Have you ever wondered how Ophelia selected her bouquet of plants; which was the ‘little western flower’ that Puck used to cause mayhem, or what exactly Romeo’s friends had in mind when they wished Juliet were a medlar and Romeo a popp’rin pear? What actually is an apple-john, or indeed a peascod or a codling, and which were insults and which not? Why do primroses live and die like virgins and why are some pinks bastards?
English Paper Piecing is a traditional method of hand sewing patchwork pieces. In this introductory class we will teach you how to use paper and fabric to accurately sew hexagonal flower shapes. It is a wonderfully portable project and a very enjoyable method to use.
This technique can be a fantastic way use up scraps, but in this session we will be using fabrics designed by William Morris, famous for his stunning timeless botanical designs.
On this half-day course with Dr Alison Foster you will look at the chemical basis for the colours, smell and taste of the plant world. Alison will take you on a chemical journey through the lifecycle of plants explaining how the chemistry of colour, smell and taste impact on pollinator attraction and seed dispersal, and how plants protect themselves from predators. By the end of the course you will be well equipped to test out your new found chemistry knowledge with your own sense of taste, smell and sight.
This series of courses is designed to give a comprehensive introduction to horticulture across the gardening year
Part 1
Location: online
Date: Saturday 16/01/21
Time: 10am-1pm
This session gives an introduction to the plant kingdom, and will develop your knowledge of how plants are grouped to better understand them. We will also provide an overview of plant names, and look at plant morphology, so that learners can start to better identify plants, and see how this helps us create great gardens.
Landscape – whether real or imagined – and nature, and her characters’ response to these, inform each and every one of Jane Austen’s novels. Immerse yourself in both the aesthetics of the period, and the wit and wisdom of Austen. She was a writer who recognised that ‘to sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment’.
In this course you will learn the best ways to share your garden wildlife sightings, and in doing so make a real contribution to science and conservation.
We have all probably at some point, made at least one or two records of the wildlife we have spotted in our gardens. Perhaps it’s in the form of a picture of the resident squirrel or that beautiful dragonfly visiting our pond, or even simply a running tally of species we’ve spotted visiting our patch over the year. You may even have shared one or two of your best photos on social media with friends.
These two morning sessions are led by the Botanic Garden Assistant Curator, Angela Cano. Travelling back in time you will discover that the borders of the tropical region have been dynamic throughout the history of life on Earth with clues that have allowed us to understand the extent of the tropical belt, with a focus on the fossil record.
Plants are a very important source of food. This half-day workshop explores what plants add to our food and drinks - colour, flavour and texture as well as nutrients and potentially beneficial medicinal compounds. We will also look at why some plants are popular foods and others less so and identify some of the foods which have attracted the attention of criminals. By the end of the morning you'll never look at the plants on your plate or in your cup in quite the same way again!
Colour reigns supreme as the era of glasshouses for all beckons and tender annuals of all kinds throng to our shores and into our gardens. As the Horticultural Society becomes ‘Royal’ in 1861 so gardening becomes a national passion. Seeds and nurserymen flourish and the array of plants shames nature into artifice, with glass and stones added to the mix of instant planting.
Refinement and quiet revolution as flowers beds reflect the duality caused by the increasing gulf between town and country. Hollyhocks, honeysuckle and lilacs form a genteel backdrop to country life, with sweet smelling jasmines and mock orange or fruit trees echoing the simple delights. Dahlias, cosmos and zinnias bring colour from South and Central America as the cosmos extends the season. Theatres of auriculas and pansies throng the gardens of plant fanciers but the city garden relies on an increasing array of evergreen shrubs to ward off the smoke and smut.
