Blue Daisy Blog

Here at Blue Daisy we’re really passionate about saving our humble British bumble bee and other pollinating insects like the hoverflies, moths and butterflies.  The decline in our pollinating insects especially bees has been noticed through various studies over the last 50 years or so, the reasons are far reaching but one been the reduction of our wild-flower meadows through the use of chemicals.  Recently it has become a hot topic with the many organisations including the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) taking up the mantel led by Sarah Raven to help gardeners identify the best plants in garden centres.  They have introduced a badge called ‘Perfect for Pollinators’ which will be on plant labels all good garden centres.

Why are we interested in pollinating insects?  Well in brief, they transfer the pollen from one flower to the next allowing it to be fertilized, which means it will have the ability to set seed or produce fruits.  This is really important for us all, if plants aren’t able to set seed we risk reducing the amount of plants we can have as theycould become endangered or extinct. The worst case scenario is that the pollinated flowers don’t turn into fruit which means it could have a huge impact on what we are growing and eating, or not eating as the case may be!  The pollination would need to be done by hand, it would be such a laborious task taking so many hours that the products themselves would be so highly priced the average person in the street may not be able to afford them.

Sounds lovely doesn't it?  It conjures up all sorts of warm images that you really want your prospective purchaser or tenant to have about your property.  We all remember, from various TV programmes, their suggestions of how to make someone have that warm and cosy feel about your home consider baking bread or a putting a pot of coffee on so the smell emanates through all the rooms.  But what about the gardens, what about kerb side appeal and what about a wonderful view from the lounge, kitchen or dining room window?

How many times have you heard friends or relatives saying they went out looking for a new house and did a 'drive by' (viewing that is, not shooting!!)?   Nothing says 'first impressions count' more than this for the initial view of your home.  Here are a few things you can do to enhance that kerbside appeal and the view from inside your home over the rear garden:

I think it is fairly safe to say that cookery wins hands down in terms of television coverage although those cookery programmes that are all about using ingredients from your own garden do have a slight gardening theme if we're lucky.

We have a regular BBC Gardener's World programme that stops over the winter and then we're lucky to have a 30 minute programme per week for the rest of the year and that's generally it which really is a sad state of affairs in my opinion.  But it's not all doom and gloom there are the odd 2 or 3 episode series that are aired like the Sarah Raven documentary 'Bees, Butterflies and Blooms' and then there's 'How to Grow a Planet'.  Both of these are being aired as I type and are interesting, informative and in some cases inspirational.  Which, in my humble opinion, is more than can be said for ITV's Love your Garden hosted by Alan Tichmarsh or 'Garden ER' hosted by David Domoney; both of which are sadly lacking in the horticultural department and, in Domoney's case, manages to drive me, as a garden designer, to despair when he 'spruces up' a garden by stapling photographs on fences - I have yet to meet anyone who thought that was a good idea!  Why can't we have more of the inspirational, informative programmes?

I sat looking out of my window at the snow falling last Saturday afternoon with mixed feelings: excitement that our gardens would change if only for a few days and lift the drab days of winter with beautiful snowy scenes; concern that it would effect our business - snow covered gardens, while beautiful, means we just can't work or earn and every bit of work in the winter for the horticultural trade is very precious.

I remember as a child walking (or trying to) waist deep in snow, having snow drifts against the front door and when you opened the door you ended up with a hall full of snow!  Also, digging out my Mum's car so she could get to work and I could get to school I loved everything that the snow brought.  These days we hardly ever get snow and when we do it seems to melt so fast and we're left with dirty sludge and our gardens and parklands lose that magical feel.  Some people seem to worry about the effects of snow whether that be driving or just getting about.  Not being born in Coventry and coming from a rural village in Cheshire where 10 inches of snow or more were the norm I struggle to comprehend people's fear and how a whole city can literally come to a stand still in 2012 with just a few inches. 

Yes that's right, we're now on Facebook so if please do pop on and 'Like' us!  It's still fairly new so there are only a few things on there but we'll be updating it on a regular basis and would love to see you there!

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