Category: Nature

Portuguese Men of War

 

Those venturing out on our local beaches in South Wales in mid October may have been in for a surprise. Spread along the shore – there were maybe 400-500 on Rhossili beach – were Portuguese Men of War jellyfish. They are usually to be found out on the open ocean but the lively weather and post-hurricane storms drove many of them ashore. Although small, they are quite distinctive with a 'pasty-shaped' bladder which keeps them afloat but they are at the mercy of winds, tides and currents unlike many jellyfish which can swim to a degree.

Strictly speaking they are not jellyfish but an aggregation of different individuals known as a siphonophore. Also unlike many jellyfish the stings from the venomous tentacles, which can be up to 10 metres long, can still be activated long after the creature is dead so resist the temptation to touch it and keep dogs well away. They have few predators although Loggerhead Turtles, Blue Sea Slugs and the Violet Snail will all happily munch away at them. The young Blanket Octopus will even carry broken bits of tentacle which can be used either in attack or defence

 

 

What to Do In November

 

It's probably going to be cold, wet and miserable out in the garden but never mind. It is November after all and there's still plenty of work to be done. If you haven't already done so, empty any pots that contained summer bedding and put spent compost on to borders as a mulch. Alternatively, you can mix some wild flower seed in with the compost and spread it on an unused or unmanageable part of your plot and then just wait for nature to take its course.

At this time of year, it's good to take the tops off roses to prevent wind rock, the movement from which can damage them, sometimes beyond repair. I have said before about keeping the base of roses clear of fallen leaves and at this time of year it is very important so as not to harbour any diseases. Also keep lawns and ponds clear of any leaves.

We still have time to plant out winter bedding to keep colour in the garden for as long as possible. Now is a good time to plant up pots of Tulips, making sure that you plant them deep enough; most of us don't. You can then plant pansies or primula on top to prolong the display. My personal favourites to go with tulips are wallflowers.

Make sure you raise your containers onto pot feet or just a few small stones to avoid water logging. Tulips are especially vulnerable in very wet conditions.

Now is the time of year to move shrubs growing in unsuitable places. Only move shrubs that are of a manageable size where you can get the whole root ball out. The more root you leave behind the less chance of it surviving. Ordered bare root trees and shrubs need to be planted as soon as possible before they dry out. The R H S recommend now as a good time to plant roses but advise against planting in an area where roses were previously grown otherwise new introductions may suffer from replant diseases (rose sickness).

High winds can cause a lot of damage in the garden if steps are not taken to combat the problem. Newly planted shrubs and trees should be securely staked. Climbers, if needs be, should be trimmed back and extra ties put on.

Hardwood cuttings of ornamental shrubs can be taken now; Cornus and Hydrangea are easy to do. I just cut pieces about 40cm (16ins) and stick them in the ground next to the plant i cut them from. My reasoning for this approach is if the soil is ok for the mother plant its should be ok for the cuttings, though I'm not sure if you would get that advice from the RHS.

I hope to see you at the Wenvoe Christmas Craft Fair on Sunday 26 November where there will be a couple of the local gardening experts who have given me some advice this year. If you want to ask them anything I will point them out to you so they can share the blame for this column.

Take care and happy gardening

Dewberrys Discovered

 

A stroll along the new cycleway and footpath on Port Road between Wenvoe and the Alps roundabout revealed some interesting plants lurking at the base of the hedgerow. Most surprising because it has not been recorded yet in the parish is Dewberry. Similar to the Blackberry but with some clear distinguishing features. The berries have a bluish waxy bloom to them and there are far fewer segments per fruit, a bit like a raspberry in this respect. The leaves are closer together than is the case with brambles and they tend to creep along the ground rather than throw up long prickly stems. They are known on Gower as 'monkey grabbers' as their low creeping habit means they are easier to miss until they have snared you around the ankles. On Gower and other dune systems you will often see people gathering the berries which some adore but others find bland and insipid. In Wiltshire it is known as the Token Blackberry. The leaves can also be used to make a tea

 

 

 

What To Do In Autumn

 

The Village Show on 9th sept was a great advertisement for village life. A big thank you to the scouts for putting on a great day. I now know from personal experience what it takes to compete with the likes of Annie Bennett, Gordon Jones and the colossus that is Phil Morant. I spoke to a lot of people who wished they had entered in more categories plus others who hadn't entered this year but wished they had. So next year it could be standing room only. Let’s hope so and let’s give the organisers our support. One thing that I still cannot fathom is the outcome of my Tesco potatoes entry. Three specimens – all of them nearly exactly the same size – came nowhere. I believe I was robbed and the judges didn't even wear masks. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

All plants given to the environment group have now been planted on the village green so thanks to all who donated. Most of the gaps have now been filled. When travelling around the village it is good to see the effort that a lot of villagers make to keep Wenvoe clean and tidy.

This year seems to have been particularly bad for a lot of lawns, especially on slopes. I believe the wet summer has had a detrimental effect by washing any goodness out the soil. Having spoken to green keepers and trawled google for advice to share, the consensus is that lime is the answer and should be applied in the Autumn on a dry but not frosty day. The lawn will then have all winter to absorb the lime. Dealing with moss in lawns is time consuming and, if you get a contractor in, very expensive. While looking for moss killer at garden centres I came across a lawn treatment that claims you don't have to rake out the moss after treatment. It’s called Mo Bacter and was trialled on BBCs Beechgrove Garden series with outstanding reviews. They have it at the local garden centre. I don't know how good it is but I will be giving it a try in the Spring after liming. If your planning on laying new turf the Royal Horticultural Society reckon now is a good time and they should know.

Things to get done in October. Gardening at this time can seem like a lot of effort for little return, but work done now is well worth it such as clearing borders, cutting back and planting for next year with cheap perennials from garden centres. I have picked up really good plants at this time of year, a lot of which can be split, giving you multiple plants. October advice from the Eden Project Cornwall includes the following. 1. Divide herbaceous perennials. 2. Plant out spring flowers such as wallflowers. 3. Plant prepared hyacinths in vases for scent and colour in the house. 4. This is the time of year to cover up your garden furniture and clean out greenhouses, ponds and water butts.

On the veg patch, now is the time to divide established rhubarb crowns to create new plants. Planting out spring cabbage is another job to be done now. Tip from Jeff Dowling at the allotment. If you're going to use farmyard or horse manure, get it

quite fresh and cover it with a sheet till it rots down so that the goodness is kept in. Well rotted manure that has been left to the elements will have had all nutrients washed out of it before you use it.

I hope that you are enjoying the produce at this time of year. There is nothing quite like eating fruit and veg in season, whether it's consumed fresh or made into jams, pickles, tarts and wine. Don't forget to plant garlic now, pointy end up. Quite apt really with Halloween imminent.

Happy gardening.

 

 

A New Arbour

We have erected an arbour in the Elizabethan Orchard – see photo – and will be planting Honeysuckle to grow up the sides. Shakespeare often refers to Woodbine which some believe is Honeysuckle but he also refers to Woodbine entwined with Honeysuckle which suggests it may be something else. It is disappointing to have to report that one of the newly planted heritage Gooseberry varieties we planted has been stolen. Increased use of CCTV and distribution of our wildlife cameras may provide evidence that the police can make use of. We shall also be planting 20 bulbs of Spiked Star of Bethlehem which is the flower featured on our logo as the parish has the only confirmed and established site for this in Wales, where it has been growing for at least 20 years and probably longer. We have had printed our own T Shirts, thanks to Linda Evans, which you will see being worn by members when working in the orchards and nature reserves. This features the logo front and back. Our next major project will be the planting of the orchard at Goldsland Farm which will consist mainly of apples, including some cider varieties and perry pears

 

 

Sputnik Pea Gall

 

 

This fellow traveler took off sixty years ago and it was the first of its kind. The second one carried a dog and the photo shows one of several found down at Goldsland Farm. Confused? Well, the first artificial earth satellite was, of course, Sputnik, which is Russian for Satellite or Fellow Traveller and this was launched in 1957. Later that year Sputnik 2 went into space with the dog Laika on board. And the gall in the photo is the Sputnik or Spiked Pea Gall and it is usually found on Dog Rose which was the case down at Goldsland. It is caused by a small wasp which lays its eggs in the leaves – each gall houses one grub. The Sputniks were launched in Kazakhstan which is the home of the apple – over many hundreds, possibly thousands, of years they worked their way to the west along the silk roads and with the help of traders and the guts of animals. After years of putting up with the mouth-puckering crab-apple, finally the sweet apple arrived and for our ancestors it was a life-changing event.

 

 

Volunteer of The Year

 

 

We were delighted to hear that Mervyn Greenwood was runner-up in the Wales Volunteer of the Year awards judged by Keep Wales Tidy. It is a great achievement, particularly bearing in mind how many hundreds, possibly thousands, of volunteers there are in Wales. The judges commented: 'The application clearly shows the amazing work Mervyn does at Wenvoe Wildlife Group and his passion for the environment and the area'. Mervyn was presented with a certificate from Keep Wales Tidy and vouchers by the Wildlife Group.

Continuing our interest in Lichens we arranged for a survey to be carried out of the Lichens down at Goldsland Farm which we intend to be the basis of a Lichen Trail around the area. This is a very specialised subject and we were very pleased that Tracey Lovering from Plantlife could fit us into her busy schedule. We have now completed the programme of activities and purchases with the generous grant from Tescos. This has provided us with noticeboards, benches, arbours, tools, an orchard, wildflowers, bee hotels, hedgehog homes, nest boxes, raised beds, grass-cutting machines and strimmers, plants, remote cameras – to mention just a few.

This has been our best year for fruit from the orchards including a good selection of apples (possible around 50 kgs), quite a few plums and damsons, a handful of pears and the usual crop of medlars. If you try out any of the fruit let us know what you think – personal preferences can vary but any feedback we get is useful. Our fifth orchard will be planted down at Goldsland soon and we have heard that Dyffryn Gardens is going ahead with their new orchard in the coming months.

 

 

 

August Miscellany

 

The Village Show Sept 9th at the Community centre is a must for all villagers. You will see a range of talents from the folk of this parish,its quite unbelievable what some of these people can do. Please go along, these local events take a lot of organisation and foot fall is so important.

At the end of July the allotment holders held a Gardeners Question Time in the Wenvoe Arms. The panel of Joyce, Phil, Trevor and a representative from Pughs Garden Centre answered any queries and Phil brought along samples of produce from his plot. It was entertaining and long may it continue.

We will soon be thinking of Autumn Weed and Feed for our lawns. Don't use any of the product you have been using in the spring or summer as this will have to much nitrogen and will encourage top growth which is not good for this time of year. When applying don't put any more on the grass than the instructions say. If using a spreader check the flow rate. I am as guilty as others for not checking or watering well enough if we have a dry spell after distribution.

If anyone has a potted shrub they no longer want then the environment team would be interested. We will gladly collect and use them to fill in gaps around village.

When the team met on the 7th August Ian Moody put us to work on the village green. While working next to the war memorial two boys of about 10 were talking to each other. One said 'I think that’s a memorial to World War 2' then, on inspection, he said 'no it's not, it's to World War 1.' The other boy then asked 'where's the one for World War 3?'

There will be a lot of shrubs to be cut back at this time of year but be careful as shrubs that flower in spring should be left alone for now. These should be cut back after they flower in the Spring, just after flowering. If you have the patience and room, scoop up autumn leaves, dampen if dry and put into bin bags. Make a couple of holes for aeration and put them away (maybe behind a garden shed) until next autumn. It might seem hard to believe but you will

then have the very best compost for bulbs. When you consider the cost of compost to buy its a good option.

Taking cuttings at this time of year can be very productive and fuschias are very reliable, Take about 4 to 5 ins of new growth, cut just below a joint and leave the top two leaves in place. Dip in rooting compound and pot up. Rose cuttings are a bit hit and miss but they are great if they take. Just cut about 10 to 12 ins of new growth and trim the bottom at a bud. Take an inch off the top, strip the leaves and push into soil to half its length. It will take a long while before it takes but is fantastic if it does.

Going into the Autumn, fences should be checked for loose or rotting panels and posts. A quick fix now will save being out there in high winds, grappling with panels that think they ought to be anywhere other than in your garden.

September is harvest time. Allotments, fruit gardens and veg patches are at their best. There is so much to be had by sharing the spoils with good friends and neighbours. It is one of lifes great pleasures.

Happy gardening

 

 

Orchard News for July

 

 

We have managed to get all four of our sites accepted as having achieved the Green Flag standard so The Upper Orchid Field, Community Orchard, Elizabethan Orchard and now the Welsh Orchard will be proudly flying their Green Flag pennants. To put this achievement in context we are the only village in the county to have a Community Green Flag the others being 3 in Barry and 2 in Cowbridge. We have more than towns like Merthyr and Bridgend and Newport has none. This is down to the support of the Vale of Glamorgan Council who own two of the sites, the Reader family who own and help us to look after the other two; the members of the Wildlife Group who maintain the sites and those of you who visit and respect them. We are aiming for 5 next year.

Year 3 children from Wenvoe Primary School came to the Community Orchard on a nature ramble. They hunted for insects and wildlife in the grasses and the pond and spotted a number of different species. They also looked at the bee hotel and learnt about how important these kind of wildlife habitats are for insects, birds and small mammals. The children took a few apples and some herbs back to the classroom to try, to see how the apples are different from the ones they get in the supermarket. They also looked at the pumpkins which are growing well, ready for them to pick for Halloween.

We mentioned the Rooster challenge a few months back where you follow a set of 5 clues which can be found on the noticeboards on the Upper Orchid Field, Community Orchard, Elizabethan Orchard, Goldsland Farm and Wild Orchard. The challenge has been completed so the first prize has been awarded but a runner-up prize is still on offer so why not have a go. Next correct entry gets £10 in garden vouchers.

There is quite a bit of fruit coming along in the orchards. The photo shows a still young apple tree but with over 100 fruit on it. It is an adopted Welsh apple tree known as Afal Coch Cynnar, originally Devonshire Quarrenden. This was first introduced in 1676, is very good for bees and other insects and tastes of strawberries.

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Notes

 

 

Summer holidays are here and the children are off school – playing football on your lawn and trying not to let the ball flatten your flowers, bless em. Before going away, water well and rely on inclement weather or good friends to water for you. We are advised to save water but water butts are usually empty at this time of year. Grey water is an option, it just takes a bit more effort. A water timer is effective and especially so in the green house. The cheaper ones that are available on line work really well. With ground drying out, mulching will help retain moisture in the soil.

Dry spells in summer do no favours for our lawns so raise the cutting height and allow clippings to stay on the grass. You may have to cut more often but this will help. Try not to use lawn weedkillers at this time, they are a lot more effective in the autumn when it's damper.

We went to Duffryn gardens a couple of weeks ago to see what has been done to the borders at the front of the house. They had been turned into veg patches to show what was done during World War 1. They were really worth seeing as were the rest or the gardens. Staying on the good garden theme, Sylvia’s bungalow on Nant Isaf, as you turn into the village by the Walston Castle, would gladden anyones heart. Not so easy to see are Gerry Crump's and Ieuan Williams' gardens in Rectory Close. They may not thank me for drawing attention to them but I'll take the risk. Wherever you go in Wenvoe at this time of year there are good gardens; the roses at Mr & Mrs Cottle's on Gwenfo Drive or Mr Miller’s well laid out front garden in Grange Close to name just a couple.

It has been a very good year for the roses and ours have given their best show to date. Just keep dead heading and watch out for disease but there is no need to feed them anymore. Make sure you keep the ground beneath roses clear of any fallen leaves as these can harbour disease.

When deadheading in our garden we've been bitten by an irritating little insect which we now know to be a Flower Bug. It's only 4mm in length and in some places has been used to control greenfly and

red spider mite since the nineties. It lives in shrubs at this time of year, is oval in shape and has reflective wings. The bite stings then itches and can be slow to heal.

The R H S has some tips for fruit growers in August. Apple trees that are trained or cordoned should be pruned now to allow light to ripen fruit and for good cropping next year. With summer fruiting raspberries, the canes that bore fruit this year should be cut down to ground level and 6-8 of the new growth canes per plant kept for next year’s fruit. Pot up strawberry runners now for new plants next year. Wisteria needs to be pruned now, it’s usually done February time and then again in Summer.

If some of your favourite plants are producing seed it’s a good idea to collect them. They may not be exactly the same next year, as often happens, but it's well worth trying.

You need to be ordering your spring flowering bulbs now to make sure you have the best choice. If you want Hyacinths for Christmas you will have to order prepared bulbs. Sorry to mention Christmas in August but that’s gardening for you.

Happy gardening.

 

 

 

 

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