Staff have been very busy planting out the formal bedding in front of the Kibble over the last week. The forecast with a mixture of sun and rain should help the plants establish well.
June has been a busy month in the Gardens and for the Friends. We started the month with a very successful stand at Glasgow University Science Festival in the Kibble. Using the same successful model as last year, many young visitors learned how to take and look after soft tip cuttings of mint and how to pot up and grow Begonia semperflorens. Our stand was very popular with the families visiting at the weekends and it has become the largest public facing event that Friends GBG hold in the year. We were able to publicise our work and talk to many visitors about supporting us and joining. Our event would not have been possible without the support on the day of committee members, garden guides and other members. Thanks to all involved.
Our second wildlife walk in the Gardens and along the Kelvin took place in June led by Alexandra Jackson, countryside ranger. All places were taken with a party of approximately 20 members attending. We were able to look at the woodpeckers’ nest, the photograph of which appeared in last month’s newsletter, unfortunately no woodpeckers were seen! We assume that they
have successfully fledged and hopefully the next generation will be seen around the Gardens.
I was invited to attend a planting ceremony of the new Peace Garden next to the pond. It is funded by the Lord Provost’s fund, CND Scotland, GCC and Friends of GBG. Guests including our Lord Provost, were entertained by senior children from St Charles Primary and North Kelvinside Primary who sang and recited poetry.
Dr Hiro Shimai, our Curator, told the story of the Ginkgo tree that survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima and brought a sapling that he has grown in GBG from seed of that tree. Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren spoke of the big part that GBG played in her own life while growing up in the area. Thereafter and with tremendous enthusiasm the children planted herbaceous plants around the ginkgo tree.
The garden will be completed before being formally opened on August 6th, the 80th anniversary of the bomb being dropped. Details will be posted in our August newsletter.
Our garden volunteers, all graduates of the CPH course, have completed maintenance work of the herb beds, chronological beds and the herbaceous borders. These areas are seen by many of our visitors and the work enhances
their experience. The next CPH course is recruiting well with a few places still
available. Full details on our website.
Finally it is a pleasure to announce the registration of three new orchid hybrids bred at GBG by our skilled team led by Christine Nicholson. The cultivar names ‘Kibble Palace’ and ‘Glasgow850’ speak for themselves and will hopefully generate good publicity. ‘Countess Dalhousie’ may not immediately ring any bells but this interesting lady’s life is a hidden gem.
Wishing all our members a good summer season.