Perthshire Organic Gardeners

Clunie House Gardens were developed from 1950 to be a 2.4ha Himalayan/North American garden. It has a natural appearance, with many woodland plants regenerating and expanding freely beaneath a canopy of rhododendrons, acers, rowans and birches. Giant Himalayan lilies, blue poppies, exotic arisaemas, skunk cabbages and copious numbers of candelabra primulas grow in profusion in the leaf litter and acidic soil. No chemicals are used in the garden and weeding is carried out by hand to avoid disturbing interesting seedlings and allowing some native plants their place in the garden.

We will be visiting the garden in good time to see the splendid displays of Asiatic primulas and meconopsis, the Himalayan poppy. As well, we hope to see red squirrels and the Wellingtonia with the widest girth (11m) of a conifer in the UK.

Join us on a guided tour.

Book your place by calling Johanna on 01738 580152 or emailing perthorganic@googlemail.com . Please let me know whether you are able to offer a lift to another member or would like a lift.

Trip report here.....

Andy has developed a system in his greenhouse that cools it down in summer and keeps it warm in winter. It is a way of cooling your greenhouse without shading the plants and at the same time keeps the frost out without using heaters – only solar power. Andy will be sharing what he has learnt and how you could do something similar in your garden greenhouse before he shows his latest prototype and gives us a tour of his garden. Tea, cakes and chat available afterwards.

Book your free place by calling Johanna on 01738 580152 or emailing perthorganic@googlemail.com .

A morning visit with tour of the 1.5 acre garden, presentations on Permaculture, followed by a shared lunch.

Permaculture is a design system based on natural systems and is a way of living, not just growing. The principles of permaculture show how we can harness all the resources of a site to increase productivity for less input, and in harmony with nature. It includes many aspects of organic gardening with which you will be familiar, and some you may not know such as Forest Gardening, use of edges, inclusion of familiar and unusual perennials, guilds based on companion planting, zoning to decrease the human effort etc. They apply to every site from farms to window boxes, from city to rural environments and in all climates.

Nether Larghan, by Coupar Angus, was a conventional ornamental garden until 2 years ago, and is now in the process of conversion to permaculture. There are some things in place already, others are adapted to the Scottish climate, such as growing ‘protein’ foods and a wide selection of fruit bearing plants to increase biodiversity.

Sue Ferguson holds a Certificate in Permaculture Design and has 20 years experience of designing and maintaining a Permaculture garden in Dorset.

Booking essential as numbers are limited to 10. To book your place by calling Johanna on 01738 580152 or emailing perthorganic@googlemail.com .  

We are invited by East Fife Organic Gardeners to join them on an evening visit to Neil and Tricia’s garden at Newburgh, Fife. This is a plum pruning workshop with the aim of sharing expertise amongst participants. You will also get the chance to see all the latest developments on their interesting site.

We're also planning a leisurely lunch - please bring something to share.

Book your free place by calling Johanna on 01738 580152 or emailing perthorganic@googlemail.com .