tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71891421323867491192024-03-12T16:59:13.158-10:00The British Gardener Traveling the world in search of the perfect place to make a garden.Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comBlogger544125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-19656953086819713882017-07-03T17:51:00.001-10:002017-07-03T17:51:24.506-10:00Hawaii - The Next Chapter
For years I have been dreaming about going to the island state of Hawaii. From the early days of working in the tropical nurseries of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in England to my first adventure of living in the tropic's of the British Virgin Islands and later Nevis, I constantly dreamed of Hawaii. For me, I've always perceived these islands to be a mecca for tropical Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-64463263719056674002017-02-28T08:20:00.001-10:002017-02-28T08:20:24.290-10:00Antique Soil ConditionerI found myself sitting on the crossroads last night trying to figure out how to renew my subscription of my domain name and getting royally frustrated with the whole process. I questioned whether continuing with the blog was relevant as its been a long time since I last posted and a lot has changed. I now live on the other side of the world on the island of Lana'i in Hawaii, still Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-3818132722210782762016-03-26T11:13:00.001-10:002016-03-26T11:13:11.212-10:00Big, Bold BougainvilleasNo matter where ever you go in the tropic's you'll always come across the vibrant sun loving presents of Bougainvillea's. These drought tolerant sprawling climbers will thrive under neglect to shower you in a massively floriferous display of color throughout spring, summer or autumn. Their resilience and color have gained them a place in many tropical gardens around the world.
Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-47184959688500903752016-02-27T15:48:00.001-10:002016-02-27T15:48:18.819-10:00The case of the disappearing coconuts - A closer LookIn my last post I wrote about the mystery of disappearing coconuts from our shores and touched lightly on the causes leading to their decline. Through my sleuthing on the internet I discovered something that may have a big impact not just on coconuts, but many other plants as well.
Without a doubt, coconut decline is a serious problem across the whole tropical region. Many people Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-86027053134342384542016-01-27T11:05:00.000-10:002016-01-27T11:05:17.182-10:00Nevis needs more Nuts!Most of you non-tropical mainlanders may be unaware that our iconic symbol of Caribbean islands is in deep crisis. The symbol I'm referring too is our beloved Coconut Palm or Cocos nucifera a palm featured so many times on the pages of travel magazines, has been disappearing from our beaches at an alarming rate.
So what has happened? Simply put, these palms face the same Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-65880643729794449182015-08-04T02:02:00.000-10:002015-08-04T02:02:11.782-10:00Life on an island, Part 2 Arrh, it's happened again! Finding the time to sit down and focus on writing has become quite the problem. Being a father, husband and manager (and sometimes babysitter to a large group of staff ) all looking for a slice of my time, leaves me with precious little for my own pursuits. Fortunately, I have a few moments of quiet that I can refocus on the follow up to 'Life on an island', part 2.
Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-26361840546010650382015-04-03T14:29:00.000-10:002015-04-03T14:29:54.239-10:00Life on a island, Part 1Even though the final box was unpacked some time ago, my move overseas and the transition into a new job had put me into a blogging hiatus of sorts. Lets face it, the draw of sitting under a coconut palm watch the world go by has been too great. However, lots have been learnt since moving on Island and its time to share my experiences of living on a rock and get back into writing Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-68873128874993516362014-07-21T17:32:00.002-10:002014-07-22T00:21:40.285-10:00A little bit of closureSo much has happened since I last got around to write a post that its hard to know where to start. Anyone who has been following this blog would of already known of my big move to distant lands, but before I get down to writing about that I feel I need some closure. So for this post, I thought a little tour of my old garden would be appropriate.
The great divide - linking two Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-35486990989212366502014-05-17T15:14:00.001-10:002014-05-17T15:14:46.662-10:00Take the Red PillI have to admit, Alice in Wonderland isn't one of my favorite movies but the quote that starts this post is. I pulled the metaphor from another more manly film, The Matrix, where the lead character is faced with a similar decision of seeing how far the rabbit hole really goes. Its more science fiction with awesome special effects than fairy tale, plus a little better to admit watching than Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-45484857903528451942014-03-04T18:08:00.000-10:002014-03-04T18:08:05.461-10:00Damn good plants - Illicium floridanum, Purple AniseWe tend to forget what a wealth of plants North America has to offer. During the early days of exploring, many collectors came to North America in search of new plants to feed Europe's horticultural appetite. Before the Asian continent was opened for European trade, it was considered the height of fashion (as well as a show of wealth) to have gardens rich in North American floral Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-36631842964006954912014-02-19T16:47:00.001-10:002014-02-19T16:47:13.016-10:00Bringing Nature HomeOne of my children's most watched films is 'The Lorax', based on the book of the same name by the famous author, Dr. Seuss. It is a fable chronicling the plight of the environment as the 'Oncer-ler', a character representing corporate greed, strips the land of natural resources for production of a 'Thneed'.
It highlights the dangers of unsustainable growth as the last 'Truffula' tree (theRobert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-71113921466290780242014-02-12T06:08:00.001-10:002014-02-12T06:08:21.875-10:00Becoming a Mulchologist!
Maybe just 2 more bags?
If ever such a professional title as a mulchologist existed, then last year I came pretty close to earning that accolade. I hadn't given too much thought to the stuff until I was faced with some peculiar questions about are wood based mulches. In fact, the more I dug into the world of shredded or chipped mulch the more I realized that it might be more foe Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-37330567860403761862013-11-19T06:27:00.000-10:002013-11-19T06:27:20.529-10:00Back from a Break!Where does time go? I recently had to put the 'Blogging' thing on the back burner so I could concentrate on preparing for a talk, followed shortly by a TV appearance. Now, I'm realizing that more than a month has gone by since I put pen to virtual paper and need to climb back on the Blogging Horse again.
Doing these talks and preparing for TV shows becomes all consuming as I strive toRobert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-83477163944831355122013-10-02T17:50:00.001-10:002013-10-02T17:50:45.835-10:00Flower Power Tips for your Crape Myrtle!
Without any doubt, Crape Myrtles are the south's most beloved flowering tree. Their frequency of use in south gardens is only paralleled to lilacs and Crab apples found in just as many northern gardens. Renowned as a 'tough as old boots' tree for difficult and dry sites, there's not much that will slow it down.
However, this year we've received more phone calls than normal Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-90445114166196854712013-09-24T04:53:00.000-10:002013-09-24T04:53:00.904-10:00Bee EducatedPeople should have a cause to fight for. Some might be against whaling, others to save the rainforest. Mine it seems is for something far smaller in size, but just as important, the humble honey bee. Fresh new research has caused me to get back on top of my soap box and start preaching as yet another smoking gun was found in the mysterious disappearance of the bee. Mount Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-60393110822246244632013-09-09T13:17:00.002-10:002013-09-09T13:17:15.500-10:00Figs - The Sexiest most Unsexy Fruit in the World
What fruit do you consider has all the taste of summer? You know, the kind that overwhelms your taste buds with its sweet nectar's richness that you can almost taste the warmth of the sun. Of course many will say Peaches, Nectarines and possible Raspberries, but the lonely fig sits outside of the popular circle like the new kid in school, looking to find its seat at a lunch table. Well my Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-70111433026611854822013-09-01T18:07:00.001-10:002013-09-01T18:07:37.002-10:00Ron Finley - Gangsta GardenerWhile researching for a recent post (A Garden to Die for), I kept coming across a guy who is part of a growing group of people who call themselves 'Guerrilla Gardeners'. He is not your run of the mill granola eating, feral type looking to change the world with compost toilets and Goji berry bars. Instead, this gardening renegade, Ron Finley, is a straight talking, regular kind of guy Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-73535354118335517352013-08-25T11:55:00.001-10:002013-08-25T11:55:29.253-10:00The Brit's in PrintI did it! Yep, I finally managed to get into print at one of America's top gardening publications, Fine Gardening. A while back I submitted a piece that was accepted for the Southeast's feature called 'Plant this, not that' and now its out for the world to see. Its quite the feather in the cap to think that from the humble beginnings of this blog, I have stepped up my game and Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-64247781904922878402013-08-17T17:30:00.002-10:002013-08-17T17:30:56.816-10:00A Garden to Die forHow far would you go to defend your garden? I don't mean from deer or snails but from others. A strange question for sure seeing as gardening is supposed to bring inner peace and a sense of tranquility. Isn't gardening about getting plugged into the universe and being one with your environment? Well as it turns out, gardening is to blame for arms race.
According to 'Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-58638417953166255272013-08-11T17:57:00.000-10:002013-08-12T02:30:20.963-10:00Thinking outside of the zone - Part ThreePart Three - Into the Jungles of Northern Virginia
Thumb through any good books about tropical landscapes and it soon becomes apparent that a plant's foliage is the key element of design. Flowers tend to be an afterthought, playing second fiddle to the over exaggerated rich tapestry of foliage that is greatly utilized. Large, bold and often architectural leaf forms are the hallmark Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-5816540561169532032013-08-04T17:51:00.001-10:002013-08-12T02:25:52.524-10:00Thinking outside of the Zone - Part TwoPart Two - Palm Trees without the Ocean Breeze
The subject of War and Gardening doesn't often mingle in the same discussion unless you're addressing deer or weeds. But for this next post I wanted to use a military doctrine of 'Shock and Awe' to describe my amazement of discovering Palms flourishing in Panama Johns Northern Virginia garden. 'Shock and Awe' was coined to describe the Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-10386041546403350042013-07-29T15:52:00.002-10:002013-08-12T02:24:10.153-10:00Thinking outside of the Zone - Part 1Part One - Tree Treasures of Emeralds and Silvers
George Mallory was once asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest so much, his response was because it was there! Sadly his quest ended on the high slopes of Everest, but it's fair to say that us human beings enjoy pushing the envelope and its no different in the garden, albeit safer.
I have for a while been suffering with a case of &Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-46886060788372273332013-07-17T09:19:00.000-10:002013-07-18T14:42:23.078-10:00In Memory - Bebe the dogWhoever coined the phrase that 'a mans best friend is his dog' wasn't far wrong. Today I said goodbye to my best friend and companion, 'Bebe'.
Having a dog had always been a boyhood dream of mine. It was only later in life, when all the stars and planets all aligned that I could make a dream it a reality. Nearly 13 years ago, Bebe the dog came and joined our young but Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-52177717926767918042013-07-11T16:40:00.000-10:002013-07-11T16:40:50.936-10:00Bee GoneIn April of this year I wrote a post highlighting the plight of our bee populations and risk of using certain garden chemicals. Since then the news networks have been a 'buzz' on the same topic. Though I would like to think it was because of my post, in reality the chemicals under scrutiny have been doing their own publicity although negative publicity.
A recent news story in Total Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7189142132386749119.post-7785181962399921602013-06-24T02:14:00.001-10:002013-06-24T02:14:50.927-10:00Monrovia Nursery - The Spirit of AdventureEventually in the life of every gardener we become tired of the mainstream offerings found at garden centers. Hungry for the unique, we often go off to search the listings of specialty mail order nurseries. But, like grocery shopping online, the thought of having someone chose a product for you always leaves me a little skittish. I'm the type of person who loves to agonize for Robert Woodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494805619358278193noreply@blogger.com