Stony in Bloom 2009 at a Glance
26 January: Talk by Andrea Wulf
author of The Brother Gardeners - Botany, Empire and the Birth of an Obsession, organized by Rob Gifford at The Cock Hotel
4 February: Literary Quiz Evening
organized by Ken Daniels at the Bull Hotel - proceeds to Stony in Bloom and York House
30 March: Front Garden and Floral Container Talk by Chris Wilde
of Roman Way Garden Centre, organized by SIB Group at The Crown
25 April: Plant Sale
organized by Mary Sarre for SIB at York House
June–October Summer planting scheme
organized by Ray Cobley and Mary Sarre for SIB. The theme will be nectar plants of pinks and purples. (See note below for details)
15 June: Judging of Children’s Painting Competition by Derek Daniells at Russell Street School and St Mary & St Giles C E School
4 July: Judging of Competitions for Front Garden and Plant Container
organized by Mary Sarre for SIB
11-12 July: Stony Open Gardens
organized by SIB, including Exhibition of Children’s Art, Writing and Painting. Presentation of Prizes for Children’s Competitions, Raffle and Refreshments – proceeds to Willen Hospice (Registered Charity) and Stony in Bloom.
15 July: Judging Stony in Bloom’s entry into Britain in Bloom by RHS Judges
the judges will examine the route prepared by the Stony in Bloom Group
Winter–Spring planting
organized by Ray Cobley and Mary Sarre for SIB (See note below for details)
New permanent projects for 2009
Junction Calverton Road/Augustus Road
Landscaping the area with a variety of spring bulbs, trees and perennial plants and beds completely replanted.
London Road outside The Children’s Centre
Regeneration of overgrown neglected area into a community-maintained wild flower ‘Bluebell Wood’ and nature educational project.
Junction London Road/Hale Avenue
Creation of ‘Sensory Garden’ by converting a plain grassed area into a bed as a haven for bees, insects and butterflies, bordered by three new trees.
SIB poly tunnel at St Mary & St Giles School
The hub for raising summer bedding and potting plants over the winter thereby saving the Town the costs of buying new plants each year. It is planned that educational classes will be held there so that children can benefit from the opportunity to learn how to grow their own plants and vegetables.
Planter planting
Summer
School children, Brownies, Guides and the Junior Group plant seeds. The successful summer planting scheme of 2008 will be repeated, with some minor changes following requests from residents.
1 The planter which was outside the Library in Church Street is moved to the one-way section of the High Street at the pedestrian entrance to Cofferidge Close
2 Inclusion of two additional three-tier planters in the northern end of the High Street.
3 Three planters on top of the bus shelter in London Road, near Queen Eleanor Street.
4 Four half-barrier baskets mounted on the railings at the site of the old Wesley Tree in the Market Square.
5 Extend, where possible, Millennium Stone beds at the Town Entrances.
Nectar plants for use in Summer Planting scheme
Eryngium Planum; Thyme; Sweet Alyssum; Aster Novi-belgi; Night-scented Stock; Sweet Rocket; Cornflowers; Scabious; Nicotiana (tobacco); Malva (Lavatera), Petunias and White Forget-me-nots for shady places.
Winter (2008–2009)
4 Octagon Planters
1 Purple Phormium
8 Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’
21 Viola ‘Harbour Lights’ Pansy – blue and white, some yellow
16 Hedera helix ‘Dentata variegata’
40 Dwarf Narcissus ‘Tete-a-tete’
3 Promenade Planters
Maroon, red, gold and green
3 Skimmia ‘Rubella’
8 Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’
8 Fern
8 Hedera helix (variegated)
21 Tulipa kaufmanniana ‘Hearts Delight’
13 Petal Planters - per segment
1 Euonymus fortunei Emerald and Gold
15 Winter Pansy as before
15 Myosotis (forget-me-not) dark blue
5 Vinca minor ‘Argenteo-variegata’
20-30 Narcissus ‘Jack snipe’ (Market Sq only)
45 Crocus (Winter Flowering Assorted)
Baskets
1 Fern
X Winter pansy and primula
X Trailing variegated ivy
Bulbs
In the Autumn of 2008 the Group was offered 3000 bulbs by Milton Keynes Council, and so SIB chose Narcissi for naturalizing in the grassy verges and bringing early colour and a valuable source of nectar for insects. SIB has Narcissus ‘Topolino’, N. ‘Tete-a-tete’, and N. obvallaris. Volunteers turned out to plant the road-side sites at the entrances to the town, and children helped plant a swathe of Narcissi along the Millrace in the Ouse Valley Park.
