JANUARY at Gordale
By Karen Jones, Retail Manager.
Once Christmas and the New Year has passed it is easy to feel a bit down in the dumps. It is dark when I come to and leave work and the house suddenly looks empty once the tree, decorations and cards have been taken down. It is just the excuse I need to cheer myself up and I have great delight in buying some house plants. Orchids ( from £14.99 ) are excellent in the house, they need very little attention and they come in a variety of colours to match any decor. Specimen foliage plants such as Kentia Palms, despite not having flowers also provide an architectural focus to a room, a pair on either side of a patio door can just finish a room setting off.
It is easy to forget the garden in January too, but as long as it isn’t frosty you can plant any of the container grown plants we sell. Looking particularly good now are Buxus Pyramids at £29.99, Ilex with berries ( Holly ) £59.99, heathers (£3.99) and superb hanging baskets made by our expert Becky for £14.99. All make wonderful presents for friends or for yourself.
Talks
Gordale is more than just a shop, if you want to learn more about the garden you would be welcomed at one of my courses which I hold every other Wednesday at11am and 2pm. There is no cost to attend and afterwards we all go to the coffee shop for complimentary refreshments. Each session is a different topic and you can ask any questions you like. They are very informal, no sitting in a classroom, instead we walk around the department covered in the topic and learn from experiencing the products. Although the Spring courses have now been fixed if you have any suggestions for future topics just let me know. Full details are on the web page or you can ring for any additional information.
Bird Care
At this time of the year birds need every bit of help we can give them. The last few days in 2008 were exceptionally cold and dry and in such weather the birds find it hard to find enough food and, if the ponds stay frozen, enough to drink. Whilst there are many table scraps the birds will enjoy, it is essential that they get the right balance of food to fight the bad weather. We have a selection of bird foods to suit different types of feeding birds, fat snacks are enjoyed by blue tits whilst ground feeding birds such as Blackbirds and Thrushes enjoy mixes of seed and protein in the form of dried worms and bugs. In the cold nesting boxes also act as a winter shelter so it is best to leave well alone at this time of year, don't be tempted to carry out a Spring clean. We have a wonderful selection of bird boxes and feeders starting at £5.99 each or £10 for two or you can consider a bird table.
Food Department
Even after the excesses of Christmas I think it is essential to eat good quality foods. All our food is sourced from speciality retailers who are proud of their products. Walkers Biscuits, Cottage Delight jams, chutneys and pickles, local honey, Patchwork Pate, Cheshire Farm Ice Cream, Beeches Chocolates, Pendleside Bakeries cakes and breads and much more. Linda our food expert is able to advise you on the different products and if you want to treat a friend or neighbour rather than yourself she can make up a hamper which would go down well as a birthday present.
Fresh Flowers
Our Fresh Flower department continues to expand. We have sourced our flowers from a new supplier and now offer an even better quality at better prices. Our fully trained florists, who I have been known to help out from time to time, can make up an informal bunch or you can choose from a ready made pick up and go bunch. We also specialise in weddings and funeral tributes. If you would like to see samples of their work just telephone to make an appointment with Lyn or just drop in for an informal chat.
Seed Potatoes
Our seed potatoes are now in stock, you can buy them loose or in pre packs. The quality of the potato is the same, buying loose simply allows you to buy a number of different varieties with out having to buy too many. Many people ask me if they can just plant potatoes they buy from the greengrocer. Well the simple answer is you can, however, seed potatoes have been grown in Scotland and are free from disease. If you plant potatoes from the greengrocer you could introduce pests and diseases which would be hard to remove and will seriously reduce the yields that you receive.
Ther are many varieties of potato, the common ones such as Desiree, Maris Piper, King Edward can be bought easily at the green grocer so if space is short you might like to try a more unusual one such as Pentland Javelin or Pink Fir Apple. Ultimately grow what you like the best but remember some varieties are better for salad, for baking, for mashing etc so also think how you want to use them. Potaotes can be grown in practically every soil type but they do they prefer a sunny spot. If you have very little space they do grow well in a tub or a Potato Gro Bag, your crop won't be huge and you will still have to buy from the shop but the tase of your home grown crop will be well worth the effort.
Once you have your seed potatoes leave them set out in a light place for a few weeks until several sturdy shoots appear. This is called 'chitting'. Plant in rows about 24 inches apart at a spacing of about 15 inches. Water well if it is dry otherwise the tubers will not swell. Keep your eye on our web page and I will give you more instructions.