Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2012 | Page 100

gardening

with Toby Beasley
Head gardener at
Osborne House

The weather is an integral part of a

they blow over and you can never get them to

and considering we have many coniferous

gardener’s life, but what on earth has been

stand up satisfactorily again.

trees and evergreen shrubs at Osborne our

going on? June was one of the most difficult

Thankfully the herbaceous borders at

silver lining to our dreary early summer may

summer months I have ever had to cope with

Osborne seem to have survived well as we

be some prolific growth and spectacular

as a gardener.

managed to stake most of the plants earlier

flowering next year.

The bedding which we started to plant in

than usual. Unfortunately we have lost two

late May was only completed at the end of

trees. Both were blown over in strong gusts,

June because we kept getting rained off.

and had some element of decay in their

The cool temperatures didn’t help with the

roots. Both were deciduous so I guess they

establishment of the bedding plants either;

could withstand the gales through the winter

these are all exotic plant species which come

but with their summer crop of leaves they

from much warmer climates.

provided more resistance to the recent winds.

However, the grass and weeds are well

Luckily neither tree was historically significant.

suited to our climate and despite it being

I remember a cool, wet summer in the

cool they have relished the rain and have

late 1990s when I worked at the University

continued to grow. So we have been chasing

of Bristol botanic garden. It rained often

our tails trying to keep up with maintenance

and temperatures were on the low side all

jobs around the garden.

through the summer, but one of the benefits

We have also had strong winds which at

was that a lot of our temperate garden plants

this time of year are often a major problem

grew like mad. Bamboos, coniferous trees

for taller plants in the herbaceous borders as

and evergreen shrubs put on lots of growth

East Cowes blooming lovely
In order to plant out East Cowes for the

Presentation Evening held in Bridge House,

Diamond Jubilee and the arrival of the

East Cowes.

Olympic Torch, the East Cowes Town

Every volunteer was presented with a

Council allowed resident Lin Kemp to

£5 voucher as a ‘Thank you’ from the East

introduce the ‘Adopt-a-Planter’ Scheme.

Cowes Town Council for taking part in making

It depended on the goodwill and green

the town look so cared for. Steve McCranor

fingers of businesses, residents, schools

of ‘Uppercuts’ in Clarence Road and Matt

and a youth club all volunteering to plant

Courtney of Watson, Bull & Porter in Ferry

and look after the 29 planters and 12

Road were both ‘Highly Commended’ for their

hanging baskets, located around the town.

efforts by the judge, Helen Mount.

The cost of the compost and plants was
borne by the Town Council and their only

appropriately named teacher Janet Gardner,

stipulation was that the theme should be red,

planted the flower bed at the Town Hall; Yorkie

white and blue. However, the most prominent

Bar Youth Club with leader, Carol Prewer

colour to emerge first was PINK.

planted three railing planters outside Age UK.

Children from the Holy Cross RC Primary

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To encourage friendly competition amongst

School Reception Class led by their teacher,

the volunteers, Lin was able to create a

Gill Hilson planted four troughs outside the

new category in the ‘East Cowes in Bloom’

Town Hall; Year 3 children from Queensgate

competition this year, especially for the

Foundation Primary School led by

planters. The results were announced at the

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