Our gardeners’ focus for the summer months is to keep the gardens looking colourful and lush for all of the events and weddings we have planned for the summer.

August is traditionally one of the warmest months of the year, but that doesn’t mean our senior horticulturalists, Chris and Wayne, can fully relax. Deadheading plants will continue this month to keep them looking nice and colourful as well as to encourage continued flowering.

Chris and her team of gardeners will cut back geraniums to boost a new flush of leaves and flowers in the next six weeks. Wisterias will also be pruned in the late summer and whippy green shoots of this year’s growth will be cut back to six buds.

This month we will be creating a new path to allow easier access to the Growing Schools Garden, which includes a stumpery and evolutionary garden that explores geological history and evolution. The new path will make the garden more accessible in wet weather.

The gardeners will be repotting Nerines and Cyclamen in August. The Cyclamen are very important to the gardens as we are looking to gain sought-after National Collection status.

Despite the gardens being a colourful paradise at the moment, a lot of thought is being put into planning next year’s displays. You can now start to take cuttings of tender perennials for your 2016 displays. We’re now deciding our bedding schemes for next summer and autumn as well as ordering bulbs for planting next season. You can expect to see Polyanthus, Daisies and Hyacinths amongst the grounds.

Senior horticulturalist, Wayne has been working hard on the Plant Evolution Trail, which is nearing completion and will be open to the public shortly. A new addition to the trail includes a mini paddy field of rice, which will demonstrate the arrival of grasses from 30million through to 60million years ago.

The carnivorous display will also be revamped this month as different water depths are introduced. This will enable the gardeners to grow a more diverse range of insectivorous plants.

A peanut plant will also be showcased in a transparent container to show them developing in the soil and a sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) will demonstrate how some plants move. The leaves fold as a result of water, touch or air movement as it causes a chemical release. This encourages water to move out of cell vacuoles, leading to collapse. This evolved 9million – 10 million years ago as a defence against herbivores. Visitors will be inspired to learn about the impressive responses plants often show.

As for the gardeners’ favourite plants, Wayne suggests visiting the African basil this month as it releases a warm and spicy fragrance. Its indigo coloured flowers are a favourite with bees. You will find it in the western end of the newly renovated Mediterranean House along with an impressive display of new plants.

As for Chris, her favourites are anything that can be picked from the vegetable patch, as it should be coming up in abundance in August. She is particularly looking forward to picking courgettes, beans, onions, shallots and garlic and of course, you can eat the flowers from the Courgettes too.

If you’re snap-happy, remember to take a camera with you on your next visit. We are still on the look out for stunning photographs of our gardens to fill our 2016 calendar. If your photograph is picked, you will also win 12-month membership. Upload your snaps here.

Summer is here and it’s a very exciting time at the Botanical Gardens as our plants are showing off in the summer sun. Each day there are new flowers filling the grounds with vibrant colours and sweet smells.

July is when the hard-working gardeners start to see the fruits of their labour – but that doesn’t mean that they can put their feet up, there are still a lot of jobs to be done! Summer is a great time for growth-spurts, however weeds will be in full force too. To keep our gardens looking lovely, the gardeners will be weeding daily.

Deadheading is another important job for us this month. We’ll be doing it little but often to ensure that we’re on top of the task and to also encourage further flowering. We’ll be paying special attention to our roses, lupins, sweet peas and dahlias, as well as pruning any shrubs that have finished flowering to keep them in shape.

Grass will be edged and cut, especially in the areas where daffodil bulbs have died back. The grass won’t need mowing as often due to the lack of rain and increased temperatures. A little tip for your own lawn is to raise the blade on your mower to leave the grass a little longer than usual as this avoids your lawn looking ‘scalped’.

Senior supervisor, Chris and her team are being rewarded this month as the herbaceous planting is filling the new rose beds with fresh foliage and flower buds. Seeing the flowers come together seems worth the days they spent removing 20 tonnes of topsoil to replace it.

As you can imagine, there’s a lot of focus-points in our gardens this month as there’s so many plants in bloom. The new peonies and hydrangeas in particular are looking lovely around the bandstand and the willow plantings are putting on new growth, it’s great seeing so many different shapes sizes and colours. Make sure you stop by the American Bank as well to see the new gladioli.

Our vegetable garden is now looking full and the cabbages are almost ready to be picked and eaten. Sweet corn, peas, lettuces and tomatoes will put on a lot of growth this month, just in time for summer salads.

The wild flowers, adjacent to the Grass Garden, are in full bloom and will encourage wildlife into the gardens. Expect to see many birds and insects such as bees and butterflies in the grounds. There are also some wild flowers decorating the playground. There’s definitely an element of chaotic harmony to all of the different plants.

Speaking of the children’s playground, there are some very big plans in the pipeline. The gardeners plan to open it up and introduce new play equipment for very young children so that kids of all ages will get the chance to enjoy our gardens. There may be a new Alpine House in store for the end of next year, so keep your eyes on our blog for updates.

Senior horticulturalist, Wayne and his team are progressing well with the Plant Evolution Trail this month. Wayne is confident that most of the planting will be completed this month and that the Trail will be available for guests to enjoy very soon.

Wayne’s favourite plant this month is the Brugmansia arborea or Angels Trumpets. The large trumpet-shaped flowers have a powerful evening scent that attracts moths and bats. The elaborate flower heads and peach colouring makes them hard to miss. You can see this lovely plant in the Sub-Tropical House.

As for Chris, the Eremurus x isabellinus ‘Cleopatra’ is her pick. The flower heads are a striking orangey yellow colour and the spires can grow up to two metres high. You can find it in all its glory in the Grass Garden.

Remember to take a camera with you on your next visit to catch all of our seasonal plants enjoying the summer sun. For a chance to win a 12-month membership and a spot in our 2016 calendar, click here.

It’s predicted that the sun will be making an appearance this month (and hopefully will stay out for the rest of summer.) June is a busy, but glorious month, at the gardens, as a lot of summer flowers will now start to bloom.

On June 21, we’ll all be enjoying the longest day of the year and our plants certainly will be too. While they absorb the extra daylight, the gardens should have an energetic growth spurt. However, as much as we love seeing our gardens burst with colour and life, those pesky weeds will be out in full force, as well. The gardeners will be doing a lot of weeding to make sure they don’t flower – which will cause even more problems!

Chris and her fellow gardeners have now planted out all of the summer bedding plants. Keep a look out for the geraniums and dragon wing begonia on the Terrace and cosmos near the bandstand. They’ll also be mowing down daffodils once the leaves have turned brown, which highlights the end of spring and the start of summer.

The gardeners will be watering the hanging baskets regularly because they can dry out very quickly when it’s warm or windy. Keep an eye out for them on your next visit; they will be filled with ivy leaved geraniums and moss collected from the American Bank. We’ll also be regularly removing spent flowers to ensure continued flowering throughout the summer.

It’s going to be a month for giving flowers the support to continue growing tall. Sweet peas will be the first to receive the special treatment, tendrils will also be removed so that the energy will only go into the flowers.

The dahlias will also be getting a similar treatment, as the side shoots will be removed this month. The plant won’t have as many flowers this way, but the ones they do have will be much larger. Once they have been removed, they will be tied to stakes or sturdy canes to make sure they don’t break. They will also be watered and fed often, as they are one of the greediest plants in the gardens!

Unlike the rest of the British public, the gardeners will be hoping for a spot of rain this summer to give the Children’s Discovery Garden a helping hand. The area will be sown with flower and grass seed and a little rain will help it grow. The trees in the area have now been thinned out too, which will allow for a lot more light while the children happily play in the sunshine.

The Butterfly House is now open, senior horticulturalist, Wayne has worked very hard to fill the sanctuary with plants and food that butterflies will love. Now that it’s open, he can concentrate on finishing off the Plant Evolution Trail in Sub-Tropical House.

He will also be tending the Orchid Case that will be filling up with various miniature flowering orchids this month such as the orange coloured Ascocentrum miniatum and the yellow Lycaste aromatica, so magnifying glasses at the ready! Try and see how many you can spot on your next visit.

Our head gardener, Chris’s favourite plant for June, is the Philadelphus, the heavenly smell that they produce can be enjoyed all over the Azalea Bank.

Wayne has chosen the Heliconia for his indoor feature. There can be four types found in the Tropical House, but his favourite is the Heliconia rostrata. This particular species has pendant, red and yellow zigzag shaped flowers, which can last for around two to three months.

 

Remember to snap some pictures of our gardener’s favourite flowers, and some other beauties in June and your photograph could be featured in our 2016 calendar.

Now that the weather is brightening up, our talented gardeners are busy preparing for the summer months. It’s all about mowing, weeding and feeding to keep our gardens and glasshouses blooming.

May is a tricky month as the early sunshine can transform gardens into a luscious paradise but it’s also not uncommon to have late frosts. Senior Horticulturalist, Chris and the gardeners will be planting our bedding plants during Whitsun week (24^th – 31^st May) due to the warmer conditions.

The beddings plants are currently being grown in the nursery, and create a beautiful patchwork quilt effect. Before they are transferred, they will be hardened off to acclimatise. This year we have chosen geraniums and dragon wing begonia for the Terrace and cosmos for near the Bandstand. We’ll also be planting geraniums in hanging baskets, using moss collected from the American Bank.

Chris and her fellow gardeners will also be sowing the wildflower meadow as well as cutting conifer hedges once any fledgeling birds have flown. The gardens will also be getting aromatic as herbs are planted this month. There will be two types of parsley, two types of coriander, lovage and dill.

Our grass garden will be getting a spring makeover with dahlias, clary, cosmos, yellow cosmos, cornflower and Ammi. All of these plants will be attracting butterflies as they start to spread their wings this month. Speaking of our winged friends, our Butterfly House will be reopening its doors Saturday, May 23.

The gardens will receive 100s of pupas weekly that will house transforming caterpillars until they’re ready to emerge as beautiful butterflies. The pupas will be shipped to the gardens from the tropical climates of Africa, Philippines and America.

Senior Horticulturalist and Glasshouse Specialist, Wayne will be making the new additions to the gardens feel right at home. He will fill the house with plants and flowers that butterflies enjoy feeding on such as Buddleja (butterfly bush), Pentas, Cestrum and Lantana. Once the pupas have completed metamorphosis you will love seeing the butterflies bounce from sugar-water feeders and fresh fruit and occasionally landing on you.

Once they have settled in, Wayne and the gardeners will be able to give the new Plant Evolution Trail their full attention. The trail, that will include algae, mosses and ferns, will be wrapped around the Sub-Tropical House and is due to be completed in the summer.

As for jobs in your own gardens, it’s time to test the lawnmower, if you haven’t done so already. Grass thrives in the sunshine and will be growing rapidly. However, a weekly routine should keep that lawn in check. We’d recommend leaving grass slightly longer than desired on the first cut, to be trimmed back down the following week. In dry conditions, grass should be cut on a higher setting.

However, if you want a break from your own gardens, come and visit ours – there’s plenty to see! As well as our Butterfly House reopening and our new bedding plants, Chris and Wayne have each picked out a May highlight that visitors will enjoy.

Chris’ favourite plant this month is Ceanothus, which can be found in the Azalea Bank and near the Pavilion Tea Room. She used to look after the national collection of Ceanothus, so they are very close to her heart. They smell like cinnamon and can be made into tea, so make sure you give them a good sniff on your way past.

Wayne has chosen the Salpiglossis, which look like jewel-coloured trumpets. The petals have a velvet effect and seem to be one of the most popular plants in our glasshouses. Wayne is always being asked questions about them. They can be found in the Mediterranean House and the Barrel Arch. Remember to snap some photographs of your favourite plants this month and tweet them to @bhambotanicalgd.

 

As April begins, the gardens will continue to flourish with pink and white blossom. It’s a very beautiful time of year for our visitors as the gardens come to life and everything starts to look fresh and healthy.

Speaking of blooming, the Fuji cherry (Prunus incisa) a Japanese tree was the first to show its flowers last month. The other trees will follow this month and Chris, a senior supervisor is particularly looking forward to seeing the blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) come to life. This shrub has star-shaped white blossom that will now be lighting up hedgerows in the countryside and producing purple and black fruit, which is used to make sloe gin.

Chris will also be planting three more cultivars of Pulmonaria in the Japanese Garden. Although they are not native to Japan, these plants will cope well with the low light in the summer as they flower earlier in the year. Now is a good time to spot them opening to reveal their striking colours.

A few years ago, the Japanese bed was very densely shaded with numerous unnamed Japanese acers. The gardeners made the decision to thin them out and replant the bed with more choice Japanese shrubs. However, the gardeners weren’t aware that it was already richly planted with spring bulbs! The first spring after the clear out came as a big shock to the team as flowers appeared and stretched back about six feet into the bed. There’s Muscari (grape hyacinth), Chionodoxa (glory of the snow) and Scilla bulbs to enjoy, so come and take a look this month!

Wayne, who looks after the plants in the glasshouses, will be focusing on the Plant Evolution Trail this month. The new feature will be wrapped around the Sub-Tropical House and will feature algae, mosses and ferns. It is expected to be completed just in time for summer, keep an eye out on our monthly blog for updates.

He will also be ventilating the glasshouses more this month and using the ‘damping down’ technique. This means the floors will be covered with water to increase the humidity. This is also a handy way of keeping red spider mite away. This is also a good tip for your greenhouse at home!

And if that wasn’t enough, 4,000 young plant plugs have now arrived and will be used for the summer bedding, planters and hanging baskets. Geraniums, Begonia, Cosmos and Calibrachoas are all now being planted, to name just a few. The features in our summer bedding change each year. It’s always fun choosing our themes for the year. This year look out for our Ornamental Millet.

Spring is a busy time for any keen gardener. If the soil in your own garden has warmed up, you’ll be able to prepare outdoor seedbeds in time for annual seed sowing. Remember to touch the soil to make sure it’s warm enough. The gardeners at the Botanical Gardens will be sowing wildflower meadows and grass seeds this month.

You will also need to prick out seedlings that have been sown indoors as seed compost has little food and this will deplete quickly. Each seedling will also need more space this time of year. However, don’t be tempted to put them outside too early, as there can still be frost on the grounds, particularly on those cold mornings! Harden them off in a cold frame or a well lit shed.

It’s your last chance to plant shrubs and evergreens before the autumn. Start thinking about spring bulbs for next year. They may need dividing once they have finished flowering. Think about where you would like to see more flowers in your gardens and go from there.

Up until recently, snowdrops were split in the green, however recent research suggestions that it is more beneficial in June, just before they start growing new roots in July. This, of course, means that you’ll need to mark where your snowdrops are.

When you’re not tending your own gardens, remember to come and visit ours! Senior supervisors, Chris and Wayne, have picked out their must sees for this month. Chris recommends seeing the Spiraeas in the bed behind the Lawn Aviary. Some start into growth with orange leaves, that will soon be followed by multitudinous star-like small white flowers

Wayne’s indoor favourites this month are the citrus plants in the Mediterranean House. The orange and lemon trees have started to flower and will soon turn into the fruits that we all know and love. They’re currently emitting a beautiful jasmine scent that would rival any designer perfume. The Daphnes are still smelling wonderful this time of year. Make sure to give them a sniff on your next visit before they’re over.

Spring is almost upon us and we can’t wait to see the gardens come alive in the March sunshine. (We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for the nice weather, anyway.) It’s a busy time for our resident head gardeners, Chris and Wayne, as all their planning and preparation will start to pay dividends.

There is a continuous show of spring flowers. Our snowdrops are popping up throughout our gardens. Find them in the Winter Garden, Rock Garden and main lawn. The Eranthis hyemalis is already in flower but the crocuses are coming out. Don’t hesitate to visit our gardens to see these beautiful plants bloom.

Narcissus (daffodils), tulips, Leucojum (summer snowflake) and Fritillaria meleagris will follow on in April. Our trees have now started to bud and we’re all waiting with bated breath to see the beautiful blossoms next month.

The renovation of the Children’s Discovery Garden is progressing well. A new fence has been wrapped around the duck pond. Grass seeds will also be sown to ensure fresh greenery is ready for the garden’s completion by the summer holidays. Chris has been given some money to buy new exciting play equipment, which will include climbing frames, slides and towers.

A climbing tree, complete with a hole in the middle for children to explore, has been given the go-ahead and will be a main feature in the refurbished garden.

The plans don’t stop there! Chris has even bigger ideas such as a secret hideaway in the foliage. The new feature will have a circular wooden door that will create excitement for the children, as they’re curious to see what’s on the inside. Once finished, this will give the gardeners time to expand upon the retreat until there is a miniature village of wooden houses.

Chris will also be working alongside her fellow gardeners this month to finish pruning the roses in the Rose Garden. Vegetable and herb seeds have also been sown in the glasshouses. But don’t worry if you don’t have access to a glasshouse, Chris and the gardeners recommend leaving trays on your windowsill to create a similar effect – they just need lots of light and a bit of water.

It is now the perfect time to plant onion and shallot sets in your garden or allotment. However, you must keep an eye on those pesky green, white and black flies love vegetables as much as we do. A great tip to keep them at bay is to spray them with a water-diluted solution of washing up liquid.

As for Wayne, the decking for the new Plant Evolution Trail has arrived and will be wrapped around the outside of the Sub-Tropical House. It will then be filled with algae, mosses and ferns. Two new genus of cycad plants, which have a fascinating history, have also been researched and ordered from Germany. These plants have been around a lot longer than humans and can be traced back to prehistoric times. There are only 11 genus of cycad, which means that, with the new additions, Birmingham Botanical Gardens will proudly own seven.

The Orchid Case is looking fantastic and receiving a lot of attention from visitors thanks to some new plants that were added in February. Wayne has now received a further 17 orchids from Burnham Nurseries in Devon. They will be placed in the case this month. The gardens have a rich history of keeping orchids and, in the 1880s, the Botanical Gardens had more than 300 types. Since discovering this, Wayne has set himself a challenge to beat that number. There are currently 216 orchids and he is determined to get that number up to 350.

The potted plants in the glasshouses are receiving the Victorian technique of tying them up using green split canes and string. They will then go on display in the Mediterranean House. You will see Schizanthus, daffodils and tulips.

And if that wasn’t enough, the Rock Garden has a new pool and entrance. Irises and hardy cacti are thriving in this location due to its dry condition. The Fern Walk has also been revamped with new ferns one of which, Dryopteris erythrosa ‘Brilliance, has striking red fronds. The Water for Life Garden has been taken apart and planted up with Salix (willow) as willow can help clean up dirty water.

All of our gardeners have favourite plants that either blossom or thrive throughout the year and March’s favourites are camellias and Thunbergia mysorensis.

Chris’s recently planted camellias near the bandstand are bursting with buds. It’s common practice to stop camellias from flowering in the first year of planting in order to create a good sturdy framework. However, Chris couldn’t wait to see how they would flower first! Then she will cut them back once they have finished flowering.

Wayne’s choice is the Thunbergia mysorensis vine, which he calls the ‘rhubarb and custard climber’. It comes from India and produces breath-taking deep red and yellow flower heads. Look out for it in the Tropical House on your next visit. 

This month’s gardening tip is to cut back Cornus (dogwood) and Salix (willows) to achieve a good colour next year. When cutting back dogwood, ensure that you take out a third of the oldest stems for the best results. Remember to give the gardeners a wave on your next visit and, if you have any questions, they’ll be more than happy to share their knowledge.

It’s New Year and we’re celebrating the start of the seasonal cycle at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. As the gardens are a little quieter this time of year, it gives us time to reflect on the highs and lows of 2014 and focus on bigger projects that will be launched throughout 2015.

Wayne is hard at work with fellow gardeners to create the new Plant Evolution Trail that will wrap around the outside of the Sub-Tropical House. The decking boards, all made from recycled plastic, are now being put in ready to be filled with plants such as algae, mosses and ferns.

To keep spirits high during these projects, the gardeners usually tell each other terrible jokes and eat leftover Christmas biscuits. The trail is expected to be completed in the next two or three months ready to be launched to our visitors in the spring.

Wayne has also enlisted the help of the garden’s ‘orchid expert’, Dave to complete the new Orchid Case. Come and see the beautiful specimens now that they have been planted in our Sub-Tropical House. The x Bratonia ‘Aztec’ is now in bloom, which is giving the glasshouse a lovely splash of colour. Wayne will also be spending this month traveling to Dartfrog in Kidderminster to source rare orchids to grace the case even further so remember to visit regularly to see the new arrivals.

Chris and Lucie have completed planting the new roses in the Rose Garden and visitors will be treated to an array of different colours ranging from shades of peaches, pinks and purples. The new David Austin roses include Queen of Sweden, Munstead Wood, The Lady Gardener, Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Scarborough Fair. Lucie is now tasked with choosing the herbaceous perennial plants to complete the bed. She will also be attending a special rose pruning course at David Austin this month and will bring her new skills back to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Camelias have also been planted near the bandstand that will provide a beautiful backdrop for wedding photography, as there will be plants in flower for every season. The fragrant scent and beautiful colours will impress all wedding guests regardless of the time of year. Hydrangeas may also become a resident in the ‘jazzed up’ bandstand area as well.

It’s not all about glamour in the gardens, there are some laborious, yet essential, projects for the winter, so Chris and the gardeners will be cutting back hedges, keeping the paths clear and ensuring that visitors stay off the grass when it is frosty or wet. The students at Birmingham Metropolitan College will continue to clear up the area for the new Children’s Discovery Garden for its reopening in Easter.

Our plants will be better categorized in the new year as our volunteer, Liz has produced 500 new labels for plants in the glasshouses and the gardens. Take a look around and see how many of the new tags you can spot.

As for our own new year’s resolutions, Wayne will be working hard to complete the Plant Evolution Trail for spring and is looking forward to introducing new flowers to the glasshouses. As for Chris, her main focus is to reopen the Children’s Discovery Garden for Easter.

This month’s gardening tip from our gardeners is to check any newly planted shrubs or trees after heavy frosts. Icy conditions can make the soil move away from the roots, which means they may need re-firming in the ground. The last of the fallen leaves should also be cleared away to ensure grassy areas stay nice and healthy.

If you’d like to share your own gardening tips for January, make sure you tweet them to @BhamBotanicalGd. And don’t forget to check out our plants of the month.

Christmas and New Year is just around the corner and although a lot of people will be enjoying a break, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens never sleeps and essential work is now being put into place by our resident gardeners, Chris and Wayne, as well as making plans for 2015.

Wayne has been hard at work sourcing orchids for our new Orchid Case, which is due to be completed this month. Hundreds of beautiful specimens have been located from flower shows and brought back to our gardens. All of the stunning plants do not naturally grow in the UK, which will give you the opportunity to get up close to orchids from all around the world. Remember to visit regularly throughout the year as the species will change.

Plans are in place to create a brand new Plant Evolution Trail in the Subtropical House. Wayne is working hard to complete the trail that will wrap around the glasshouse by spring-time.

Chris is planning to restore the Discovery Garden following the damage caused by the storms. A generous donation was received by Baron Davenport’s Charity, which has enabled her to start to rejuvenate the area. Wild flowers will attract insects and a fence will be wrapped around the duck pond. One of the trees will also be opened up allowing children to climb inside its middle. Once completed the garden will be the perfect place for children to explore.

Her next project will be the area around the bandstand, which is getting jazzed up with camellias and peonies to enhance the backdrop for wedding photographs and, of course, add a blaze of colour.

Our gardens will be coming alive this month, so make sure you take a stroll down by our fountain to see all the Hellebores that will be coming into flower during the winter months. Observe the different coloured stems of the shrubs that play their part to brighten up the gardens this month. Breath in the wonderful scents that will emanate from the Witch Hazel and Daphne this month.

Wayne will be planting Christmas Lily of the Valley in the Mediterranean House to celebrate the festive month. Did you know that a hundred years ago these flowering plants were iconic Christmas decorations? Be amazed at the flowering Christmas cacti that are growing on the trees (not in plant pots) in the Subtropical House.

It’s no doubt that Hyacinths and Poinsettias will feature heavily this Christmas, so if you want your own Hyacinths to start flowering, bring them inside now and remember to keep your Poinsettia in a draft-free area. Winter plants are available to buy from our shop, which is the ideal place for a little inspiration for your own festive flower arrangements this year.

If you’d like to fundraise or donate to our Fund for Fun campaign to help create a better children’s play area in our Discovery Garden, please contact Marie on 0121 454 1860 or marie@birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk