Monday 31 March 2014

The Electric Sunflower


I receive many emails letting me know about the latest gardening products but i have never had on which could possibly change the way we get electric in our homes. 
The PowerFlower is a dwarf Sunflower which features a unique waterproof USB port, pre-installed into the stem, for charging a range of devices with USB connections. It works using the natural energy in the plant  a strong charge is created due to friction built up in the fibrous tissue of the plant stem. However, the exact technology of the patented ‘S-Stem’ is being kept a closely guarded secret for the moment; however
it’s guaranteed that the PowerFlower will change the face of gardening and energy sources across the globe.
The #powerflower can be used to charge mobile phones and tablets or can be used for lighting. Plants are supplied 12 inches high, and in bud. Customers can buy a ‘SunCharge’ model,  Alternatively, the ‘SunLight’ model is available, where the main flower head has a light bulb socket pre-installed, meaning the plant can be used for lighting in the home.

Masterminded by Thompson & Morgan’s development team with the help of leading scientist Professor Paolo Rilf, the PowerFlower is a long blooming variety, which lasts up to 4 weeks in flower. Even when the petals fall and the seed head begins to develop, the whole plant is still producing electricity within the S-Stem.
New Product Development Manager, Michael Perry said “The PowerFlower is capable of producing unlimited electricity over an 8 week period. With a dose of Thompson & Morgan’s exclusive new Incredibloom® fertiliser technology, you can increase the strength of that electricity by up to 4 times.”
Thompson & Morgan is planning to release this variety during late 2014. When buying a PowerFlower, customers can choose between the ‘SunCharge’ USB pack, or the ‘SunLight’ table lamp unit, and plants are
ready for producing electricity immediately. Prices are yet to be confirmed.

Sunday 30 March 2014

Spring Flowers and Salads

The sun was shining all day today it felt that Spring was truly hear i even got to where shorts and a tee shirt today. The garden is beginning to fill with colour and the surrounding fields are slowly turning yellow with the oil seed Rape. The sent of Hyacinth's fills the garden hyacinths truly are the scent of spring i wanted to bring spring into the house. I filled a bowl with pink, blue and white Hyacinth, blue Muscari, Forget me not and Helleborus foetidus it now sits pride of place on the dinning room table. It's now filling the room with the scents of spring i also managed to get into the veg garden as well lots of digging to be caught up with that i never got done in the winter.
 So lots of digging and raking done but there was a reward at the end a lovely spring salad Rocket, Chives, Beetroot leaves, Chard, Lambs lettuce and Rocket Flowers.

Saturday 22 March 2014

Loving the Curves

Our Herbaceous border is about 3 years old now and has given us lots of colour all summer long every year. But it is all a bit straight and formal the border runs down one side of the garden and follows the straight line of the privet hedge. Normally we would get the string line out in March and re edge it perfectly straight but this year it was time for a change.
 We marked out the new shape that we wanted with canes moving them about several times until we got the right shape that we wanted. As its difficult to put the lawn back once you have dug it up we started one end and cut the whole of the edge using a Half Moon. Then with the use of my very old Turf iron i lifted all the turfs these won't be wasted they will be stacked to turn into loam.
Once we had cleared all the turf's we dug over the whole border digging in horse manure as we went. We also divided some of the perennials and moved them onto new parts of the border the small Asters and Geraniums needed to be moved to the front of the border.
Put up the canes for the sweet peas and the job was done a much curvier and not so straight border.