Horticulture, Plants and Design

Beginning two gardening courses at Newton Rigg College, Penrith, was the most sensible decision of 2020. 

RHS II Practical Horticulture and Garden Design with Plants.  

Every Monday and Friday, since October, I have joined fellow gardeners on campus. 

Tomorrow is our last day of the Autumn term.    We hope to carry on in January 2021 through to Summer.   Over 9 weeks I have learnt much.   Identifying 15 weeds and naming them in Latin springs foremost in my mind.   Did you know that most common of weeds the dandelion has the sophisticated name of Taraxacum officinale?

I have drawn plans, painted and discovered creative skills. Pruned hedges.    Split and divided, hostas.   This exercise required help from fellow student Jack, aged 17, who jumped on my spade, broke it on two 😂 but achieved my objective five Hosta plants  from one. 

We have turned compost and spread mulch.   Looked at the structure of plants in winter.

The Potting shed at www.newtonrigg.ac.uk with a display of the plants I collected in the gardens of the college. 










 

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