tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55752290465472796392012-02-09T05:49:27.615-08:00Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.comBlogger721100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-61659646139371061562012-02-09T05:46:00.000-08:002012-02-09T05:49:27.626-08:00

Minimum orders apply again I'm afraid.   Minimum order ten of this geometric twist on the planted bowl 400x400x120:

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-4656618673927011802012-02-09T05:04:00.000-08:002012-02-09T05:14:37.517-08:00

I'm pretty sure that the term shabby chic hasn't often been applied to plant containers but a new range of colours has been added to the standard terracotta, greys and earth colours on these lightweight yet durable polyethylene planters.   The finishes and shades vary due to the method of production.   These are imported and a minimum order of £ 650.00 + vat and delivery (as of 2012) apply.  

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-75689637807263275612012-01-09T06:56:00.000-08:002012-01-09T06:56:48.439-08:00

The plant display maintenance contract is probably the most economical office service there is.   It can be argued that the benefits outweigh the cost and yet it is usually the first service to get the chop during a recession.   Artificial plants can be used instead of live plants but very few look good in the longer term.   They are not easy to dust and intensive cleaning may be necessary every

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-887774052953952142011-12-16T09:09:00.000-08:002011-12-16T09:09:20.896-08:00

Reverse cone planter: 430 dia x 830 tall with an opening of 280mm

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-14305712939444433422011-12-16T09:03:00.000-08:002011-12-16T09:03:35.872-08:00

Recent additions to the enormous selection of planter shapes: large globes.  There have been some globe shaped planters around for a while although none quite so purely spherical as these.  The coloured globes are 500mm dia and 450mm tall with an opening of 280mm.   These are suitable for smaller floor standing plants or a large statement desk bowl.   The brushed aluminium globes come in

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-46963481198478048692011-12-11T10:25:00.000-08:002011-12-11T10:25:25.063-08:00

Yes, unsurprisingly, artificial Christmas trees don't smell of pine.   For years I would insist on a real tree at home.   As the children grew older my wife asked that the Christmas tree be installed on the 1st of December. 'For the children', she said.   Three weeks of central heating makes a real tree dry out somewhat and despite what people say, placing the tree in a watertight container and

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-84801555255031073462011-12-11T08:39:00.000-08:002011-12-11T08:57:55.328-08:00

An autonomous navigation system that will enable a future planetary rover vehicle to be in complete control of its own actions as it explores the surface of Mars has been designed by top-calibre scientists and engineers at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.   Earlier this year a courtyard garden at the laboratories was converted to resemble a Martian landscape and to aid testing of the

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-61541498041478887922011-11-17T05:07:00.001-08:002011-11-17T05:33:39.430-08:00

And for the same building, this lovely pair...

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-78767329710033028702011-09-26T06:16:00.001-07:002011-09-26T06:16:06.371-07:00

The judges at The Worshipful Company of Gardeners have kindly awarded us a lovely pair of plaques for our planted troughs in St.Andrew Street, London EC4.   The displays have just been replenished with winter bedding and it was a treat to see that on the first Monday morning after they had been replanted, all of the plants were still there!   It is not unusual for Friday night revellers to feel

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-30380735140030261892011-06-03T01:41:00.000-07:002011-06-03T01:41:26.338-07:00

We already have a planter with a water reservoir that looks like a drip used in hospitals and now we have a planter that would be entirely suitable for dentist waiting room: the Moly.  Standard finishes are lead effect and aluminium textured but any colour is available to order.   Sizes 470 dia x 620 tall, 550 x 760 and 750x910. Another version of an existing planter, the square long pot, now

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-70354232719388013942011-06-02T12:34:00.000-07:002011-06-02T12:34:02.358-07:00

Based on square illuminated planters, these have a stainless steel sleeve placed over the planter with laser cut lettering or a logo on the side.   Image for illustration purposes only.

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-77177176708824356432011-06-02T12:25:00.000-07:002011-06-05T11:50:03.149-07:00

More window boxes available from http://www.plantcontainershop.com/ Available in lead finish, aged lead, terracotta and any BS or RAL colour. Adam window box 270mm deep, 210mm tall and in 610, 910, 1370 and 1530 lengths.  All colours.  Bead window box 240mm deep, 220mm tall, two lengths: 610mm, 910mm. Hunter window box 230mm x 230mm x 910mm. Oakleaf window box 230mm deep x 240mm

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-16041213237507670342011-06-02T11:09:00.000-07:002011-06-02T11:09:57.894-07:00

Why do they discontinue things when they are so lovely?   Because nobody buys them, that's why.   When they are no longer available there's a sudden surge of interest.   "There's no call for them these days, and you're the tenth person I've told that to today!"   The beautiful Piniot window box (1000mm x 220mm wide x 240mm tall) is back by popular demand but only as a special order of four or

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-110282569891833742011-06-02T11:02:00.000-07:002011-06-05T11:40:44.243-07:00

Just added to the more angular range of fake rocks and boulders: the bespoke boulder.   To use an alliteration: bespoke bogus boulder!   Each rounded shaped  artificial rock is created by hand and so no two rocks are alike.   These can be made from around 400mm in diameter to over 1m wide and can be made with a flat top for use as a funky table or stand.   The usual colours seen at http://

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-10415789415356746222011-05-09T23:28:00.000-07:002011-05-09T23:29:28.126-07:00

A BBC news report states that Network Rail had spent £16.5m to replace stolen electrical cable and compensate train operators for lost service after thieves had removed the cable for the copper.  With scrapyards paying around £ 5000 a tonne, it seems like thieves had struck gold if you see what I mean.   It would take hundreds of metres of cable to make a tonne of copper so the rewards are not

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-89102005027310926572011-05-03T06:37:00.000-07:002011-05-03T06:40:24.513-07:00

Artificial rocks part two. A new range has been added to the artificialrocks.co.uk website: imitation rockery rocks. As the rocks are suitable for smaller rockeries and as the rocks are mock rocks, and as they are hollow, can a garden feature using these products be called a hollow mockery? While creating this new set of moulds, my father reminded me that I had started making moulded garden

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-91506832200939123092011-03-22T11:57:00.000-07:002011-03-22T13:13:35.174-07:00

Some householders are generous folk.   I remember trying to do three point turn in a narrow road and the owner of a house with a gravel driveway informed me that I could turn around in the entrance to his property.   Very kind.   If only the whole world were made up of such kind souls.  The rest of the populace with a similar access to their home don't take to kindly to that type of vehicular

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-22849721016859987382011-02-23T01:52:00.000-08:002011-02-23T01:52:15.739-08:00

As a facilities manager, do you have the dilemma of having to provide plant displays for the entrance of your building and ashtrays for the huddle of smokers but don't want excess clutter?   Look no further.   These fire-retardant planters have a built in ashtray that's easy to empty and clean.   This will please the plant display maintainer too as he or she will no longer have to remove twenty

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-29826766931327514272010-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:002010-10-12T08:00:52.475-07:00

  Like the style of large ceramic planters but don't want the weight?   Take a look at the new planters made in in GRP (glassfibre).   This range is totally waterproof so can be used indoors and out.   Drainage holes can easily be drilled in the planter if used outside.

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-89951182297269690622010-08-18T09:50:00.000-07:002010-08-18T09:50:07.132-07:00

Double dip? Well you can have lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) with dips, twists and swirls but I am referring to recent news that we may be in for another recession. I didn’t really hear the news about the first recession ending! Our prices for fresh flower displays normally start at £ 39.00 + vat but you can have a vase with lucky bamboo that may last for months in an office ( depending on

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-73234946321666164042010-05-29T04:58:00.000-07:002010-05-29T04:59:31.674-07:00

From the fascinating Facetados to more fascinating forms.... and the VLEK plant containers are lovely too!   These fascinating forms really do light up my life.

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-31793015974224712772010-05-29T04:44:00.000-07:002010-12-08T06:48:03.285-08:00

Facetados.   A new range of planters and furniture designed by Ramón Esteve for the Spanish company Vondom.   The plant containers form a harmonised group reminiscent of a tangram when placed together but appear equally stylish when placed apart.   Not shown in the illuminated version as yet but most of Vondom's planters appear in an illuminated version so it won't be long...

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-5714739706483608172010-05-19T12:03:00.000-07:002010-05-30T06:48:46.417-07:00

First the bad news... due to the difficulties in finding the right type of glass, the mesh planters with glass and illumination designed by Stefan Declerck will be discontinued.   There is a limited stock available and once they are gone, they are gone! Now the good news, Stefan still makes the Kubric pebbles in mesh planters and the dinbar tables in the same style.   If you enjoy the theme

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-9048168416679191362010-05-09T12:08:00.000-07:002010-05-19T12:31:55.585-07:00

See what I've done there?   The large polyethelene pots shown below are as light and as durable as GRP (glassfibre) terracotta style containers but around half the price!   The 1100 diameter plain pot ( and smaller flower pots in this range) can be produced in nineteen different colours.   The 1330 diameter plain pot, the 960, 1230, 1460 diameter garlanded urns and the 870mm diameter festooned

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-42894493221902409322010-05-08T07:04:00.000-07:002010-05-08T07:25:51.077-07:00

Why do I find these plant containers sinister?   Could it be that they look like a long pair of legs disconnected from the rest of the body?   At a giant height of 2215mm, they would be very well suited to an episode of Doctor Who.   Maybe I should drop a few hints.   The Babele is a prototype planter by 21st Century design, who also produce a beautiful range of illuminated planters.   These can

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-89076969649404800702010-04-14T09:19:00.000-07:002010-04-14T09:21:13.023-07:00

The previous post shows some pedestal stands in GRP.   The pedestals have planters placed on top but of course you don't have to put pots on top.    They can also be used to display artwork and sculptures.   Classic style pedestals may be suitable for some sculptues but there are also simple geometric shapes and even illuminated pedestals.   As with all GRP ( fibreglass) products, these come in

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-45463178768831142462010-03-23T23:35:00.000-07:002010-03-23T23:43:31.469-07:00

These too are made from lightweight GRP.   Further details will be on the plantcontainershop.com website soon.

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-84434970191958765292010-03-23T14:26:00.000-07:002010-03-23T14:32:49.527-07:00

Fountains (from the Latin "fons" or "fontis", a source or spring) originally were purely functional and provided drinking water and bathing water from a conveniently placed outlet. The ancient Greeks and Romans love of all things decorative soon lent itself to designing ornate functional fountains. The Romans developed this even further and by using water pressure from water sources at higher

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-60218956638501085012010-03-22T09:43:00.000-07:002010-03-23T14:54:34.712-07:00

As promised: a post on lead style GRP or fibreglass planters.   Lead style plant containers or faux lead planters can be finished in 'new look' lead, aged lead and weathered bronze.   They can be supplied in many other colours and finishes although the design and features of the planters are best suited to the aforementioned finishes.  A selection of the planters and finishes available are

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-78937631679221579162010-03-22T04:42:00.000-07:002010-03-23T14:54:09.484-07:00

As mentioned in the previous post, I will shortly be adding some images of classic lead and antique style planters.   These are a fraction of the cost and weight of the original lead planters.   One specialist company has just started making a lead style planter with a modern slant: the Fairlight.   This design was inspired by the large floral prints available on wallcoverings and fabrics and, as

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-57937835987492997662010-03-20T06:36:00.000-07:002010-04-12T06:37:50.196-07:00

Just added to the existing selection of terracotta style planters on the http://www.plantcontainershop.com/ website are these classical styled urns and planters.   The moulds were taken from original terracotta vessels and faithfully replicate each crease and crevice.   The original vase that large Sussex urn is based upon took four men to lift!   The GRP (glass reinforced

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-53938401707042688172010-03-15T11:02:00.000-07:002010-03-15T11:36:54.378-07:00

Are you setting up a restaurant but have nearly gone over budget?   Well you can cut out the cost of tables by using these free-standing tablecloths.   Made in the same way as many of the plant containers available at http://www.plantcontainershop.com/, these appear to be draped over an invisible table.   After a few glasses of wine, diners may suddenly look down and think  "Now wait a minute..."

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-11127670502261996162010-03-06T08:05:00.000-08:002010-03-06T08:05:57.808-08:00

Most of the illuminated items I have shown so far have been in the medium to large range.  There are some desk top sized illuminated planters although they are a special order from plantcontainershop.com and need to be part of a larger order to be economically viable.   

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-74984652716088867322010-03-05T06:54:00.000-08:002010-03-05T06:55:15.143-08:00

Yes, I have gone light crazy!   In common with several of my recent posts, this article is illuminated.   I love them all, but realise that if I decorated my house with many of these products I would be watching the electricity meter go round from behind a pair of sunglasses.   They are, of course, fitted with low energy lamps and are available unlit in a range of colours.

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-17256795905846297802010-03-04T09:40:00.000-08:002010-03-04T09:44:41.219-08:00

Just added to the range of illuminated plant containers at www.illuminated planters.com are these remotely controlled colour changing led planters.   There are seven different colours and twenty programmable settings.   As with the standard illuminated plant containers, the planting depth is relatively shallow to allow for the void that creates the lighting effect.   You can use the flower pot

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-42261113286645316542010-02-26T08:51:00.000-08:002010-02-26T09:04:13.952-08:00

With around two hundred different types of plant containers at http://www.plantcontainershop.com/, one  wonders whether it is necessary to add more.   Manufacturers add to their ranges every few months and who am I to deny interior designers and consumers their choice?   Here is a selection of the more unusual.   See if you can put the names to the faces.   Sorry, no prizes. X and O.   Mushroom.

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-26730085537659288752010-02-26T04:03:00.000-08:002010-03-06T07:56:14.804-08:00

Most green walls are permanent outdoor fixtures and can either be plants climbing up a wall supported mechanically or supported by attaching themselves to the wall with roots or tendrils.  Another type of green wall is the living wall.  These are purpose built lightweight structures with a lightweight planting medium and an irrigation system.   The living wall planting units, designed for

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-15427927496039514602010-02-25T11:31:00.000-08:002010-02-25T11:39:29.786-08:00

More familiar items unexpectedly illuminated. http://www.plantcontainershop.com/keith@wrap.co.uk

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-57217688908075974592010-02-25T08:05:00.000-08:002010-02-25T08:14:35.694-08:00

Still on that food and drink theme, here are some fairy cake fetishists floral favourites: cupcake style plant containers!   As with most planters, these come in several shades and have many other uses.   They are 710mm wide at the top.

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-29453787157050017722009-10-11T01:48:00.000-07:002009-10-12T12:47:08.074-07:00

Perhaps I have the munchies this morning but while adding details of some designer plant containers to the http://www.plantcontainershop.com/ website, I couldn't help feeling that the planters should have labels attached saying "Eat me!" and "Drink me!" The Fuzzy stool and Fuzzy pot in metallic chocolate brown would be ideal plant pots for the corporate headquarters of a chocolate

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-41535889005148334192009-10-08T12:26:00.000-07:002009-10-08T13:34:20.443-07:00

A classical urn: everyone loves the style and elegance but few have the kind of garden that lends itself to displaying them to full effect. Some may have a pair to accompany the stone dogs atop the garden gate posts, others may have dozens of them around their stately gardens. The classical Roman urns were copies of classical Greek urns which themselves were copies of classical Egyptian urns.The

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-54413202661876025312009-09-29T09:38:00.000-07:002009-09-29T10:00:42.608-07:00

We are all concerned about the decline in Britain’s bee population but it isn’t only bees that do the pollinating. In fact, plants can be pollinated by birds, bats, butterflies, insects and even lizards and rodents. 80% of pollination is biotic ( by living organisms) with most of the remaining pollination performed by wind. A tiny fraction is performed by water.Plants adapted to using bats or

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-32565094902530007492009-09-23T07:26:00.001-07:002009-09-23T07:48:34.416-07:00

I have mentioned illuminated plants containers in an earlier post. You may have seen illuminated garden globes: outdoor lamps in a sperical shape, but have you seen the pool globes? They look the same as the garden globes but are low voltage and swimming pool friendly. Needless to say that on no account should you put the mains voltage garden globes or plant containers in or near the water! See

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-6433241681585268772009-09-18T07:12:00.000-07:002009-09-19T06:42:16.041-07:00

Not only do Lechuza plant containers filter and humidify the air ( see previous post), they also light up the world! The lighting is a low energy, mains powered, led installation that can be arranged in any configuration. The illuminated plant containers are based on the Cubico 400x750 and 300x560 models but can be made from other types of Lechuza container and indeed most plant containers that

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-71743825686896420502009-09-18T05:37:00.000-07:002009-09-18T05:48:51.854-07:00

Lechuza plant containers are made by the people that produce high quality Playmobil toys. Lechuza has just added another excellent product to the range. It’s a combined plant container, air filter and humidifier.Humidifiers are used to increase the relative humidity in a room. Raising the humidity can relieve irritating symptoms such as a dry throat, nose or skin. With the winter weather looming,

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-65228402511116512172009-09-10T06:17:00.000-07:002009-09-10T06:22:06.381-07:00

Occasionally I am shown a plant in very poor condition and asked “What can I do with it?” My immediate reaction is to suggest throwing it in the bin but I have realised over the years that people get attached to a plant. Some cases I have seen are terminal. There are other cases that would pull through with some intensive care but hey, why not just go and buy another. Oops, sorry, there’s me

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-26391538371943170362009-09-03T08:19:00.001-07:002009-09-03T08:22:42.074-07:00

Actually, I meant to write ‘It’s August, it must be Christmas!’ but I am a little late with this blog.There are groans galore when the first Christmas cards appear in the supermarkets. They are on the shelves before Halloween goodies are in place for 31st October and before fireworks are sold for bonfire night. I’m one of those groaners when I see such products on sale. I just have to mention one

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-55632251120140520042009-08-17T09:59:00.000-07:002009-08-17T10:15:21.836-07:00

The modern interpretation of the ever popular Versailles planter is usually a square shaped wooden plant container with a ball finial on each corner post. Some have an egg shaped finial, which is more in keeping with the original Versailles planter.In 1661, Louis XIV commissioned landscape gardener André Le Nôtre with the design and laying out of the gardens of Versailles. The works were

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-57012688417934734032009-07-29T09:38:00.001-07:002009-07-29T09:51:25.864-07:00

A short while ago I bought a packet of coloured Sisal fibres to add to some office flower displays. I wanted to use the Sisal for support and to add a little something unusual. While trying to separate the bundle in to smaller useable amounts, I was reminded how extremely strong the strands are. Even as small an amount as two or three fibres is very difficult to break by hand and I had to use

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-35186474794843087832009-07-17T02:16:00.000-07:002009-07-17T02:22:05.218-07:00

To most British people of a certain age, Spangles are small square translucent boiled sweets originally in strawberry, blackcurrant, orange, pineapple and lemon and lime flavours. Other flavours were added later on. I remember cutting out a coupon from a comic that promised a packet of Spangles if you posted the coupon to the Mars confectionery address. I’m still waiting.There are other meanings

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-20405052520377209652009-07-10T07:34:00.000-07:002009-07-10T07:37:38.943-07:00

Growing vegetables in window boxes is as easy as growing them in the ground- provided you remember that you will need to choose vegetables with compact growing habits, and that you will need to water the window boxes frequently. The window boxes or containers will need to be placed in a sunny position and must be well secured to prevent them falling on someone’s head!If you have a large number of

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-72611205404991699372009-07-04T09:37:00.000-07:002009-07-04T09:47:41.359-07:00

Artificial rocks, fake rocks, faux rocks. That’s normally what they are called. I have googled bogus boulders but didn’t find anything listed. I won’t bother searching for pretend pebbles, counterfeit cobbles or simulated stone. I am sure there must be other alliterations, but I’d only be using them to pad out this article anyway!What am I on about? Well I mean hollow GRP ( fibre glass ) shapes

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-48085026045905148212009-06-29T08:36:00.000-07:002009-06-29T09:28:32.330-07:00

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has chosen Plantcontainershop.com to supply a specially made 1800 mm diameter container with a built in water reservoir and hidden castors for a large Ficus nitida tree. The Ficus nitida is a tropical or sub tropical evergreen species belonging to the family Moraceae (mulberry or fig family) and is common throughout many parts of the US, Asia and Australasia.

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-89605800156325990272009-06-15T07:19:00.000-07:002009-06-15T07:53:29.406-07:00

Q. How do you eradicate dandelions from your garden?A. Get a tortoise.My children have a tortoise each. They were around a year old when we bought them and they have doubled in size in around 14 months. The tortoises, not the children. Like all tortoises nowadays they came from a certified dealer and had their own official certificates. They were expensive at around £150.00 each but as they live

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-57877334544654148222009-06-13T04:42:00.000-07:002009-06-13T04:50:15.110-07:00

No, not a term of abuse inside a correctional institution but a common response to the question “What type of lawn do you have?” To many householders, grass is grass full stop. It will look reasonable (from a distance) when mowed but upon close inspection, most home lawns will have a selection of weeds and clover and the odd patch of coarse grass. Lawns shaded by tall trees and buildings and

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-60045270896016642852009-06-01T14:02:00.000-07:002009-06-01T14:16:15.786-07:00

Lucky bamboo seems to be sold everywhere at the moment. Why they call it lucky escapes me. Why they call it bamboo escapes me too. It is in fact a member of the Dracaena family: Dracaena sanderiana. In its popular houseplant form, D.sanderiana has white or gold stripes along the leaves and grows in a bush like shape. When used as ‘lucky bamboo’ the plain green variety is usually used in a variety

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-30976171905685385502009-05-19T15:37:00.000-07:002009-05-21T07:21:33.614-07:00

We have quite a number of plants in containers in our garden. I get them trade doncha know. Some of them are quite small and being terracotta dry out quite quickly.Some of the containers, however, are quite large. The back wall of the house was rather plain looking and I wanted to train Virginia creeper over it. The previous owners of the house had installed paving on concrete right up to the

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-52608003467459437632009-05-11T06:10:00.000-07:002009-05-11T07:48:46.513-07:00

Not so much 'more garden pests' but 'more pests in the life of a plant display maintainer'. Fortunately we don't come across too many pests, but the first incident other than the common or garden greenfly was when one of the girls that worked for me let out a shriek while changing over a large plant in an office. "I've just seen a large beetle in the soil", she said. Thinking it would be a wood

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-27707758538847660502009-05-09T05:10:00.000-07:002009-05-09T05:13:13.937-07:00

Silicone rubber is often used as a moulding material usually where minute surface detail is required. There is virtually no shrinkage and it is recommended for when a larger number of casts are required such as plant containers.There are many types of silicone rubber available and this article gives a general introduction to its use.Mixing and Mould PreparationThe resins used for the products

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-3700712586473407922009-05-09T05:05:00.000-07:002009-05-09T05:10:03.818-07:00

The term plastic can be both a noun and an adjective. Plastic, the noun, refers to a wide range of synthetic materials that can be moulded in to shape. Plastic, the adjective, means that the shape of the material in question can be deformed permanently without fracturing when a force is applied. It means, therefore, that some plastics are not plastic.Types of plastic (the noun) include

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-59245310489520905732009-05-07T02:07:00.000-07:002009-05-07T05:57:55.419-07:00

I am a cat person. I don’t mean that I have whiskers and a long tail and lick my, erm, fur. I mean that I have had cats for years. For the sake of impartiality, I love dogs. It’s just that cat’s are easier to maintain.Like a child with a new savings account, cats leave small deposits. The thing is, these deposits don’t gather much interest. Like a Swiss child with a new bank account, the deposits

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-82753622918216512842009-05-05T06:05:00.000-07:002009-05-05T06:07:09.203-07:00

April. It’s that time of year again. The garden may have been a little neglected through the winter and indeed you may not have even set foot out there for months but as soon as the sun shines we are out mowing the lawn and trimming the brambles that have crept through from next door. How is it that they have been growing during the cold weather when everything else hasn’t? The plants in

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-16545070369183505922009-05-05T06:03:00.000-07:002009-05-05T06:05:41.439-07:00

Within the next few months there will be an upsurge of flying saucers. Attempts will be made to retain some as they are clearly recognised as belonging with others of similar colour and appearance. Most of them will be destroyed. Destruction is probably the best option as there is nothing more unattractive than a beautiful plant standing on a tatty saucer from a defunct tea service. The

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-65233694977885476402009-05-05T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-05T06:03:20.551-07:00

The standard advice for planting spring bulbs is to plant in the autumn. Surprisingly, against the advice of gardening experts, as a landscape contractor I have been planting daffodils and tulips in February for many years. One of the reasons is that a local retail nurseryman would sell spring bulbs until a few weeks before Christmas. He would then want to clear out his remaining stock to

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-33563645320265833582009-05-05T05:51:00.000-07:002009-05-05T06:00:20.081-07:00

I remember an old aunt, now sadly no longer with us that used to survive on a cigarette for breakfast, lunch and tea. She didn’t take care of her body but she was a dab hand at looking after plants. There may be no scientific basis for the term green-fingered but Auntie Grace seemed to have the magic touch. Her apartment was stuffed full of odd cuttings that she was given or had taken from

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-9397777817380497242009-05-05T05:47:00.000-07:002009-05-05T05:51:06.058-07:00

I am often asked whether I am able to hire out flowers for weddings and events. “Of course!” I reply, but I have to qualify that statement. Artificial flower hire is available, but fresh flowers for vases, arranged in Oasis or made in to a bride’s bouquet have a limited life. If companies were to hire this type of flower display at a cost which is lower than the normal purchase price (which is

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-33770070789560855272009-05-05T05:42:00.001-07:002009-05-05T05:47:13.223-07:00

Plant display maintenance is probably the least costly service available to building management but due to the perception that plants are a luxury item, this service is one of the first that facilities managers cut back on. This is especially so in the current economic climate. Unless the density of the planting is excessive, the actual cost saving made is minimal and the loss of the

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-27952866122740449932009-05-05T05:29:00.000-07:002009-05-05T05:42:10.287-07:00

DO NOT attempt to eat your office plants. The list below shows that there are some varities of plants that can be eaten and some of them are found in plant displays in offices. This is not an advice guide but merely a light-hearted list of office plants that technically could be eaten.Acer palmatumThe Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) is a decorative tree with small, five lobed leaves. It is

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-26210798047674479122009-05-05T05:20:00.000-07:002009-05-05T05:29:42.939-07:00

Fake. The word usually implies ‘not as good as’ but the true definition is not as derogatory as you may think: fake means not genuine but not necessarily poor quality. There are fake handbags that are inferior to the original but still used and loved by the owner and fake watches that keep very good time. There was one instance where a counterfeiter was producing fake computers with a popular

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-70099288534214753722009-05-05T05:12:00.000-07:002009-09-25T07:32:07.021-07:00

Lead mining existed as long ago as 6000BC. It became commonly used in jewellery as it is more malleable than many metals. Toxicity problems associated with lead became apparent as early as 200BC when colic and gout was blamed on leaden drinking vessels and white lead used in make-up. Most health problems though, came from lead dust caused by mining. The miners’ symptoms of chronic lead poisoning

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-69924950018994719212009-05-05T05:07:00.000-07:002009-05-05T05:12:11.020-07:00

Most of us are familiar with the term glass fibre and associate it with car body repairs or roof insulation. Glass fibre actually refers to the fine glass strands that make up the matting that is combined with a resin for car repairs or made in to a thick blanket for insulation. The reason that users are advised to wear gloves and eye protection is that the glass fibres are so thin and sharp

Plantmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714376595428803883noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5575229046547279639.post-90035915868946370302009-05-05T04:38:00.000-07:002009-05-05T04:50:22.626-07:00

We are all simple creatures at heart. Show us something shiny, pretty, sparkling or attractive and we will be interested. Take packaging for example. Children’s cereals are packaged in brightly coloured boxes often including a cartoon character having fun. The children will ask for this cereal and often the parents will buy it even though it may not be the tastiest or healthiest. It’s

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