LORETO HOUSE FLORAL WEEKEND

Photo: Loreto House with Tyred View by Debra Richardson.

Photo: Loreto House conservatory.

Photo: Large display by Michael Doherty and Mary McCullagh.

Photo: Karen Sanson display.

Photo: Kazuhide Egewa displays.

Photo's:Julie Pearson displays.

Photo: Jane Marsh display.

Photo: Hallway,Loreto House.

Photo: Floral mix

Photo: Petal Power by Michael Doherty.

Photo:Decorated boots by Jane Marsh.

Carpet of flowers: Loreto grammer school Omagh,Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana,Crana College, Buncrana

FLOWER SHOW AT LORETO HOUSE

Loreto house in Linsfort was bathed in sunshine over the weekend, giving a perfect backdrop for their first flower show. The idea for the flower show came from a conversation with flower arranger Michael Doherty and sister Eveleen from Loreto house soon after Sister Anne McDaid passed away. It had always been something that Sister Anne wanted to do but was unable to organise because of ill health. It seemed fitting therefore that the show went ahead in her memory and floral artists came from here and overseas to take part. The money raised will also go towards the refurbishment of the stable yard, which was also a plan that Sister Anne was hoping to implement. I went down to see the varied display of artwork for myself and was amazed at the size and variation of the arrangements. Before walking into the newly painted building I was greeted with a decorated car that Michael Doherty had put together called “Petal Power”, complete with hazel sticks in the exhaust pipes. There was also a collection of three decorated tractor tyres on the lawn to steer you into the house, these were put together by Debra Richardson and called Tyred View”

Jane Marsh created a fantastic show of flowers in the conservatory using driftwood and old wellies that were still covered in mud. Sticks poked out of the top of the boots, which reminded me of the feeling of my own boots after a day grafting in the garden. Every room in the house was full of stylish displays. Loreto Grammer School, Scoil Mhuire and Crana College decorated the hallway with two gigantic carpets of fresh flowers and the staircase banister and post decorated by John McDonald and Christine Skipper were intricately woven with flowers. There were some gigantic displays that would be well suited to a stately home. The idea of floral arrangements go back centuries but really became popular in Victorian times to display new species of imported flowers as well as prosperity. In contrast to these larger displays, Kazuhide Egewa showed us very inspiring Japanese styled minimalist displays using dogwood, roses and something we tend to just throw on the fire, the humble lump if turf!

GARDEN DESIGN-DOORWAY

Photo: The red hot poker plant (Kniphofia) could make an interesting centre piece in a pot by the door.

BRIGHTEN UP THE DOORWAY
Bring some colour and warmth to the doorway of your house by carefully picking some hot pots and plants

HOT REDS
Perfect for: a cool corner that needs brightening up. Choose bold Mediterranean blue pots. They are usually associated with summer sun, but they also look great planted up with warm winter plants. A single colour scheme always creates instant impact - in winter,try a combination of cyclamen and Gaultheria procumbens.

OLIVES
Perfect for: an alternative look. Choose an olive tree! Although olive trees may be associated with sunnier climes, they are surprisingly hardy. Dress up your olive tree by placing it in a terracotta pot and under planting it with variegated ivy. It should be kept sheltered from cold winter winds, but makes a great alternative to the traditional Christmas tree.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE
Perfect for: a warm welcome to a door or driveway. Choose large red planters and plant them up in rich tones of red, orange and chocolate brown. It's a warm and inviting look that's easy to replicate. Plant a chocolate-brown cordyline in the centre of the pot and alternate orange flaming katy (Kalanchoë blossfeldiana) and red Gaultheria procumbens around the base of the cordyline. Place in a bright but sheltered spot and water sparingly.

Horticultural.

GARDEN DESIGN-BIRDS

SPARE A THOUGHT FOR THE BIRDS WHEN PLANNING YOUR GARDEN

(Click on the title for a link to the RSPB)

Birds are on the decline in the garden and one of the reasons could be blamed on lost lawns. Decking, patios and gravel gardens may be contributing to a decline in song thrushes, house sparrows and starlings. Conservationists said their numbers have plummeted over the last 30 years as a trend to replace lawns with a low maintenance alternative has taken off. Without a habitat for insects, there is less for the birds to feed on. The RSPB over in England said studies suggested this was threatening some species' survival rate and urged people to leave lawns. It said that gardening makeover shows and a lack of time to spend tending a garden had led people to pave over their gardens or lay decking. Richard Bashford, of the RSPB, said: "We are losing more and more of the natural environment around our homes, particularly our front gardens." He said research had shown that even tiny front gardens or green verges are vital for urban wildlife and can house more than 700 different species of insect. "The RSPB is still investigating the causes of declines and why bird populations aren't recovering. Currently there is no one factor this can be attributed to. "However supplementing natural food with seeds and nuts and planting natural food sources for next spring can only help." The RSPB is also urging gardeners to plant native shrubs, leave patches of long grass and introduce bird feeders and tables.

RSPB ADVICE

Plant a native shrub or climber
Leave patches of long grass
Do not cut back old stems of herbaceous plants and annuals until spring
Fill a shallow dish with fresh water every day
Put nuts, seeds and household scraps in feeders or on bird tables

Horticultural,environmental.

POINSETTIAS

As we are looking at brightening up the doorstep let's look indoors too. There were some interesting houseplants on sale before Christmas to cash in on the buying frenzy. Some of the choices will last longer than others. Don't be too disappointed if the beautiful plant you bought looks like a pile of twigs, they will have done their job. Some plants are for Christmas, not for life!

A favourite is the Poinsettia. These attractive foliage plants prefer cooler rooms otherwise they wilt. To keep the humidity up, stand them on a layer of pebbles in a water-filled tray. Put the plants near a window with lots of light but out of draughts, let them dry out between watering, and feed occasionally. They could last for months but don't bet money on it though! Most of the problems you will get with this plant are because of the poor conditions they were displayed in at the shops. They were grown in hot glasshouses so a cold draughty doorway of a shop is the last thing they need. Pick ones from shops that keep them watered and out of the cold air. If you do want to over winter the plant so that they produce the coloured bracts ( kind of flower petals), it is possible but tricky. They'll need 14 hours of total darkness followed by 10 hours of daylight every day for 8 weeks. Leave it to the professionals!

Horticultural.