Planting for spring 1. Reminiscence and discussion

Transcription

1 MEMORY GARDEN Planting for spring Equipment: flipchart, pens, paper, dice, video 1. Reminiscence and discussion Talk with the group about gardens they may have had in the past. Did they have their own patch when they were a child?

2 What plants did they grow? Did they have any weird plants such as Venus flytrap? Did anyone have an allotment? What vegetables did they grow? Because of food rationing many open spaces, parks, etc. were given over to food production. Did anyone enter the local Flower and Produce Show? Did they have prizewinning exhibits? What was the secret of their success? Any tips on producing giant onions, marrows, sunflowers? What are the group s favorite flowers and vegetables? Ask each person and note their answers on the flipchart. It may be interesting to see how

3 similar they are, and if men and women have different preferences. Talk about the fresh taste of homegrown tomatoes and strawberries. Does anyone still grow a few salad crops or vegetables or flowers? Do they have a window box if in a flat? Or just grow plants on their windowsills? Do people enjoy the gardening programs on TV? Who is their favorite presenter? Which kind of program do they prefer the garden makeover, or the factual type that gives hints and shows experts gardens? Discuss the properties of plants. Does anyone remember old remedies using plants? (Comfrey for bruises, lavender for headache and to scent underwear drawers, rue to keep

4 away flies, dock leaves for nettle stings, rosewater made from rose petals, pot marigolds planted as a companion plant to stop pests attacking crops, cucumber slices on tired eyes, chamomile to soothe and relax, feverfew for headaches.) Ask the group for tips on getting rid of pests, especially slugs maybe the group could research the different methods later in the year to see which is the most successful. (Make note in diary to do this.) Gardening quiz Ask each person in turn. 1. Which flower grows tall and turns to face the sun? sunflower 2. Name the small, spade- like hand tool. trowel

5 3. What leaves a shiny trail in the garden? slugs and snails 4. Why do gardeners put nets over fruit? to protect from birds 5. Which fleshy desert plant grows in the greenhouse? cactus 6. What color are forget- me- nots? blue 7. When will you see snowdrops? early spring 8. What color are primroses? yellow 9. What would you use to take leaves off the lawn? rake 10. Why are flowers brightly colored and perfumed? to attract bees and insects

6 11. What is the straight row seeds are planted in called? a drill 12. What is a dibber? a small, pointed, wooden stick for making planting holes 13. How would you protect tender plants from frost? use a cloche/garden floss 14. What is another name for an aphid? greenfly 15. What is a perennial? a plant that flowers every year 16. What is the art of dwarfing trees called? bonsai 17. What caused the Potato Famine in Ireland? potato blight 18. What are fennel, basil and marjoram? herbs

7 19. What are clematis and wisteria? climbers 20. What is chlorophyll? the green substance of the plant that produces its food. 21. What is the cutting out of deadwood called? pruning 22. What type of soil do rhododendrons prefer? acid 25. Peonies are commonly what color? red, pink 26. What are pruning tools called? secateurs 27. What do we know digitalis purpurea as? foxglove 28. What is a trellis arch with climbers on it called? pergola

8 29. What temperature gives frost? 32º Fahrenheit 30. Climbers, ramblers, teas and standards are all roses 31. Anyone know the Latin name of hollyhocks? althaeas 32. What is a hybrid? the offspring of two different species or varieties 33. A plant that completes its life cycle in two years is a biennial 34. What is the trumpet of the daffodil called? corona 35. What is the prong of a fork known as? a tine 36. What does the iris grow from? a rhizome

9 37. What would sulphur dust cure? fungus, mildew 38. In what would saxifrage, oxalis and edelweiss grow? a rockery Flower alphabet In turn, ask group members to give the name of a flower, in alphabetical order they can all help if a person is stuck. A anemone, azalea B bluebell, buttercup C crocus, carnation, chrysthanthemum D daffodil, daisy, dahlia E edelweiss F forget- me- not, foxglove G gardenia, geranium

10 H hollyhock, harebell I iris J jasmine K kingcup L lily, lobelia, larkspur M marigold N narcissus O orchid, P pink, petunia, primrose, polyanthus Q Queen Anne s lace R rose S sweet pea, snowdrop, sunflower, sweet william T tulip U urnflower

11 V violet, viola W wallflower, water lily X xanthium Y yucca Z zinnia 4. Flower Beetle Play in groups of four, with paper and a dice for each table. Give each person paper and pen in turn, they shake the dice and try to draw a flower (as in the game of Beetle ). On the flipchart, write the values of the dice throws: 1 = nothing 4 = a leaf (need two) 2 = the flower pot 5 = petals (need six) 3 = stem 6 = flower centre.

12 The first person to complete a drawing of a potted flower is the winner. This game could be played by two teams named after spring flowers, where each person in turn throws the dice and the flowers are drawn by staff. The first team to complete a flower wins. 5. See how many words can be made from: HORTICULTURAL.