Category Archives: grow your own

Monday musings – how we can all make the most of The Chelsea Flower Show

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This morning on Monday musings we are revisiting a post we published last year about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as we feel it is even more relevant. This years Chelsea spectacle began yesterday, but with escalating budgets and intricate designs, how can the average visitor or viewer find anything to ‘take home’…?

(originally published 24th May 2012)

Over the past three days we have looked (very briefly) at some of the highlights for the three shows which come to fruition this week. Each of the three are exceedingly different, so, what is the relevance of these events to the regular visitor, with modest living spaces and usually even more modest outdoor spaces – all funded with terribly restricted pursestrings.

It is easy to steal ideas and inspiration from the Chelsea Fringe and Clerkenwell – they are immediately ‘accessible’ to all of us. Firstly, there are small or no charges for any of the events. The events are very varied, just like us. There is a huge sense of community.  It is very cliche to say that there is ‘something for everyone’ but I truly believe the statement. But RHS Chelsea? With a large entrance fee and restricted tickets, massive sponsorship deals and massive budgets can the general public really be inspired?

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is a formidable beast with a royal heritage – in short, a Chelsea Gold has become the pinnacle of many a designers and growers medal shelf. The years of training and hard toil are rewarded in a similar way to an Olympic event – it has to be right on the day, or sorry, close but no cigar.

But often when visiting these events, the public view is extremely different to that of the RHS judges – and this is exactly what we can all benefit from. It does not particularly matter to us what the medal or award is – the gardens and nursery stands are there to INSPIRE US as visitors, not critical judges and if you look in the right way, anyone can see something to suit their own spaces and budgets.

So, take your camera and notebook and grab the images which appeal. Forget the scale of the gardens and how much they cost – this has absolutely no relevance to many of us at all – look closely at the details and the ingredients which make them up and steal them for your own. Plant combinations, structure of trees, reclaimed materials, hard landscaping, how water can be used, colour use etc…

By all means take an overall picture of the garden but then get into the detail – catalogue all that you like so you can happily steal it all when you get back home. Nicking the small details is how the RHS Chelsea Flower Show becomes accessible to everyone. If we just concentrate on the overall image, we forget about the small elements, which in reality are the things that we can use.

I know from my own collections of images and sketchbooks from previous Chelsea Flower Shows that I have very few images of the whole garden, or plant stand. There are moss covered rocks. The juxtaposition between structure and foliage. The interplay between formal landscaping and sweeping planting. Great textures. Lots of small, close images.

This type of inspiration gathering does not only (and should not only) have to apply to gardeners – anyone with a creative mind can find inspiration in anything. To quote Sir Paul Smith – ‘you can find inspiration in everything (and if you can’t, look again).

And do not worry if you are not visiting the show – watch on iPlayer and snap shots of details from the coverage or look at the beautiful photos which have been uploaded to the RHS Chelsea website. There are long, overall shots, but a lot of them look at the tiny details…

Plus, the gods are in the detail, so open your eyes wide, focus them close and record it all.

(image via RHS)

SPOTTED – the beautiful vignette still life photos of 5ftinf

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There is a particular art in being able to construct a beautiful vignette – a photographed still life which includes a variety of carefully balanced pieces. To get the different elements  the textures and the light to work together is a real skill and there is one artist based in Brighton who is very good indeed. We follow 5ftinf (the alter ego of artist Philippa Stanton) on Instagram, where the ‘daily table’ photo which is constructed from vintage pieces and seasonal items is a joy to behold.

Whilst visiting the Artists Open Houses we discovered that the gorgeous still lives are available as both greetings cards and photographic prints – both at the open house in 64 Sandgate Road, Brighton and online at Philippa’s Etsy store.

Plus, if there is a particular ‘daily table’ shot that catches your eye, you can request is specially.

But be warned – there are so many beautiful photographs of The Table on both the 5ftinf Instagram feed and blog that you would be very hard pushed to choose just one.

(images via 5ftinf Etsy)

REVISIT – sweet violets – the most beautiful edible flower for Spring?

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Despite the snow, there are a few plants which are beginning to come to life and remind us that spring is surely on its way.

One such plant is the stunning Sweet Violet, which we wrote about last year and is just starting to get going…

March 2012…

A few weeks ago we posted about the earliest edible flowers available to pretty up your plates and this weekend we spotted our favourites – sweet violets, or to give them their proper name, Viola odorata.

There is a large bank near our studio which sits right on the edge of a road, by a bus stop, which is completely smothered by a blanket of sweet violets which fills the air with the most amazing scent each March.

Given their demure size, the scent they produce is actually quite incredible, with a little bunch happily scenting a whole room.

The blooms are also wonderful added to spring salads to give a bit of colour, but our favourite way to use them is to place a single bloom on a chocolate violet flavoured cupcake – the dark brown icing really making the blue purple of the violet sing out. Or, as pictured to the left here, they can be crystallised and added as decorations (these cakes were vanilla with violet extract flavoured icing)

Sweet violets are a great addition to a garden and as they are happy in both full sun or semi shade there will almost certainly be a place that they would love.

Plus, as well as the standard violet coloured sweet violet, you can get white varieties too, which, if colour is not your thing, would be a brilliant alternative.

Get them here or here.

(top image from crocus)

SPOTTED – a great, low tech green walling system

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As some of you are probably aware, we are pretty obsessed with the greening of our cities – be it with ornamental green wall cladding, or preferably with edible landscaping. A few posts of late have been dedicated to the art of green walling, from the highly efficient living wall systems of Biotecture to the very low tech DIY green walling systems using traditional climbers to clad a building.

And there are clear merits to each of the systems, from versatility, water recycling to just utilising natures own plants which want to scramble and climb.  They also come with very different price tags.

One DIY system we really like takes the green wall plants right off the face of the structure itself so potential damage from the plants climbing to the façade of the building is minimised.

green wall 2

So whilst wandering around Ecobuild last week we were delighted to see such a system installed as a demonstration stand around one of the lecture pavilions.

It uses stainless steel fixings which space a tensioned mesh away from the face of the building, creating a secondary skin across which a climber, in this case English Ivy can climb.  What is great is that these types of fixings are readily available, reasonably priced and can be customised to the space you need to clad.

green wall 1

It creates a very nice and clean detail – and some great shadows on the façade of the building, which in this case was large format tiles.

And this is the beauty of shows such as Ecobuild – finding ideas and inspiration for your own projects, so why not take this idea and apply it to your own buildings in need of a bit of green walling?

(images by claire potter)

the ‘Back to the Future’ style indoor garden light

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We all have films, or even series of films which we remember fondly from our youth for a variety of reasons. For us, one of the ‘classics’, and one which we can quote from quite happily is the epic ‘Back to the Future’ series where marty mcfly skips between the past, the future and then the past again in a time machine Delorean.

We of course wanted to build a time machine, or a hoverboard (still working on this one) or any of the large props which featured in the Back to the Future series, but the second, ‘future’ film actually featured a whole range of ‘gadgets’ which have almost become part of our daily lives as we increasingly live with technology.

But there are still a few gadgets which are yet to be created (food rehydrator anyone?) and we were very interested to see the newly launched ‘Babylon’ light from Toronto based designer Ryan Taylor which seems to be partially inspired by the domestic kitchen indoor garden in the second film, which is called down from the ceiling when required.

Babylon Light, Ryan Taylor, Back to the Future, Garden, lighting, aluminum, light, plants

The futuristic pendant light can be used to grow all indoor plants, but it is particularly suited to indoor kitchen gardens where herbs can be grown and be on hand for all culinary purposes.

The body of the light is constructed from powder coated aluminium and is relatively minimalistic which suits the lush greenery which becomes the focus of the striking piece.

It is still in very early stages, but we think that this type of relatively low tech interior greening could be the start of a continuing trend for 2013.

(image via Inhabitat)

REVISIT – early edible flowers

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When planning all of our landscape (or internal planting schemes) we try and make sure they are working as hard as possible for our clients. Multi functioning spaces and companion planting is right up there on our lists, as is edible planting.

For some schemes this is the planning of a vegetable bed, or orchard, or nuttery, or even greenhouse schemes. For others a smaller focus is required, with edible planting being planned into vertical green walls, green roof areas and in the simplest forms, planters and window boxes.

There is something very comforting about being able to wander into your garden or lean out of your window and pluck something to add to your meal, make into a tea or even just garnish a sunday chocolate cake.

And even though it is still pretty chilly outside there are a few plants which are producing the most stunning, and edible little flowers, right now, and are available very readily from all garden centres.

Primroses usually flower in the very earliest parts of Spring, and here in Brighton we already have ours out now. The palest of yellows, the primrose flowers are brilliant candied (coated with egg white and dusted with sugar and left to dry) or added to salads and onto cakes just as they are. They are great as edible additions to anything where a touch of Spring is required.

Violas have to be one of my favourite of the edible flowers and we make sure we always have a good selection of these beautiful little plants around. With the huge wealth of colours available there is always going to be something to suit your own scheme, and they are just wonderful atop the darkest of chocolate cakes as a naturally coloured decoration. I particularly like the bi-coloured flowers, but everything from white to darkest purple black are available so really, take your pick.

Pansies are the bigger and brasher cousin of the delicate viola, but the flowers can be eaten in exactly the same way. Try adding a single bloom to top a cupcake, or to float on drink. Petals can also be torn into salads to add a great bit of colour and interest as well.

Using edible flowers is not rocket science, just make sure you correctly identify ANYTHING you are planning on eating before you shovel it in. But take the time to experiment and these little additions really can bring a dish alive – plus from a horticultural point of view, the plant will produce more flowers for you, so a double bonus.

REVISIT – snow shows your garden structure

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So, some of us have had some snow, with a bit more on the way for a lot of us. But instead of cursing the white stuff, get outside and start to replan your landscape. Trust us – this works – as we highlighted last year…

Feb 2012.

We have all been shivering a bit in the cold over the past week, with the ravages of ice and snow blasting their way across the UK.

For some things in the garden, this is a really bad thing, with the early risers being caught out by the cold. Other things such as garlic will be really pleased about the drop in temperature. Most other things will not be that bothered. Life is of course a matter of balance.

But there is a very important function that snow (or even a hard frost) can bring to the garden in winter.

Structure.

If your garden does not have structure then it is really evident in the winter, when landscapes are blanketed in one singular colour. If there are not great bones in your garden you will be able to see the flatness easier now than ever before.

Do you have a good balance of evergreen shrubs, skeletal trees and shrubs with good form, arches, urns, statues, buildings or hard landscaping?

Take a step back. Take some photos. Pick out the ‘flat’ areas with a view to moving stuff in early spring, or positioning a new feature.

Now, some flatness can be great. Think of a beautiful, crisp section of lawn or a meadow. But the flat has to be balanced with the bones.

Get your structural bones right and your garden will literally stand up to all weathers and look beautiful come rain or shine, or even frost or snow.

 

(images by claire potter design)

rent a Christmas tree. The perfect choice?

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Last week we talked just about Christmas trees – how to decorate, 2D versions and how to choose your tree. But what if you do not want to have your own tree? What if you want a real tree but do not want to deal with the hassle of getting one, decorating them and ultimately recycling one? What if the idea of owning a Christmas tree is enough?

In a time where we download so much of our music and film we live increasingly in a virtual sense – we do not ‘own’ the CD, we own the ‘idea’ of a CD – the music, but not necessarily the physical item itself. So could we do the same for other items?

There are quite interesting facts when it comes to ownership of items, such as the statistic that a power drill is only used for a few minutes on average for its whole life and the idea of collaborative consumption has risen in past years to become a very interesting concept. What if a community owned a drill that was shared, instead of us all owning a drill each? Would this be a practical way of owning an object as our lives become boxed into increasingly smaller spaces?

This kind of thinking has been applied to the Christmas tree by a few enterprising companies in the UK. Instead of buying, decorating then discarding a tree you can choose a pot grown tree which you ‘rent’ for the period of Christmas, then return it so it can be grown on for the next year. Some companies even allow you to rent the same tree each year, allowing you to become attached to it as an object, without having the ownership all year round.

So, the advantages are clear – someone else has the responsibility for the majority of the year yet you can still become ‘attached’, there are no trees being cut then discarded and storage for the rest of the year is not an issue. There are a lot of good points to the scheme. The carbon cost of transporting and caring for the trees would be an interesting maths exercise, but the fact that you are renting something does allow there to be a wider context of care – the Christmas tree should not really be a throw away object – it should be something we care about.

But will it catch on? Would we rent a tree? Quite possibly, as we do have a large pot grown tree which is used most years – wheeled in, decorated, enjoyed, wheeled out. And with care it survives to tell the tale.

So maybe consider renting a tree instead of purchasing one. You may be surprised that the virtual, temporary ownership is enough for Christmas and you have the joy of setting it free again in January.

(image via sxc.hu)

choosing your Christmas tree

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We were out and about a lot this weekend and we could not help notice how many people have already got their Christmas trees up and decorated in their houses. We saw countless cars with bundled trees atop and there was a small frenzy in the Christmas Tree department of a local DIY store when we popped in to buy a plug.

So, even though we do a post each year about choosing and looking after your Christmas tree, we thought we would do it a little earlier than usual as the festive season seems to suddenly be all go.

You may never have noticed, but there is actually a small range of Christmas tree varieties available from most locations during December.

My Mum loves Blue Spruce, a friend of the studio swears by Nordmann Fir and we will only accept a scented and fluffy Douglas Fir. Each tree has a different personality, shape and scent, and there will undoubtedly be one which is perfect for you, so take a little time to research what will be best for your own style, space and budget.

We have a tradition at the studio where we go to the fabulous, Sussex based Wilderness Wood – a proper working wood with a Christmas tree plantation where you can reserve your tree from the first weekend in November, then collect it in December.

But not everyone is as lucky as us to have a fantastic plantation near them.

So, are there ways you can be sure to get a great tree, to suit your requirements AND is British Grown?

Fortunately, yes. The British Christmas Tree Growers Association is the trade association for those growing Christmas trees in Great Britain and Northern Island and their members are committed to producing top quality trees, nicely shaped and trained, perfect for your front room. Check out their website where you can find a list of those signed up near you.

Our key tip when you are choosing your Christmas tree is to remember where you are going to put it. This seems like an obvious thing to say, but many people completely misjudge the amount of space required for a Christmas tree, and end up sitting squeezed around it for period it is up. Measure the height AND the width you can fit into your room. The ideal height is about 30cm away from the ceiling, but more importantly, find a tree which will suit your needs and budget.

Also, do not forget that if you are placing a cut tree into a bucket (so you can give it the daily drink of up to 2ltrs water) the tree can be even higher than measured whilst sitting on the floor. Take this into account so you do not end up chopping the top off once you get it home, which ruins the shape of the tree. Make sure the bucket is big enough and very securely wedge the tree in place using logs, or even sand bags, which mould around the trunk and weigh enough to stabilise a big tree. If you do need to shorten the tree, always chop a little of the bottom.

Finally, do not be afraid to cut a few branches off the tree if required to make a nicer shape  - use the excess foliage to make a wreath, or use in a table decoration or even just place it in a simple vase.

(images by claire potter design and via wilderness wood)

November foraging – hawthorn ketchup

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Those of you who are familiar with this blog know that as well as being a passionate eco design and green fanatic, we are also foraging freaks.

The past few years has seen our interest in all things tasty and free escalate, and with a few good guide books and a few good and tweaked recipes, the larder has expanded considerably.

There are a series of books which we simply would now not be without, and it is the River Cottage Handbook series – most notably by Pam Cobin (Preserves) and John Wright (Hedgerow, Mushrooms and Edible Seashore) which have been the most carried around and used this summer and autumn.

But there is always one berry that we are asked about by fellow walkers when they see us picking – the Hawthorn. Many do not realise that you can eat the berry, or what to do with it.

So, in all it’s glory, here is the recipe for the Saucy Haw Ketchup – based on the recipe as found in the River Cottage Preserves book, by Pam Cobin

makes 1 x 300ml bottle

500g hawthorn berries (which you can still find clinging on for dear life on the bare branches)                                                                                                                        300ml cider vinegar                                                                                                               170g sugar                                                                                                                               1/2 tsp salt and ground black pepper to taste

First, strip the hawthorn berries from their stalks – we have found that running them through the tines of a table fork is the best way, or hold them between your thumb and forefinger and ‘roll’ them backwards – they should snap from their stalks easily, but make sure they don’t ping everywhere. Rinse them in cold water, then put them into a large pan with the vinegar and 300ml water.

Simmer the hawthorn berries for around 30 mins until the flesh is soft and the berries a muted brown. We give the berries and occasional squish with a potato masher during cooking to get them nice and soft. When done, remove from the heat and rub the mixture through a sieve, or put through a food mill, removing the stones and skins. Really work at this until you have a relatively dry mush left with each batch.

Return the hawthorn puree to the cleaned out pan and add the sugar. Heat very gently to dissolve the sugar then bring to the boil and cook for 5 mins. Season, then pour into a sterilised bottle with a vinegar proof lid (we use the cider vinegar bottles or the swing top small beer bottles)

Use within 12 months.

We have added a few variations to this recipe, including adding a bit of cinnamon, or other warming spice to give a bit of a twist.

This hawthorn ketchup is just beautiful – fruity with a slightly dry aftertaste – and it goes amazingly with parsnip chips. Or just chips. Actually, everything you usually put tomato ketchup on. Plus, in a nice bottle, this would make a GREAT addition to a Christmas Hamper – and something you would not be able to buy, so a double bonus (if you can bear to give any of it away…)