We're getting Excited!!! Christmas is on it's way!!!

Hello again,

We're about to swing into full Christmas mode here, we can hold back no longer, with just a few short weeks until the big day, we decided we would give you an early Christmas Present as a special thankyou for your loyal custom, and bring you an Early Bird Christmas Tree Offer.

You can't get better than a luxury non-drop Nordman Christmas Tree in your home this festive season. Pre-order yours by midnight on Sunday 25th November for delivery direct to your door using the code NORDMAN in the checkout and get 50% off!! This is a secret offer, just for our loyal customers, so you must use the code to get your discount.

Fresh Cut Non Drop Luxury Nordman Fir Christmas Tree
Delivered 10th-14th December

The Nordman Fir is a popular, traditional high quality non-drop tree and is ideal for decorating your home this Christmas.

We've specially chosen this luxury tree not only for it's lovely, symmetrical shape and strong branches, but also because it has wonderfully glossy, deep green-blue needles that won't end up all over the carpet!

Prehistoric Plants - The Cycad

I was going to write a detailed article on Cycads today or Cycas revoluta, the King Sago Palm as they are often known, but the wikipedia entry is already pretty comprehensive on all the technicals. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycas

These plants aren't really Palms at all. Cycas revoluta is actually one of the most primitive living plants, forming a rugged trunk, topped with whorled feathery leaves. This gives an unusual appearance and has made them a popular ornamental for the home or a sheltered spot in the garden. It's this shape that lead to the common name ''Sago Palm''.

Cycads are related to conifers and Ginkgo trees, they are all cone bearing plants which trace their origins back to the ancient flora of the early Mesozoic era - Prehistoric plants! As a result they are often referred to as ''living fossils'', Cycads have changed very little in the last 200 million years. Various species of Cycads can be found throughout the world, the subtropical Cycas revoluta is native to the Far East and has been used as a choice container and landscape plant for centuries. The growth habit of Cycas revoluta displays an upright trunk topped with stiff feather-like leaves growing in a circular pattern. Rather than continuously adding foliage, Sagos produce a periodic flush of new leaves.

Eventually, offsets begin to grow at the base of the specimen, and occasionally in the crown. The addition of offsets provides a source of new plants and many possibilities for developing an unique specimen. Regardless of age or size, Cycas revoluta is one of the easiest plants to grow, indoors or out, by beginner or expert. This subtropical adapts to a wide range of temperatures from -11 to 42 degrees C, accepts full sun or bright interior light, thrives with attention, and tolerates neglect.

In addition, Cycads are extremely long-lived. A specimen in excess of 220 year old of Encephalartos, a relative of Cycas revoluta, is on display at the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew (http://www.kew.org/plants/cycads/atkew.html); the restoration of the famous Palm House required it to be temporarily transplanted to a holding area for more than a year; the move was successful and is an example of the durability of these ancient ''living fossils''.

Its that time of year again!!

Hello again,

 At this time of the year, many of us have been having a good clear up in the garden. Seasonal jobs such as pruning back overgrown plants and perennials that have finished for the year have been done, and every day we seem to be raking up more leaves here. We're planting bulbs and new season roses in ernest, and hedging season is just starting too.

It's at this time of year that evergreens start to become more noticable and really come in to their own. It's true to say that Winter does not have to be a dull time in the garden at all. Patio planters particularly, situated close the the house are well worth filling with seasonally attractive plants. I like to use smart evergreens like Buxus Topiary to provide winter structure and form, as well as the stand green form, there is a little known golden variegated variety, that glows in the winter sunshine through the snow when little else is looking good.

Architectural plants with bold dramatic outlines, such as Phormiums and Cordylines can also be used to great effect, rising up like fountains, glinting in frost, are effective on their own or when combined with softer planting. We've some fantastic examples of these on the nursery right now, so below you can find some great offers to clears our stocks, and brighten your outdoor space. Our Electric Pink Specimen Cordylines which are now HALF PRICE, and Large Cordyline australis Specimens are particularly noteworthy.

So there you have it, there are plenty of fantastic varieties to plant in your garden now to add colour and structure to your beds, borders and patio containers. November doesn't mean shut the back door and forget about the garden. I for one need to go and rake up some more leaves!

 

Chris - Plantaholic & Founder of www.GardeningExpress.co.uk

Cordyline "Electric Pink" - Stunning Pink Patio Cordyline LARGE

Cordyline Electric Pink

Perfect for adding bright, exotic colour to your winter garden. Fully hardy Cordyline australis 'Electric Pink' is a new comer for adding interest to your garden and patio planters. It's bright pink in colouration with softer, more tactile foliage that traditional Cordylines. The gently arching leaves are almost reminiscent of a Phormium. With hardly any green visible in the leaves, the colouration is electric; strikingly striped with bright fuchsia and bronze. Cordylines are very easy to care for and extremely rewarding to grow. Perfect for containers as well as beds and borders. Supplied in approximately 5-10 litre containers at around 100cm tall - great value for the size.

Specimen Green Cordyline

Cordyline australis - Green Torbay Palm Specimen

This lovely hardy green Cordyline, also known as the cabbage or Torbay Palm, looks excellent in a pot as well as in the border and is so fuss-free and easy to care for.

Very tolerant of wind and coastal exposure, this palm can reach up to five metres tall in the right spot after many, many years! Great for a tropical effect jungle garden or to add its evergreen impact and architectural shape anywhere.

Our large, chunky plants are supplied at around 100-120cm tall, ready to show off and grace your deck, balcony or other outdoor relaxation area!

 

The Bloggers at Gardening Express are Back!

Good News - we're resurrecting our blog, we've been inactive for a while, but we've got lots of news to update you on and things happening all the time.

So start checking back regularly for all our updates, we'll be including news about things that are going on here, special offers, our community projects, articles about things to do in the Garden, and special events.

Don't forget, if you're not already following us on Facebook - go and like our page now - www.facebook.com/gardeningexpress - we're on Twitter too www.twitter.com/gardeningexpress