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I RURAL LIFE .rr>v.. Gardening


Your monthly garden advice column with Michelle Unsworth,


' . -eSs- !


from So Plants Boutique Garden Centre, Preston Road, Longridge


TO DO LIST


. • Summer bedding baskets and tubs should be watered daily as rain'


. often deflects off the leaves and . plants remain dry,'feed weekly and > dead head regularly. . "■ ■.' • r • • Continue to control weeds by , hoeing regularly, before they estab­ lish.


! PLANT OF THE MONTH • K V V


*«. . • Stake tall perennials, to stop them ^ * * • « « ' * Patio Clematis Philadelphia - Mock Orange


LEFT: Philaladelphus con. aurea ABOVE: Philadelphus Snow Flake RIGHT: Philadelphus Snow Belle


’•-from collapsing. - • Pinch outside shoots on tomatoes • Spray roses to protect from pests and diseases • Shade greenhouse to prevent scorch, and open vents and doors. • Mow lawns weekly, using dip­ pings on your compost - but remem­ ber to use an even mix of vegetative material to create a good balance.


Summer scents to scintillate the senses


C


With perfume in mind, possibly the star of the early summer is Philadelphus. Often known as mock orange this is an easy to grow shrub which produces an abun­ dance of sweetly-scented flowers in June. This small to


medium sized plant is an ideal addition to the mixed border. The most popular are varieties of the Philadelphus coronarius species. It is fully hardy, although early, ten­ der leaves may be damaged by frost or cold winds, so it is advisable to plant in a sheltered position. The flowers tend to fall by the end of June, however some forms have an extra dimension with coloured leaves such as Philadelphus con. Aurea, which has rich golden leaves or Philadelphus con.variegata, with a bold white edge. A lovely compact form is Philadelphus Snow Belle which has a neat shape, bearing masses of stunning,


•double white flowers.Cultivation is easy and it can be grown in a light,


n n o T E OF THE MONTH


. ■ ’ I know that if • odour were visible, as colour is. I'd see -


Robert Bridges - .Testamentof ' ' . Beauty


,


the summer garden in ’ ■ rainbow clouds.


.


sheltered position, in well-drained-, ; soil. Pruning is not es- . sential but it can . be cut back after flowering in late - June or'July. It is easy to propa- - - gate by softwood ;-v cuttings'taken in summer.—


UMMER is my favourite time, when gardens are full of wonderful sights ^ jjy$ and sounds but particularly smells. Forme, perfume makes the


perfect garden; the sharp smell of freshly- cut grass and the earthiness of a garden drenched in early morning dew. But most of all I love the perfumed flowers, which are the crowning glory of a summer garden. Roses, paeomes, stocks and mock orange to name but a few, fill the air with wonderful scents, especially on a warm summer's evening. One to look out for is Galega x hartlandii


Alba, a stunning herbaceous plant with small white pea-like flowers and a delicious coconut perfume. At this time of year, even after rain, the


garden looks brighter, fresher and revived. Every day a new flower opens enticing the butterflies and bees in. When choosing your plants, consider


how they can work for you. In addition to colour and structure, make the most of your borders by including plants for per­ fume, cutting, culinary use and, of course, pollinating insects. A well-planned garden can provide cut


flowers, vegetables and herbs throughout the summer. This can be achieved in even the smallest plot. There are no set rules in gardening so why not consider growing vegetables in amongst your flower bor­ ders? Herbs are often attractive plants with something like purple sage making a great foliage contrast in the herbaceousborder. Peas or beans grown up an obelisk make a stunning statement; a little experimenta­ tion in your garden can be fun and often yields great results.


N the beginning just about all low lying Lancashire was moss - a landscape of saturated


boggy levels. Until it was drained it is hard to admit Lancashire was an economic backwater-almost literally. Now it is hard to imagine what this landscape looked like except in one place - Winmarleigh - which has the largest area of unclaimed mossland in the county. This walk takes you across this exceptional landscape.


Directions: 1. From the car park turn right and walk along the road for 200yds then turn left on to a track to the left of a large house. Cross a stile next to a gate and keep ahead for 700yds. At the first junction turn fight on to the farm road leading to Lathwaite Farm. After passing its first outbuildings


turn right through the main yard. 2. The route passes the


SIGHT AND SMELLS OF SUMMER: Trailing beg:onias


farm house on the left and passes through a metal gate.into fields. Keep ahead with a fence on the left. The track leads to a metal gate. Through this continue with the hedge on the left to reach a green utility building in the far corner. Behind this cross a stile and then turn left to cross a footbridge. Bearing right cross the field to the gated Burns Bridge. Over this turn left and follow the river Cocker to Little Crimbles Farm. There is no right of way over the first footbridge on the left so continue upstream to cross the second. 3.Turn left and then right to cross the yard of Little Crimbles Farrn and then join the farm road. There now follows a two-mile interlude on tarmac. The farm drive leads past Weasel Wood on the left to a junction. Turn left and then opposite Great Crimbles turn right on to Gulf Lane. This area, Cockerham Moss, is impressively flat - a wide panorama of sky and •


qckqrha i Bond* * .Firm


%*&Inrnarlefgh: Mos s


; b Country Trails


Walk the route that will take you back in time to a Lancashire landscape untouched by the centuries...


@ RURAL LIFE


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Start: 7 he Patten Arms, PR3 OJU on theB5272 north of Garstang There is no real alternative unless readers • park in the layby on the A6 at Cabus : thereby adding an extra two miles to - i the route. This, , then, is a pub walk and.readers should seek 7 ; consent from the landlord and ■


i: Crimbles/ Great •; *Lathw i Faim • art» ■ tlyi


landlady before C using the car: park. (01524 791484) It would only.seem polite . to patronise the pub at the end


„• Cummings V - •


.. of the walk. No hardship since it is an excellent establishment. Fact file: Distance: 8 miles 13k Time: 3 - 4 ■ hours


v ' Carr - , . r - -


sky. Ahead near the coast Pilling can be seen. Further north the monolithic blocks of Heysham Power Station break the horizon. The route passes Birch House Farm before reaching in another 600yds the large complex that is Moss Edge Farm.


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4. The next part of the walk is as much practical geometry as it is a walk so straight are the lines of travel. As you reach Moss Edge Farm turn left in front of holiday cottages (called The Granary) and keep ahead through the yard to reach a track. This crosses fields to reach


. Map: OS • Explorer 296


Lancaster, Morecambe and Fleetwood.


(eventually!) Poplar Farm on the left and Poplar Grove Farm on the right. After the second farm continue for 100 yards to a stile next to a metal gate on the left. As you enter the field note the ditch on the left. This is Crawley's Dyke which for the next two miles will be your


handrail. Keep ahead to a small footbridge. In crossing


this you enter Winmarleigh Moss. The site is large - 90 hectares of which 75 hectares are managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The Moss is home to a number of rare species - the ironically *~r named Common Lizard, the Large Heath Butterfly and Bog Bush Cricket.


> V Summary; Easy


Such is the sensitivity of this landscape that visitors are asked to keep to the right of way. After 40 minutes a footbridge crossing into meadow heralds the end of the unclaimed moss.


Continue with the dyke on the left - now noticeably


bigger-as it crosses fields , . to reach a fenced utility


service area. Here join a track a (Thorough Lane) bearing right which leads back to the point you left it on the outward leg. The rest is


retracing your steps back to -v the pub. • Walk by Bob Clare. For


more walks go to www. Iancashirewalks.com


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