Mr Farron's Compost Corner - July Update

Priory’s gardens are our pride and joy and award-winning gardener Mr Farron wants to let parents and pupils know what to expect each month as the landscape changes.  

Now we are into July and the Priory Garden is in full bloom and Mr Farron says such a lot of people are commenting on the colours and scents.  “I am so proud of it, I am impressed with the Jasmine on the arches and the roses are all in full bloom.” 

Mr Farron’s creativity isn’t just contained to the Priory Garden, as he made the table decorations for last week's Year 11 prom. 

“I used the cuttings from carnations, poppies, Lucifer and lilies to make the table decorations. It’s fantastic to be able to do that, it’s a great hobby to have.” 

Mr Farron has also planted a plaque in tribute to his friend and former Priory site supervisor Heather Crook. “Heather was a great friend and an amateur gardener. She produced the Penwortham and Lostock Hall magazines and did such a lot of community work in the area. “I loved chatting to her and I miss her, so it’s lovely to be able to make my own tribute to her at Priory.” 
  
An explosion of colour, scents and design is now occurring in Priory gardens that overwhelms with delight that our plants and flowers show off to our visitors, students and staff as they walk by and observe the magnificence of nature. The colours of all the political parties are here and I would say that we are experiencing a coalition from all, resulting in a level of conformity and peace - what a relief! 

The new rose garden is taking shape with many standard varieties of rose situated by the conference suite. This is an ongoing project that should be completed by late summer. Mixing cultivated varieties with native wildflower such as Agrostemma, Blue Linum, Centaurea, Calendula, Chamomile, Borage, Red Common Poppy, Echium and will attract with nectar rich in colour for the beneficial insects, bees and butterflies. Our wildlife-friendly flowers are a magnet for the pollinators, that play a vital role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.  

It’s this time of year that the lyrics of the most beautiful of hymns hit home – ‘All Things Bright & Beautiful’… 

The purple-headed mountain, the river running by, the sunset, and the morning that brightens up the sky. 
The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the ripe fruits in the garden, he made them every one.

Tips for the month 

• Feed all plants once a week and, if going away, move pots into shaded areas and water well 
• Roses need special attention with feed as they are a hungry plant, but they will reward with gorgeous colours 

So as the summer vacation looms for many of us, I wish you all a wonderful time and that your flowers bloom until autumn  
 
Mr C Farron, Gardener
Honorary Member of the RHS
Winner of North West Britain in Bloom, South Ribble in Bloom, Penwortham in Bloom
Judge for South Ribble and Penwortham in Bloom competitions