Planting the library beds

The beds by the library were finally filled with soil last week so today we were able to plant them up. We used columnar yew, 2 types of winter-flowering shrub, ferns, grasses, other perennials and daffodils.

It was difficult area to plant because the beds have not much soil, lots of rubble, poor drainage and it is also in shade. But we managed to choose some tough, evergreen plants with foliage in different colours and shapes and flowers at various times of the year. There are some scented plants too. There is a vibrant purple, bronze, orange, yellow and white colour scheme.

Plants used:

trees:
taxus baccata fastigiata (columnar yew)

shrubs:
viburnum tinus
sarcococca confusa

grasses:
carex 'Coppertop'
carex 'Evergold'
luzula nivea

ferns:
polystichum polyblepharum 'Jade'
polystichum munitum
polypodium vulgare

perennials:
dianella 'Tas Red'
geum 'Cooky'
heuchera 'Crimson Curls'
heuchera 'Melting Fire'
heuchera 'Frosted Violet'
digitalis parviflora 'Milk Chocolate'

Lowtown Beds

We have made the shortlist in the Community And City Pride Awards for the seating area we planted up on Lowtown.

We have also been invited to the presentation for the Community Cash Giveaway.

Plants for the beds by the library

We have all the plants now. We've gone for a variety of plants, all of them evergreen, so the area will look interesting all year round. We even got some of the grasses free from Hampson's garden centre, the luzula nivea. We'll also be using the plants from in front of the leisure centre in this area because the beds they are currently in will be removed in winter or spring.

We still need to find a new spot for the sun-loving plants that are currently in the beds around the car park.

grant

Today we received £300 from the Pudsey Borough Charity.

Bulb planting

Today the group planted bulbs all around Pudsey. Lots of new volunteers turned up to help. Daffodils were planted in the grass by Church Lane and near the petrol station on Lowtown, as well as in containers.

The 12 barrier troughs at the traffic lights, having been emptied of summer bedding a few weeks ago, were planted with pansies and primulas for winter and spring, as well as some more bulbs such as miniature tulips, narcissus 'Tete a Tete' and crocus.

planting bulbs in the containers near the market

pruning shrubs in the container by the library

planting daffodils in the grass by Church Lane.

Pudsey In Bloom added to Pudsey Today community directory

The group and a link to this blog has been added to the Pudsey Today community directory in the environment and wildlife category - http://www.pudseytoday.co.uk/communitydirectory/Environmment-amp-Wildlife.3997726.jp

This should be a great way to let more people know about us and hopefully find new volunteers.

Planting bulbs

Today we planted 50 Allium 'Purple Sensation' bulbs in the Lowtown seating area. These will flower in early summer, then get attractive seed heads. The flowers are loved by bees.

The beds are still looking good even thought it is late October. We will go back and dead head a few plants later, however, we will leave some of the seedheads on to look decorative through the winter and feed the birds.

The rudbeckias are still covered in flowers and the grasses have grown really well. All the grasses (and several of the other perennials) are evergreen so will provide lots of interest during the winter. The stipa arundinacea (the orange-ish one) looks especially good and the stipa giganteas have lots of impressive flower spikes on at the moment.

These beds contained rose bushes before, which would have just been bare twigs during the winter, so I think we have definitely greatly improved this area. There are still lots of parts of Pudsey still containing dated rose beds (Pudsey Park, Sparrow Park, etc) so we will be able to compare the Lowtown area we planted to these.

Planting crocus and alliums

Today we planted bulbs in the barrier troughs which contain drought tolerant alpine plants and succulents. We planted about 50 alliums and 350 crocus in total in the 7 troughs and the 2 containers by the park entrance.

The crocus varieties we chose are 'Barr's Purple' and 'Snowbunting', which are purple and white respectively (as you probably guessed from the names!) These will flower in February. The alliums we chose are a small species, allium azureum, which gets pale blue flowers in early summer.

The barrier troughs were planted up with alpines and succulents as an experiment to see if we could find a greener way of planting up containers. Usually the troughs contain bedding plants, which are bad for the environment due to the amount of water they require and the fact they have to be replaced every season. It also makes them very expensive; to have just one trough planted and watered by the council for just the summer would cost £100. By using alpines they cost us just under £20 each to plant up, nothing for water, and they will last for many years.

Due to the huge amount of rain the plants weren't quite as happy as they could have been! However, they have still lasted well and will look even better next year, especially now we have added some bulbs.

Leeds gardens competition

Today the members of the group who judged the Pudsey entries in the Leeds In Bloom gardens competition attended the awards ceremony to see the winners receive their prizes.

Judges' comments

From the Yorkshire in Bloom website - http://www.yorkshireinbloom.co.uk/default.aspx

PUDSEY

Pudsey are certainly progressing and things have moved on since the Spring Judging with the adoption and replanting of old rose beds and the trial of drought tolerant barrier baskets. If the business sector can be engaged, Pudsey will 'bloom' even more.


SECTION A – FLORAL DISPLAYS

The judges were particularly impressed by:
1. The hanging baskets and beds in front of the Leisure Centre.
3. The summer displays by residents on The Chase.
4. Creation of the 'sea monster' and other plants by the children of the local school.

Areas suggested for future development:
1. Involvement of business sector to provide floral displays.
1. Improved maintenance to bedding areas in Pudsey Park.
4. More involvement from youth organizations.

SECTION B – PERMANENT LANDSCAPING, INCLUDING SHRUBS

The judges were particularly impressed by:
1. The trial of perennial plants (drought resistant) in barrier baskets.
1. The upkeep of Crimbles Allotment site.
2. The adoption of two old rose beds and their subsequent planting by the group with perennials.

Areas suggested for future development:
1. Coordinated mowing of Pudsey Park to ensure follow up work is in keeping with general grass areas.
2. Speak with 'Total Garage' to see if anything can be done with shrub bed.
4. Continued adoption by group of older shrub/rose beds etc.

SECTION C – LOCAL AGENDA 21 AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The judges were particularly impressed by:
1. Work within the school by children/volunteers on the wild area and involvement with recycling and composting.

Areas suggested for future development:
1. Future planting/management of the pond area at Spinner Chase.
2. Possible extension of mulching to more beds.

SECTION D – LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

The judges were particularly impressed by:
1. The general cleanliness of the streets.

Areas suggested for future development:
1. Renovate the two benches at 'Low Town' recently newly adopted area.
2. A few sites noted which required graffiti removal.

SECTION E – PUBLIC AWARENESS/PUBLICITY

The judges were particularly impressed by:
1. The involvement of the judges to award prizes to the winners of various children's competitions.
2. The posters displayed by houses on Robin and Spinners Chase.

Areas suggested for future development:
1. Further publicity/press releases regarding the 'in bloom' group's work.
2. Future commercial sponsorship of areas etc.