We had company in the workplace at the Garden yesterday: part of Dr Chris Connolly's research on the  impact of environmental toxins on insect health - counting bumble bees and measuring the impact of insecticides on the colonies.

Planting a second row of lavender in the new herb garden in a very  straight line

All laid out and ready to go

Hard at work planting

Watering them in  on a very hot day

The Friends had a stall at WestFest on Sunday 7th June and raised another £112 by selling plants. The gazebo stayed up in spite of the wind!

New kid on the blocks at the Garden - whatever next!

Next time you are in he may be in his final position, wherever that will be. Meantime, he is near the dry stone walls.

Plant Power day and Friends' plant sale

We'd love to see you at the Plant Power day in the Garden this coming Saturday 23 May,  from 10am till 4pm, to co-incide with the International Fascination of Plants Day http ://fascinationofplantsday . org/home . htm

This is also the day of the Friends' annual plant sale, our main fundraiser of the year, so we hope you will come along and buy plants as well as enjoy all the fun things happening in the Garden.

Plant for May

Larix griffithii (Sikkim Larch)

Family: Pinaceae    Origin: E Himalaya     Accession: 1978

Lots to look at in the Garden at the moment, and we are busy potting up lots of annuals for summer colour too.

Camellia

Magnolia

Arum lily 

April's Plant of the Month

Ulmus glabra 'Camperdownii'
(Camperdown elm)

Family: Ulmaceae   Origin: Scotland   Accession: 1974

The Camperdown Elm is a natural mutant of Scotland’s native wych elm. It was discovered by chance around 1835 by the Earl of Camperdown’s head forester David Taylor, who transplanted the tree to the grounds of Camperdown House on the outskirts of Dundee where it still survives. Unlike surrounding elms it has not succumbed to Dutch elm disease, perhaps because of its small stature or contorted habit; its bizarre branch structure has been likened to a living sculpture. Its flower buds open in spring, though it cannot reproduce from seed. However it has been widely propagated from cuttings, usually grafted onto wych elms, and many examples were planted in Britain and America, satisfying the Victorian passion for curiosities.

find it among the Americas

Spring is springing in the Botanic Garden

A sculptural kalanchoe in the temperate glasshouse

Masses of flowers on this kalanchoe in the temperate glasshouse

Clivia in the temperate glasshouse

In the native plants area of the Garden

Spring propagation workshop

Sunday 29 March, led by Clare Reaney, Horticultural Technician at the Garden. Meet at Reception in the main building from 2-4pm.
The workshop will take the format of a “walk and talk” in the garden to discuss suitable plants for spring propagation, followed by a practical session which will include seed sowing and root cuttings. 
Cost free to members of the Friends; non-members £5. 
Wear suitable clothing and bring your own secateurs and gloves. 
Numbers are limited to 15 so booking essential. Please book by Thursday 19 March - email Alison Gordon alisongordon49@gmail.com or telephone 01382 350990

Plant of the Month - March

Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish moss)

Family: Bromeliaceae   Origin: Central America   Accession: 2015

find it in the Tropical House

Friends Sunday afternoon talk

If you hadn't already heard...

Sunday 1 March Talk in the Education Centre at 2pm by Professor Chris Spray, Chair of Water Science & Policy at Dundee University - 

What have wetlands and water plants ever done for us? Free to Friends, visitors £2.

Please tell your friends and family

February's Plant of the month

Polylepis australis (Tabaquillo)

Family: Rosaceae   Origin: Argentina   Accession: 1980

find it in the Americas

The Friends' new email address

You can now contact us at fudbg.committee@gmail.com
We look forward to hearing from you.

Reminder

Sunday 18 January 2015. At 2pm in the Education Centre in the Garden, Graham Haig will give an illustrated talk on a recent visit to the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. Friends free; visitors £2.

January: Plant of the Month

Quercus x turneri (Turner’s Oak)

Family: Fagaceae      Origin: UK      Accession: 1974

find it among the Americas
Note the lichens: these are composite organisms formed from algae or cyanobacteria (or both) living among filaments of a fungus in a mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationship, They are sensitive to industrial air pollution and have long been used as a means of monitoring air quality.

Fit for Fifteen

Well, quite a few of the Friends  made a good start, including a respectable turnout from the gym "Good Health and Fitness." The best time for three laps of the Garden (2.4 miles) was just over 20 minutes. The junior champion was two and a half years old and managed two complete laps. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Window Spotting

..and the winner of the 2014 Perth Road Window Competition is ...

Dominic McMichan

Dominic is photographed receiving his prize of a year's family membership from the chairman of the Friends, Mark McGilchrist,and Cllr. Fraser Macpherson.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

Fit for Fifteen

Friday, 2nd January from 11.0  am - 1.0 pm
Weather permitting, we are inviting Friends and their families to celebrate the New Year with a run, walk, or stroll round the Garden followed by drinks and nibbles in the glasshouse. 

The red squirrels are seen regularly feeding in the Garden at the moment - but they don't stay still long enough to get a decent photo. Any contributions welcome!
This photo courtesy of Jean who works at the Garden.