Enchanted Gardens Kent

Come on Kent! The UKBMS 2018 results are out and there are success stories for some of our top-priority conservation Kent species ŌĆō Duke of Burgundy up 65% on 2017 & Heath Fritillary up 161%! The UK's first Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi) of 2019 was also recorded from Kent last weekend. This well camouflaged butterfly can be found throughout the British Isles in many habitats, including; chalk grassland and woodland rides and clearings. #UKBMS www.butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-b log/latest-news

Plants we grow at Enchanted Gardens: we are getting ready for our next Open Day this Saturday, 27th April. Please join us for an afternoon of gardening fun and an inspiring lecture, starting around 12am. There will be cake & tea too! :-) For a list of all our flowers available see: https://www.enchantedgardenskent.co.uk/pr oduct-cŌĆ”/perennials

Plant of the Day: This is 'Magnolia Soulangeana' - you will see them everywhere as they are very very popular. Please understand that they are NOT small trees and look awful when they run out of room and have drastic surgery removing limbs to stay in a small space. They would like to grow to around 40 feet so please don't buy one just because you like the flowers. There are a few now that are smaller - there are even those to have in a pot! So please ask about the height of the tree and care enough to know that when fully grown others can enjoy. #MagnoliaSoulangeana

Visit us Monday - Friday 10am -3pm. Weekends by appointment only! https://www.enchantedgardenskent.co.uk

The #ladybirds are waking up, ready to #feed on aphids! They are such a help with these sap sucking #pests. The shrub that they are all over is #Viburnum #Opulus #Roseum - with the last word Roseum it is what is called 'The Snow Ball Bush' - the white golf ball sized flowers are white and just look stunning. They are prone to #blackfly and #aphids, now I don't mind as it feeds my population of "Helpers", plus the shrub itself is very pretty. This is a sterile plant, which me...ans that I am growing it for its susceptibility for pests, which may sound a little strange, but it is this fact that I am #helpingtheinsects, not the normal "Food" plants that I have. I hope that this shows you to not just have #foodplants, but to have a huge #BioDiversity of plants and shrub. I try and look at it this way: nature does is balanced in all things and #yourgarden should embrace that too! There is no point in just having the plants that are "good" and never have anything "bad" - I would not be without ANY of my beloved #plants and #shrubs. After flowering I can prune Roseum down to whatever size I want her to be, she will continue to grow and have leaf until the last frosts of the year. Without the word Roseum at the end of the name the shrub is #native #hedging and does not have the #golfballflowers, so beware and please check the label. The native viburnum opulus is lovely, but possibly not enough glamour for a residential garden. The flowers are much smaller and are not rounded, more flat, like small lacecap #hydrangea #flowers and they are not sterile. I will take photos of this shrub when in full bloom and then you will see why I adore it.
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Plant of the Day: This is 'Clematis Alpina' and I am shocked that it flowers! I bought it as a young plant and thought it would need at least a year to settle in. The small pots of Clematis that are mostly sold - unless you go to one of the BEST growers in the country "Taylors" - are so young, they are not ready. But #Taylors only sell their #Clematis in amazing growth condition, which means they arrive growing properly and are stunning with lots of growth points in a larger pot. They will grow on quickly and easily. There is a clematis for EVERY situation in the garden. Taylors have so much information and their website is very easy to use. My general rule of thumb is that Clematis like their feet in the shade and their heads in the sun. They DO need water often and will always be glad of some food too.

BBC Gardeners World Enjoy the wonderful sunny weather over the Easter Weekend, wherever you are. Perhaps we'll see you next Saturday, 27th April for our Open Day here at Enchanted Gardens Kent, which will be part of the National Gardening Week organized by the Royal Horticultural Society. We will be open from 10am onward and there will be talks, art and plenty of pollen and nectar-rich flowers to choose from. Hope to see you then! ;-)

Create more wildlife ponds in your gardens to help the Great Crested Newt populations in Kent! :-)

We are now also a member of the #KentFieldClub/ Kent Botany, a group that organizes the 'Kent Wildlife Conference' every year in September in Canterbury as a way for field naturalists in the county to meet, learn about and discuss the county's wild plant and animal species. Kent Wildlife Trust #BotanyClasses

These lovely paintings will be on show here at Enchanted Gardens Kent on Saturday, 27th April for the duration of our Open Day which starts 10am - 4pm. This is yet another good reason to come down and visit us, and get your FREE LECTURE on bee & butterfly-friendly gardening, as well as an inspiring tour around our beautiful gardens, full of live! #ArtExhibition #OpenDay Made in Whitstable Made In Whitstable: Arts, Craft & Vintage Trail East Kent Artists' Open Houses #Seasalter #Whitstable #Yorkletts #GardeningEvent #FreeTalk #PlantSale #SpringFlowerShow https://www.enchantedgardenskent.co.uk/ŌĆ ”/day-courses-lecturŌĆ”

8 more reasons to protect and care for our #Bees! #Honey is good for #ColdRelief #WeightLoss #Detox #CoughRemedy #SinusProblems #SleepingAid #SoreThroat #ToothAche - I've heard that it is also good as antiseptic balm for various skin diseases. ;-)

Enchanted Gardens Kent is a well-established operation, but we've only recently started to introduce this 'hidden gem' to a wider audience. We are passionate about supporting pollinators and as of March 2019 we are members of the national...
ŌĆó @BumblebeeConservationTrust ŌĆó Butterfly Conservation ŌĆó Bat Conservation Trust... ŌĆó RSPB Love Nature RSPB South East Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
There are also interactions with #KentFieldClub and The Wildwood Trust in Canterbury. Furthermore, we are considering collaborations with #TheNationalPollinatorStrategy (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which is a cooperation between Government and other organisations to protect the future of pollinators, as well as potentially getting enlisted in the RHS - Royal Horticultural Society 'Plants for Pollinators' scheme as one of their organic nurseries.
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We are getting ready for the Spring Fair at Belmont House and Gardens near Visit Faversham- an elegant 18th century house steeped in history. Our flyers have arrived and the girls are busy growing a a superb selection of quality pollinator-friendly plants and herbs. Come and see our spectacular range at Throwley, Kent, ME13 0HH on Monday 6th May 2019 / #MayDay Bank Holiday. It's ┬Ż3.00, but free for children under 16. Open 11am - 4pm. What's On Kent Visit Canterbury Visit Ken...t @Visit Swale #Faversham #BankHolidayMonday #ThingstoDo #Kent #GardeningEvents #PlantFair #FlowerShowsUK Picniq Visit South East Englandd Time Out London #SavetheBees #EnchantedGardens #BelmontSpringFair BBC Gardeners' World Magazine #BeesButterflies #PollinatorPlantsExhibition BBC Gardeners World @BBC Radio Kent - Sunday Gardening #Whitstable #pollinatornursery #spectacularplants I hope we can inspire you to help us save the bees and create your own must-have 'pollinator restaurant' in your garden! But it doesn't matter if you don't have a garden. Small plants in containers, i.e. window boxes, patios, pots, or planters will also make an excellent choice for those of us who live in rented accommodation in towns and large cities. :-) To view some of the unique bee & butterfly friendly plants we will offer on the day see: https://www.enchantedgardenskent.co.uk/pr oduct-cŌĆ”/perennials.
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Our flyers for the Spring Fair at Belmont House and Gardens have arrived!

Wherever possible, stop using herbicides and pesticides. Use natural products instead and plant bee ­¤ÉØ friendly flowers to help the bee populations. #bee #beefriendly #makeitintentional #soprecious #plantgoodseeds #plantforthebees #everyonelovesflowers

Did you know that living close to nature and spending time outside has significant health benefits? Research show that exposure to green spaces reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure. Conclusion: go hug a tree! ­¤śä

Plant of the Day: One of the collection of 'Tree Peonies' we've got here at Enchanted Gardens Kent. Who can resist them? Not me. Unlike the Herbaceous Peony, this type develops a wood framework that does not get cut back to the ground every year (although I know of 2 ladies who do and have never had a problem). Commonly grown is 'Lutea' flowering yellow. They can be quite hard to grow from seed, even though it is mostly viable. If you want more, it's better to leave the seed where it drops it and dig up the babies in late spring/ early summer, and bring them on in a pot before planting them out when grown. #TreePeonies

A date for your diary: Saturday, 27th April (next weekend!) when we will have an Open Day that includes a FREE introductory lecture and a guided tour around the nursery. This event will be part of RHS - Royal Horticultural Society #NationalGardeningWeek2019, National Insect Week so come down and enjoy an afternoon with us! The talk on "Gardening for Pollinators" starts at 12am. Groups welcome! :-)
Perhaps let us know if your are interested so we can plan that day better. donna@enchantedgardenskent.co.uk Office: 01227 266070 - Donna: 07967 917161 My Canterbury WhatsOn Canterbury Whats On Whitstable What's On Kent BBC Radio Kent - Sunday Gardening Permaculture Magazine