What was in the Palm House border for Summer 2004?

In keeping with the 2004 Summer Festival - New Views of Kew - there was a cottage garden theme

How many plants are there in the Palm House borders?

The Palm House borders are in beds designed by the great Kew landscape designer William Nesfield and their shape remains unchanged. They contain thousands of plants. Most of these are grown from seed in Kew's nurseries. Plans for some of the beds (Summer 2004) are available at www.kew.org/plants/summerbedding

What processes do you go through when re-planting the Palm House Border?

The borders are mown and edged. The old plants are removed, keeping some of the bulbs and any perennials. Everything else is destined for the compost heap. The bed is forked over, breaking as much as soil as possible, weeding as you go. In Autumn compost is added for the spring bedding plants. The beds are raked level, the edges flicked up with a hoe. The flicked up soil is raked so it is level. Then we tread and rake until all the large soil lumps are broken down and any large stones or debris is removed. Air pockets in the soil are also reduced in this process. The plants are then placed on the beds to the correct spacing, traditionally dot or highlight plants are used in the centre of the beds and carpet plants are used for the gaps in between and edge plants around the outside. Plants are planted being careful not to plant either too deep/shallow. Finally, they are watered in!

Can you tell me more about the border by the Princess of Wales Conservatory?

The border is a sub-tropical display. It was designed so that visitors could enjoy something bold and colourful using different heights and textures. It is at the north end of the Conservatory. During Winter months many of the plants are protected.

Can I have more information about the tree ferns growing in the border?

The tree ferns were obtained in 1993 and were originally outside the Filmy Fern House which no longer exists. They are tender plants so they are wrapped in sacking for the Winter months. The first tree ferns ever to be grown at Kew were collected in the 19th century.

When does the Palm House Border change?

The Palm House Border is replanted in May/June and October. The whole process including the circular beds takes about 3 -4 weeks and depends on the number of people helping and the weather!

Can we have help in our school garden?

Unfortunately we can't give hands-on assistance, but we are developing lots of helpful information to support our own new Wildlife Zone, including a comprehensive Teachers' Pack for schools. Learning Through Landscapes - www.ltl.org.uk - can also give advice about creating school gardens.

What is coppicing?

Coppicing is an ancient practice involving cutting shrubs and trees to ground level and regularly harvesting the shoots which which regrow from dormant buds in stumps and roots. It is used for conservation but it is not a panacea for all wildlife conservation and should be a part of a planned woodland management programme. Coppicing can be seen at Wakehurst Place.

When is the next charity plant auction? Do I have to be a Friend?

The Plant Auction is an annual event with full details appearing on the friends pages of our website - www.kew.org/friends/
plantauction.html - and in the Kew Magazine The next one will be on 9 June 2005. You do not have to be a Friend to attend.

Why does Kew sell plants at the auction?

Occasionally we generate small amounts of surplus plants but they are not sold in the shops. As part of our remit as a Botanic Garden, plants are used in our research or to assist the maintenance of the Gardens and can be provided to other institutions for a similar use. Some surplus plants are offered at the Plant Auction to raise funds for a nominated Kew project each year.

Can Kew sell plants from the seeds it has collected?

Kew staff only collect plants and seeds with the prior permission of the partner countries. Kew signs an agreement regarding the use of seeds collected and the terms and conditions are passed on to those at the auction who also sign an agreement about the future use of the plants in order to be able to bid. The charity auction is used for fund-raising and part of this goes towards a conservation fund benefiting the partner countries. Plants obtained at the auction are only for private use.

Who is the VIP who attends the Plant Auctions?

Previous VIPs have included Roy Lancaster in 2003 and Thomas Pakenham in 2004. This year Roy Lancaster will be returning and full details are on the friends pages of our website www.kew.org/friends and in the Kew Magazine.

How much do plants usually cost?

It depends on how many people are interested in the same plant and bid against each other. However, the auction is a charity fund-raiser and so plants can fetch hundreds of pounds. Prices tend to be a lot higher than those in garden centres or commercial nurseries.

What kind of people attend the auction?

It varies. Many are Friends of Kew or have long established links with the organisation. Representatives may be sent from large historic estates or private arboreta to bid on their behalf and some are enthusiastic gardeners from the local area with small private gardens. We do not provide material to commercial nurserymen or horticulture companies.

I would like to volunteer

Kew could not survive without its army of volunteers. Find out about current opportunities at www.kew.org/aboutus/volunteers

I would like to change careers. Where can I get formal training?

If you are considering a career in Horticulture, Kew offers a practical training scheme in Botanical Horticulture in the form of our Rotational Training Scheme.

Kew's prestigious School of Horticulture offers a 3 year diploma and 3 month intern placements for those who already have good horticultural skills.

There are also many horticultural colleges around the UK.

Why do so many plants go on the compost heap?

Kew's soil is hungry, sandy, droughty thin sand on Thames Gravel and doesn't hold any moisture or nutrient. The compost produced is therefore vital and the Kew compost heap produces enough for us to be self-sufficient - www.kew.org/places/
kew/compostheap.html