offering a rare glimpse into his life's work which has earned him the nickname "Delphinium Dad" from his three children. Mr Parton's love affair with Delphiniums began in his teens, after seeing them during a visit to the Harrogate Flower Show."They looked fantastic and I thought 'oh, I'd like to have a go at growing some of them'," he recalls. When he met his wife Julie, the couple dreamed of creating a bespoke garden in their retirement, filled with the towering flowers they both she passed away in 2014, Mr Parton, who worked for Leeds City Council's parks department, says he decided to bring their shared vision to life."I woke up one morning and thought 'oh, I'm going to make a Delphinium garden' - just as you do," he says. Mr Parton carved out six flower beds and began adding to the 15 cultivars he was already then, he has watched with concern as more and more cultivars disappear from nursery shelves and plant borders, frequently asking other gardeners to get in touch with rare varieties."I think trends change," he says."People probably don't grow them like they used to." The plants, which flower from June throughout the summer, are hardy in the cold but struggle in wet the challenges Mr Parton faces growing Delphiniums are dry weather stunting their growth, pests such as slugs and mildew but also the occasional pheasant eating young shoots and taking dust baths in the flowerbeds."Every year is different," he says."I mean some years I've had them over eight foot tall. They're at a nice height this year." Mr Parton currently tends to nearly 1,000 plants. Some, such as 'Conspicuous', 'Blue Tit' and 'Michael Ayres', date back to his early beginnings."It gives me a lot of pleasure," he says."I think it keeps the old grey cells going as I get older."Last year, he was awarded National Plant Collection status by horticultural conservation charity Plant Heritage, a milestone that reflected his own dedication to preserving the plants. Of his 106 cultivars, 21 are on the endangered list of Plant Heritage's Threatened Plants Programme, including Delphinium elatum 'Bambi', 'Boudicca' and 'Taj Mahal'.He hopes one day, someone will take on his extensive collection, adding: "I'm on a mission to try and inspire people to grow Delphiniums."Unless people are growing these in their own gardens, I think they'll disappear."It is not unusual for his garden to attract attention from curious passers-by, who can see the striking sea of floral spires from a day, even celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh could not resist knocking on his door and having a look TV presenter was filming at another site nearby, and spotted Mr Parton's garden "from afar". With interest in his work growing, Mr Parton came up with the idea to host an annual open day in exchange for donations to cancer charities. Both his late wife and father suffered from says: "I think we've had probably 500 people through, which, you know, for somebody's back garden, I think is pretty good."Despite decades of looking after the plants, he still cannot put his finger on what it is that fascinates him."I've always been interested in Delphiniums and people ask me why," he says."I tell them I don't know, I still don't know to this day." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Daily Mirror
14-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to put garlic in plant water until October
Putting garlic in some of your plant water can help protect some of your most vulnerable seedlings and plants from some unwelcome guests who are known to enjoy chowing down on them Garlic water might be the solution for some unwelcome guests in your garden this summer, according to experts. Anyone who has ever grown their own veggies - or tried to include the majestic Delphinium in their garden - will know that slugs can be more than a bit of a pain. Certain greenery, particularly seedlings, is to a slug the most delicious meal imaginable and they simply won't hesitate from tucking in. While it can be frustrating to go outside in the morning and see some major holes in your beloved plants - or worse, find them practically destroyed, slugs are not actually termed as pests. This is because they do play a really important role in the ecosystem, and particularly as food for birds, they're essential. This is why gardeners across the UK are urged not to use things like slug pellets and decimate the population in their green space. It can be something of a balancing act: protecting your new growth, but also letting slugs exist in your garden too. Short of pulling each and every one of the insects off your most vulnerable plants on a rainy evening, it can feel like there are few options. This is where garlic water comes in - adding this tool to your arsenal will seriously put off slugs from making their way over your most prized plants. The best part is this will only cost you the price of a garlic bulb, which is normally between 20 and 30 pence at your local supermarket. Many experts recommend this gardening hack, which as another bonus also means avoiding introducing harsh pesticides into the ecosystem of your garden. However, bear in mind that you should use it sparingly, and only use garlic in the water you will be giving to your most vulnerable thirsty plants - it shouldn't be used throughout the garden indiscriminately, just on young plants, and those with a tender stem. There are a couple of expert-recommended ways you can make your garlic water. Gardener's World advises you pop one litre of water into a pan and bring it to the boil, adding a bulb of garlic and boiling until it's soft. If you want to make more of the solution, you can, but go by the rule of one bulb per litre - so if you're using three litres of water, three bulbs of garlic. Then they advise you take two tablespoons of the solution and dilute into five litres of normal water. Botanist James Wong, writing for The Guardian, recommends a different approach, instead blending a bulb of garlic with one litre of water and then leaving it to soak for at least ten minutes. He explains that Allicin, a compound in garlic, is what puts off slugs, and leaving the blending mixture to soak allows "for the chemical reaction that creates allicin to complete." Once it has soaked, you should then strain the liquid, before using it to water your plants - when James uses this approach, he doesn't dilute it any further, instead spraying it straight on as is. Aim to do your watering with this solution in the evening, and if you have a real trouble spot for slugs, do so "liberally", James advises. However, Gardener's World you should use this solution after rainfall, or generally around once a week.
Scottish Sun
05-06-2025
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
The seeds to sow in your garden now to have it blooming all through summer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHEN the Scottish weather allows it, June is a great month to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Gardens will be coming to life with bursts of growth and flowering throughout the month. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Mature woman planting lavender in the garden 2 Watering plants in the garden And with everything growing so quickly, it's important to keep on top of the essential gardening jobs. Gardening expert Nigel Lawton has shared his handy gardening guide for June - including what seeds to sow right now to make your garden a riot of colour as the summer progresses. While your plants are growing with the light and warmth of summer, weeds may also sprout in the heat. Dobbies' Plant Buyer Nigel explains that hoeing weeds regularly during the dry weather is the best way to keep on top of them. He adds: 'Using weed killer such as Resolva ready-to-use 24 hour weedkiller in some areas is an effective way to combat this, and applying a thick layer of mulch over the soil surface helps prevent more weeds growing. 'Protecting your plants from hot and dry weather is important at this time of year. Watering plants regularly when the weather is dry and warm, and mulching plants with organic matter to lock in moisture and improve soil quality over time, is a great way to protect plants. 'Don't forget to water pots and containers too, and every few weeks add a liquid feed, such as Wesland Boost all purpose liquid plant feed, to containers and hanging baskets, to help produce up to four times more flowers. 'Protect herbaceous plants, such as Delphinium and Hosta, from slug damage using pest control repellents, and protect strawberry plants from hungry birds." Although June is a great time to sow seeds and plant young plants due to the warmer soil and high temperatures, Nigel explains that the heat may also dry the soil out. He emphasises the importance of watering your plants as often as needed during long, hot spells. Grow your groceries - how to grow tomatoes from tomatoes! Nigel's top picks for the best flower seeds to sow in June include; pansies, violas, primroses, calendula, godetia, lupins, delphiniums, and the last chance to sow coreopsisa. For fruit and veg, June is a good time to grow salad crops. Nigel's selects include beetroot, lettuce, pak choi and radish. Peas, sweetcorn, cucumbers, squash, marrows, courgettes, turnips, and broccoli are all good to plant while it's the last chance to grow pumpkins. Many flowers in your garden will be full of growth and colour in June but it is still the perfect time to fill other areas that you can admire for the rest of the summer. Dobbies' plant of the month is a rose, as the rose season is just beginning. June is a great time to pick new varieties to add to planters and borders for summer displays. Nigel's top picks for bedding and border flowers also include dahlia, cosmos and nicotiana for their fast growing during the high summer. He adds: "Fuchsias are ideal to plant this month as they bloom throughout summer to the early frosts, and for a pop of colour begonias, marigolds, and nasturtiums are also a good choice. "To add volume to borders, plant shrubs like lavender, rhododendron or even herbs. "In the pots and containers bringing colour to your walls and doorways, some good choices would be begonias, petunias, and dianthus. For more permanent containers, consider planting Japanese acers, hydrangeas, or cordyline for an eye-catching look. "Prune spring flowering shrubs when flowers have faded and early season herbaceous plants, such as geranium and Oriental poppies, can be cut back after flowering to encourage re-growth of new foliage. When it comes to lawn care, Nigel recommends regular mowing, at least once a week and says this is best if the weather is dry and not too hot to get the perfectly manicured lawn. He says: "Reduce the cutting height of your mower now that the grass is growing quicker. During heatwaves, it's best not to mow your lawn as it will already be struggling in the hot, dry weather. "If you have to mow your lawn in hot weather, raise the height of your mower blades and water your grass after mowing." It is also important to consider the wildlife in these warmer months. Nigel explains that bird baths make a nice feature in any garden and also create a safe habitat for birds as a source of water and place to cool off in summer heat.
The Irish Sun
05-06-2025
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
The seeds to sow in your garden now to have it blooming all through summer
WHEN the Scottish weather allows it, June is a great month to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Gardens will be coming to life with bursts of growth and flowering throughout the month. Advertisement 2 Mature woman planting lavender in the garden 2 Watering plants in the garden And with everything growing so quickly, it's important to keep on top of the essential gardening jobs . Gardening expert Nigel Lawton has shared his handy gardening guide for June - including what seeds to sow right now to make your garden a riot of colour as the summer progresses. While your plants are growing with the light and warmth of summer, weeds may also sprout in the heat. Dobbies' Plant Buyer Nigel explains that hoeing weeds regularly during the dry weather is the best way to keep on top of them. Advertisement He adds: 'Using weed killer such as Resolva ready-to-use 24 hour weedkiller in some areas is an effective way to combat this, and applying a thick layer of mulch over the soil surface helps prevent more weeds growing. 'Protecting your plants from hot and dry weather is important at this time of year. Watering plants regularly when the weather is dry and warm, and mulching plants with organic matter to lock in moisture and improve soil quality over time, is a great way to protect plants. 'Don't forget to water pots and containers too, and every few weeks add a liquid feed, such as Wesland Boost all purpose liquid plant feed, to containers and hanging baskets, to help produce up to four times more flowers. 'Protect herbaceous plants, such as Delphinium and Hosta, from slug damage using pest control repellents, and protect strawberry plants from hungry birds ." Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Although June is a great time to sow seeds and plant young plants due to the warmer soil and high temperatures, Nigel explains that the heat may also dry the soil out. He emphasises the importance of watering your plants as often as needed during long, hot spells. Grow your groceries - how to grow tomatoes from tomatoes! Nigel's top picks for the best flower seeds to sow in June include; pansies, violas, primroses, calendula, godetia, lupins, delphiniums, and the last chance to sow coreopsisa. For fruit and veg, June is a good time to grow salad crops. Nigel's selects include beetroot, lettuce, pak choi and radish. Advertisement Peas, sweetcorn, cucumbers, squash, marrows, courgettes, turnips, and broccoli are all good to plant while it's the last chance to grow pumpkins. Many flowers in your garden will be full of growth and colour in June but it is still the perfect time to fill other areas that you can admire for the rest of the summer. Dobbies' plant of the month is a rose, as the rose season is just beginning. June is a great time to pick new varieties to add to planters and borders for summer displays. Advertisement Nigel's top picks for bedding and border flowers also include dahlia, cosmos and nicotiana for their fast growing during the high summer. He adds: "Fuchsias are ideal to plant this month as they bloom throughout summer to the early frosts, and for a pop of colour begonias, marigolds, and nasturtiums are also a good choice. "To add volume to borders, plant shrubs like lavender, rhododendron or even herbs. "In the pots and containers bringing colour to your walls and doorways, some good choices would be begonias, petunias, and dianthus. For more permanent containers, consider planting Japanese acers, hydrangeas, or cordyline for an eye-catching look. Advertisement "Prune spring flowering shrubs when flowers have faded and early season herbaceous plants, such as geranium and Oriental poppies, can be cut back after flowering to encourage re-growth of new foliage. When it comes to lawn care, Nigel recommends regular mowing, at least once a week and says this is best if the weather is dry and not too hot to get the perfectly manicured lawn. He says: "Reduce the cutting height of your mower now that the grass is growing quicker. During heatwaves, it's best not to mow your lawn as it will already be struggling in the hot, dry weather. Read more on the Irish Sun "If you have to mow your lawn in hot weather, raise the height of your mower blades and water your grass after mowing." Advertisement It is also important to consider the wildlife in these warmer months. Nigel explains that bird baths make a nice feature in any garden and also create a safe habitat for birds as a source of water and place to cool off in summer heat.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Time of India
Valley of Flowers reopens for visitors, 83 trek to national park on 1st day
Dehradun: The Valley of Flowers National Park, a Unesco World Heritage site in the Garhwal Himalayas, reopened for tourists on Sunday. Each year, the alpine valley located over 9,000 ft above sea level in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district opens to the public on June 1 and closes around Oct 31 for winter. On the first day of the season this year, 83 visitors trekked to the valley, four of whom had registered online. Declared a national park in 1982, the Valley of Flowers is home to more than 600 plant species, including Uttarakhand's state flower, Brahma Kamal (Saussurea obvallata), along with Aster, Delphinium, Himalayan Blue Poppy, Ranunculus, Potentilla, Primula, and Lilium. Rich in biodiversity, the 87.5 sq km valley also houses endangered animal species such as snow leopards, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, Bharal (blue sheep), and red foxes. The valley was accidentally discovered in 1931 by British mountaineer and botanist Frank S Smythe when he lost his way while returning from an expedition to Mount Kamet. After it was damaged in the 2013 floods, the 4 to 10 km trek route from Ghangaria to the valley has remained in poor condition. DS Negi, a retired range officer, told TOI, "Since 2013, trekkers have been unable to go beyond 4 to 5 km due to the poor condition of the route, whereas earlier, they could venture more than 10 km into the valley." He added that landslides have always been a big challenge for the tourists coming to the valley and that the issues are yet to be resolved "despite multiple proposals sent to the govt". Forest range officer Chetna Kandpal also acknowledged that the trek is challenging , especially a 2 km stretch which runs over rocky terrain. "Temporary bridges have been constructed over streams, and paths damaged by snowfall have been repaired. This year, an online registration system has also been introduced for visitors," Kandpal said.
