As posted previously some days are harder than others to recall what I've either seen or learned on any one day. Here are the latest things...
Day 49: 31-August
While digging a client's border & preparing for planting, I found 3 large white grubs. Researched & found out these were chafer grubs.
Day 50: 1-Sept
On the BBC Click programme, learned that it is possible to laser print on fruit without damaging the fruit. Use will likely be in retail labelling for use-by-dates and advertising.
Day 51: 2-Sept
Back in July, Fabien Cousteau spent 31 days at the underwater Aquarius Lab in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Day 52: 3-Sept
Alstromeria plant originated in South America (known as Peruvian lily).
Day 53: 4-Sept
Discussion over coffee at Snowshill Manor, practice by Roman soldiers of flogging tired legs with stinging nettles to stimulate circulation. Known as Urtification.
Day 54: 5-Sept
Intel has launched a generation of processors with the smallest transister ever featured in a commercial product.
Day 55: 6-Sept
Church social visit to St Fagans Museum of Welsh Life - lovely gardens and some fascinating insights into Welsh history.
Day 56: 7-Sept
The RHS is investing £100M into horticulture over the next 10 years. Part of the plans include a new RHS garden and two urban gardens.
Day 57: 8-Sept
New series of classic children's TV programme "The Clangers" is to have Michael Palin as narrator.
Day 58: 9-Sept
Salisbury spinal injuries treatment centre featured on Gardeners' World. Amazing power of the impact of the gardens- designed by Cleeve West.
Day 59: 10-Sept
Tour of Britain cycle race - stage passed through Snowshill. First time the race has been there, and first time I've seen the race up close.
Day 60: 11-Sept
Reminded about plant Echinops perennial - decided to do some plant research to be better informed on this genus.
Day 61: 12-Sept
SanDisk has created an SD card with highest capacity ever (512Gb) price ~£490
Day 62: 13-Sept
Ragwort is misunderstood - too much is destroyed where it poses no threat to grazing stock/horses. It supports many pollinators.
Day 63: 14-Sept
Plant - Trachelospermum jasminoides pruning takes place in Spring. Thin congested, weak, badly placed shoots. If necessary to renovate, cut all shoots back by two thirds to side shoots or flowering spur.
Day 64: 15-Sept
Severn rail tunnel under the river Severn uses pumps to clear underground water. If these fail the tunnels flood within 3 minutes.
Day 65: 16-Sept
Visited 4 clients gardens today (a full on day, very tiring)
Day 66: 17-Sept
Watched TimeTeam special and found out Castle Drogo, Devon, was designed by architect Edwin Lutyens.
Day 67: 18-Sept
Noticed the Snowshill Arms new pub sign.
Day 68: 19-Sept
Identified clipped shrub at Snowshill Manor cottage (Honors) as Lonicera nitida 'Yellow Beauty'.
Day 69: 20-Sept
Had cooked apples, sugar and cinnamon for evening dessert today. Intriged to know where Cinnamon originates - comes from the (dried) inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum.
Day 70: 21-Sept
Cobnut: - a type of hazelnut, introduced in southern England in the 19th century.
Day 71: 22-Sept
The 'curry' plant herb name is Helichrysum serotinum.
Day 72: 23-Sept
Given some Bergamont 'cordial', homemade. Never heard of this before, or tasted either. Apparently Earl Grey tea is made from the leaf of Bergamont plant.
Day 73: 24-Sept
Noticed new retirement flats being built at the Lower High Street Cheltenham;
location is not where I would choose to live (very busy, noisy road junction)
Day 74: 25-Sept
Visited Kew gardens (business training day); first time of visiting - very enjoyable and impressive gardens.
Day 75: 26-Sept
Kew garden specimen; the Chinese Nettle Tree - Celtis sinensis.
Day 76: 27-Sept
Current mobile phone ownership in the UK is reflected by the number of phone contracts (83 million).
