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Author Topic: John's Mini Garden  (Read 4067 times)

Mick McLoughlin

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #15 on: April 29, 2011, 04:05:16 PM »
Hi Chris,
The mini garden in the broken pot was one of Mandys. I have some photos of its construction to upload but i'm having computer problems at the moment. There are 2 mini garden classes at Wilmslow this weekend so a chance for everybody to brinh theirs along for the show.
Cheers
mick
Hemsworth, West Yorkshire

JohnnyD

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #16 on: May 01, 2011, 11:55:17 AM »
Just catching up a little with my forumist 'duties' and noticed this thread by ChrisB.
Thanks Chris - and I hope to see the results of your efforts on the bench soon.
Alan G is right that 36cm is the upper limit for AGS shows (that's 14 and an eighth inches in UK Alan!) The garden which has done so well for Clare & me this year is 34cm and just deep enough. (It is heavy though - hence our decision to show jointly now!)
I bought the pot back in the 90's and, had I known then what I know now, I would have bought the lot.
There has been some discussion with a lady potter in Yorkshire with a view to the making of similar creations but no news yet.
Mick & Mandys' broken pot was (I am convinced ;)) a result of some inspired potting - or perhaps a complete accident! Either way it just shows what a great eye they have.
There are a number of exhibitors preparing minigardens just now and I would love to see the numbers on show increasing.
Who knows, we may one day beat the ELEVEN which were shown in Hexham back in the nineties.
There are few better ways to introduce new people to alpines than minigardens, hence the ad hoc workshops at shows as well as more organised group efforts.
I will encourage the AGS to get the leaflet on the website as they have run out at the shows after proving a real encouragement in respect of recruiting.
Wilmslow yesterday had four gardens in a really super colourful class.

John Dower, Frodsham, Cheshire.

Brian Ellis

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #17 on: May 01, 2011, 02:38:33 PM »
Quote
I will encourage the AGS to get the leaflet on the website as they have run out at the shows after proving a real encouragement in respect of recruiting.

Good idea Johnny.
Brian Ellis, Brooke, Norfolk UK. altitude 30m Mintemp -8C

ChrisB

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2011, 11:05:39 PM »
Thanks Mick.  It was really nice, well thought out.  I've got one or two broken pots and am wondering if I should use one of those for mine.  But they have to be frost proof or its game over really.  Whatever I use, I'm planning to leave it out in the cold frame sunk in the sand but open to the elements when I finally get around to creating it, but first I have to decide on the right container.  It can't be too big or I'll not be able to carry it myself, so I'm still thinking this out.  Got a bit of practice today re-doing one of my container gardens.  It was overgrown and looks much better for its renovation already.  So, John, I hope to have a minigarden next season, but probably not before.  I'm working on it.....
Chris Boulby
Northumberland, England

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #19 on: May 02, 2011, 09:33:30 AM »
Chris,
One way to guard against frost damage is to soak the pot in a weak pva (wood glue) mix and then dry out completely.
The amount of water which can get into the pot is less and the risk of spalling reduced .
It is difficult to find high fired pots of a suitable size which is why plastic is often used. While this also has advantages in regard to weight it doesn't look quite the same as a broken clay!
Keeping it plunged seems a good idea to me.
J.
John Dower, Frodsham, Cheshire.

ChrisB

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #20 on: May 02, 2011, 01:08:37 PM »
Thanks for that tip, John.  I'll do that when I find the right pot.  I've got loads of broken ones here, need to take a close look at them to decide on one.  I agree, clay looks infinitely better than anything plastic.  I did think of using a styrofoam box made to look like stone sink, and I may still have a go with this regarding weight, as a back up.  But I shall get there eventually.  I took those pics to remind me of the sort of thing that can be successfully grown in those conditions really,  but then decided to share them here.  Its such a lovely garden!
Chris Boulby
Northumberland, England

JohnnyD

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #21 on: May 03, 2011, 02:02:29 PM »
I'm sure you will Chris.
Just in case anyone isn't an AGS member :P and therefore hasn't had the minigarden leaflet, it is now downloadable from the AGS website.
JohnnyD
John Dower, Frodsham, Cheshire.

Maggi Young

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #22 on: May 03, 2011, 02:12:57 PM »
I'm sure you will Chris.
Just in case anyone isn't an AGS member :P and therefore hasn't had the minigarden leaflet, it is now downloadable from the AGS website.
JohnnyD

We have no problem in advertising the AGS leaflet.... get it here :
http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/pdf_files/publication/11_MiniGarden_sc.pdf
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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JohnnyD

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #23 on: May 03, 2011, 02:15:00 PM »
Thanks Maggi, you are a star.
J.
John Dower, Frodsham, Cheshire.

Maggi Young

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #24 on: May 03, 2011, 02:23:59 PM »
No worries, John. As you know the SRGC is happy to encourage the growing of our favourite little plants by whatever means possible and to aid sister organisations wherever we can.
 Personally I think the more folks we can get 'having a go' with a mini garden the more will discover the pleasure of this particular method and have fun with entering them in the shows as well as decorating their gardens and perhaps moving on to bigger troughs and container gardening, all of which are ideal for alpines as well as being the perfect answer for the restricted spaces many of us have for gardening nowadays.  :)
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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JohnnyD

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #25 on: May 03, 2011, 05:30:51 PM »
Well said Maggi.
I am absolutely convinced that it is plants/people which make the societies a success, and minigardens are just one way to get people interested.
Every show sees people stopping to pore over the gardens believing them to be difficult. They are not. Download to leaflet everybody and have a go.
JohnnyD
John Dower, Frodsham, Cheshire.

Graham Catlow

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #26 on: May 03, 2011, 07:05:29 PM »
Maggi your reply #10 in the Minature Gardens thread of 2008 (see below) make things quite difficult for showing.

For SRGC shows, rules about "miniature garden" entries vary as to size allowed....
 e.g.
"1 miniature garden, not exceeding 0.37 sq. m (4 sq. ft) planted with living plants, no cut flowers allowed"..... this last instruction is applied to all.

or " 1 Miniature garden, container sides or diameter not exceeding 45cm, planted with rock plants "

or "1 container, various rock garden plants, arranged for effect, maximum diameter  ( or length of side) of container 30 cm "
 or " A container of rock plants, arranged for effect, all plants to be living"
or "1 miniature garden with longest sides or diameter not exceeding 45cm."

So, you see there are no hard and fast rules.... 


AGS rules are simple and standard so the exhibitor knows which pan to buy from the outset and can exhibit the same container in more than one show.
SRGC rules for different shows go from 30cm at Glasgow and Perth to 45cm at Edinburgh and calculating the Stirling show from 4sq ft. = 61cm along one side. So a pan suitable for Edinburgh and Stirling is not suitable for Perth or Glasgow. Should the SRGC not standardise the pan size for all shows and cut out the confusion. I think the 36cm for AGS shows is a good standard size and would like to see this for SRGC shows. I have thought for some time that I would like to design a Minature Garden for showing but have been a little confused as to which pan size to go for. I think 30cm is too small.

What is the thinking of the SRGC and what do others think.


Bo'ness. Scotland

Maggi Young

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #27 on: May 03, 2011, 07:28:34 PM »
 Differences allow exhibitors to choose their preferred size, Graham.... but if one has a 30cm garden there is no bar to showing it in the other shows where the limit is larger.  The limits are just that, "limits" not the sizes that must be shown. :)

My suspicion is that a good little 'un will beat a good big 'un every time in that section, anyway!
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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Graham Catlow

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #28 on: May 03, 2011, 08:48:51 PM »
I understand that a 30cm pan is eligible for those shows with a higher upper limit, and I also see the need to set an upper limit. But I don’t see the reason for setting a low (30cm) upper limit at Perth and Glasgow. Which means the limit is limiting at these two shows.
It seems I will have to look at a 30cm pan for the best option of it being ready for any of the shows.
Bo'ness. Scotland

Maggi Young

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Re: John's Mini Garden
« Reply #29 on: May 03, 2011, 10:11:53 PM »
I see your point, Graham.... can I suggest you drop a note to the relevant Show Secs. and Barry Caudwell to draw their attention to it?  I can pass a note but a direct submission can't hurt!
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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