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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 7, 2007 7:38:32 GMT
My prize vouchers have arrived so I'd like to pick your gardening brains for suggestions for plants to buy for a school garden, in sandy compacted soil, very dry in summer with potentially 160 pairs of feet, and sports stuff flying everywhere. I know it's a challenge! I have several areas to plant so there is a variety of habitat. Some are raised beds, others areas between paths. Ideally the plants should be perennials (herbaceous or shrubby or bulbs) and their season of interest can be any time apart from the long summer break. They should have some educational value ie a method of propagation, a wildlife value or something interesting to catch kids attention, like old fashioned Snapdragons. I would like to go shopping with a fairly specific list so I don't get confused or carried away and I realise this is a difficult assignment but I KNOW you're all up for the challenge. Thanks very much in anticipation........ ;D
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 7, 2007 8:34:00 GMT
This is what google spewed forth. Looks like you are in for a big search thousands of sitesI hope some one comes up with something useful.
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Post by oldmoleskins on Feb 7, 2007 9:58:34 GMT
Yew and box are as tough as old boots and, if you pick hedging carefully, could yield interesting topiary subjects - not just cones etc, but birds rabbits...rats. So... small, tactile, plantsmanship, cuttings, craft.
I know yew is a bit 'suspect' but kids don't eat yew any more than laurel (also 'suspect') and it's a good time to instill the virtue of only eating stuff you know is safe. Blimey, educational too.
If you can wait until June/July, I can get a half hundredweight sack of mixed daffs for a fiver from my local grower...
OM.
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Post by Jonah on Feb 7, 2007 12:36:50 GMT
Hi 4P What about an area including ornamental grasses? I know the seeds are often small [though not always], but they are easy to raise. There are lots of interesting annual and perennial grasses that are lovely and touchy feely. Some that spring to mind are Briza, Stipas, Lagurus ovatus [bunny tails], Melica, Setaria italica .
You could compliment them with wildflower/easy grow annuals [poppies, cornflowers etc], or cottage/ prairie plants such as achillia, verbena, rudbeckia, echinacea. Am I being a bit vague? ;D
www.crocus.co.uk/colours/prairie/ This shows some ideas for the prairie look.
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 7, 2007 12:40:17 GMT
OM how kind of you Snapdragons Luv um, must get some seeds ;D How about primroses and Cowslips, bright colours teach them to dead head for more flowers, collect the seeds, easy to germinate also divide clumps as they mature, good for wildlife. Will get my thinking cap on
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Post by isabella on Feb 8, 2007 5:36:59 GMT
How about a Herb patch Plants with textures e.g. Stachys byzantina -lamb's ears. Alchemilla alpina - Leaves are a similar shape to Alchemilla mollis but underneath they are like silver velvet. My brain's not working very well at the moment - have a terrible cold I will keep thinking
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2007 11:15:13 GMT
Rose Campions are quite happy in that kind of soil,. and so pretty. What about some small Junipers, they wouldn't mind it either. Or Sempervivums.............
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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 8, 2007 15:29:31 GMT
Ooh, some brilliant suggestions - thanks very much. I love the ornamental grasses, topiary, DEFINITELY a lot of herbs, and I'm going to have a raised Sempervivums bed I hope. All suggestions are being written down in my little book though. OM I'd love some bulbs but I have to clear that with the Head as I think she's got fed up with trying to plant bulbs and having them smashed to bits by feet and balls over the years......you're lovely you lot ;D
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Post by Chuckles on Feb 8, 2007 16:20:01 GMT
Just a few ideas, I'm sure you've already thougth of these. Would it be any good posting notices for seed donations round and about for the project. Would Norfolk Lavender donate some plants or give you seeds Or local GC's donating and damaged goods they may have ;D
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Feb 8, 2007 16:50:13 GMT
Don't forget to make sure that none of the plants/bulbs for the school are poisonous . You know what kiddies are like for putting stuff in their mouth and also some plants can cause a nasty skin irritation S x
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Post by roxann57 on Feb 8, 2007 17:50:41 GMT
4P how about a competition or discussion group for the chilldren to design a herb garden and then decide what herbs to grow (with a little help choosing the plants, of course)? My youngest daughter won her schools competition many years ago and as far as I know it is still there with her name on a plaque <Ididn'thelpheratallhonestwink..>
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Post by Dutchy on Feb 8, 2007 18:16:32 GMT
Your sand must be like my gravel paths. You could have forget-me-not. I think the kids will be hard put to killing them off. They look fab in spring. An alternative for bulbs perhaps? Verbena bonariensis does well in the gravel. It is a prolific self seeder. Nice hight and the rough stems might come in useful for a touch the plants lesson?
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Post by lottielady on Feb 8, 2007 19:16:56 GMT
4P what about some Chamomile Lawn too, they can walk on it, smells lovely and will have a calming effect if they get too lively! Oh and pretty flowers too!
LLx
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Post by beejay on Feb 8, 2007 19:57:27 GMT
.................or a chamomile seat?
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Post by andy on Feb 9, 2007 7:32:07 GMT
4P.....if you want any cowslip seedlings, i've got loads at work as well as verbena bonairiensis.
Let me know and i'll send you some when soil conditions are better. There's probably a few other bits if you want it such as creeping thyme and heracyum (fox and cubs)
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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 9, 2007 13:56:58 GMT
I'll take anything I'm given with a grateful cheer - thanks Andy ! Chamomile is a good idea - we'll test its toughness with a hundred bums ;D Still writing all suggestions down... Susie, you'd be amazed at the plants put in by the county staff - loads of unsavoury berried ones and quite a few really thorny horrors. I'm planning to remove them all (except around the perimeter fences where I can see they might have a use) and replant with child and wildlife friendly ones. I shall be writing to Norfolk Lavender in the Spring, Chuckles. Cheers!
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