Page 56 • The HERALD • 5th January 2023 v THE HERALD - Proud to be part of your communityv SPADEWORK Family Landscaping & Fencing Team ] Decking & Natural Sandstone Paving ] Patios ] Driveways ] Block Paving ] Turfing ] All Types of Domestic & Commercial Fencing ] Security Fencing Supplied & Fitted Tel: (023) 8089 4909 Mobile: 07703 566814 u Free Estimates u Fully Insured ✿ DOWN THE GARDEN PATH ✿ RPD Landscapes Building & Paving • Patios • Driveways • Fencing • Turfing • Brickwork • All Property Repairs Free Estimates 07707 390791 023 8007 0386 BLACKFIELD GARDENING CLUB MEETING by Patricia Hedley-Goddard e Black eld Gardening Club recently welcomed Rosemary Legrand, who gave a wonderful presentation entitled ‘My Japanese Journey’ which she took in 2017. It was an illustrated presentation of the incredible landscape and gardens showing the di erent styles of Japanese gardens, planting, and the meanings of the objects within the gardens. e designs of the gardens vary depending on which area of Japan you are in, and what they are meant to represent. Rosemary went on what she called a ‘working’ tour because she was based on a small cruise ship with only 100 passengers, and was employed to lecture on the style of gardens that the ship visited—a cultural tour/cruise. e ship started in the south eastern end of Japan at the end of April, which meant that the main ‘cherry blossom’ season had passed, although there were still a few trees bearing the owers. e ship sailed along the coast of Japan visiting some of the islands where there were gardens to be visited. ey visited Yakushima Island, which is volcanic, and the wettest place in Japan. Here the rhododendron plants of many species grow right up the mountain sides, with many di erent colours. is is where many of the hybridisation of our modern rhododendrons that we grow in our gardens, originated from. One of the leading proponents of this was Lionel de Rothschild, whose superb garden at Exbury is a showcase for rhododendrons and azaleas. Every garden that Rosemary visited was exquisitely tended, and attention to detail was obvious. In one of the pictures we were shown, there were 6 gardeners on ladders up a pine tree, carefully pulling (not cutting) dead pine needles from each branch, which were dropped on to a tarpaulin below!! Unbelievable! Another important aspect of Japanese gardening was that a garden must be viewed from every angle to show a perfect picture, especially if the garden was to be viewed from a window or doorway. e tour included visits to temples, both Buddhist (for worship) and Shinto (for prayer). e cruise ship visited Hiroshima, now a world Unesco sight since 1996, to view the one surviving building right on the waterfront, le in its original condition, plus the visit included a visit to the museum with poignant artefacts of the a ermath of the terrible atom bomb explosion. Other visits included the famous moss garden, planted in 1339 where the ground is covered in manicured moss where no blade of grass or weeds are allowed to live. ey have female Japanese gardeners who brush the moss, removing any impurity, no matter how small. In all her travels, there was no litter or chewing gum residue to be seen. Everywhere was spotlessly clean. All plants in Japan are treated with reverence. Rosemary was privileged to witness several Japanese weddings on the journey, with the brides in national costume, wearing white kimonos. Only brides are allowed to wear white kimonos, all other kimonos have to be coloured. As a kimono is very expensive to purchase, it is the usual custom to hire an out t. e tour continued to an exhibition of Japanese ower arranging in the Ikebana style, which uses one or very few owers, and twigs and branches, to produce the most beautiful arrangements. en on to Kyoto and the Imperial Palace, and the Golden Temple. is was in an exquisite setting with a lake in front of it, the temple re ected in the lake, an expanse of still water and a border of the vibrant blue Iris Sibirica fringing the whole image. Rosemary experienced and visited many incredible gardens, bamboo, azaleas, peonies, acers which would be glorious in autumn, every tree and bush beautifully maintained, or shaped for maximum e ect. e only exception was the famous gravel garden which contains rocks and raked gravel. Rosemary said that when you looked at it, it had a mesmerising e ect and everyone fell silent, contemplating the way the gravel had been raked around the rocks. e presentation was very beautiful as well as interesting. ank you Rosemary for sharing your ‘working holiday’ with us. eir next meeting will be on Tuesday 10th January for a talk by Chris Bird titled ‘Right Place, Right Place’. All meetings take place on the second Tuesday in the month and start at 7.30pm at St Francis Church Hall, St Francis Road (off West Common) Langley, SO45 1XP. ey are really looking forward to seeing members and visitors again (visitors £2). Enquiries please call: 023 8024 3795. Gardening in January - Often the coldest month Advice from RHS January might be the middle of winter but as the days lengthen the garden starts to grow. Now is a great time to plan for the coming gardening year and to order seeds and plants. Enjoy the fresh air, on dry sunny days, and check your winter protection, stakes, ties and supports are still working a er any severe weather. Also put out food for birds and leave some garden areas uncut, a little longer, to provide shelter for wildlife in your garden. Top gardening jobs this month 1. Prune apple and pear trees. 2. Clean pots and greenhouses ready for spring. 3. Dig over any vacant plots that have not been dug already. 4. Disperse worm casts in laws. 5. Inspect stored tubers of Dahlia, Begonia and Canna for rots or drying out. 6. Recycle your Christmas tree by shredding it for mulch. 7. Start forcing rhubarb. 8. Plan your vegetable crop rotations for the coming season. 9. Keep putting out food and water for hungry birds 10. Make a polythene shelter for outdoor peaches and nectarines, to protect against peach leaf curl.
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