The Worcestershire Royal Hospital garden has been planted for twelve months and we catch up with the development of the plants.

The Hospital Garden is now 12 months old, and the gallery is of the anniversary get together.

Dave Foster reports "It's now 12 months since we planted up the BBC Hereford and Worcester Listener's Garden at the Royal Worcestershire Hospital, and it's gone from strength to strength with all the plants maturing well.

"Looking particularly good are the Photinias and the Lavenders.

"The garden is used extensively by both patients, visitors and the Hospital Staff".

Dave Foster reports on the garden four months on:

"The planting of the garden is now complete, since the last report we have filled in the gaps and have added the following plants :- Carryopteris "clandonensis"  Ceanothus "Pagei Blue" Hebe "Mrs Winder" Miscanthus sinensis "Rostilber" Lamium "galeobdolon" Vinca.

"Due to the recent very dry weather we have had to replace the following trees and shrubs that failed to get established :- Robinia pseudoacacia "Frisia" Betula "jacquemontiana" (Birch Tree) Hebe "Red Edge".

"The garden is now getting well established with many of the plants filling out and starting to show their Autumn colours. A large proportion of the plants are evergreens so the colours and interest will continue throughout the Winter."

After six weeks:

"Its now just over six weeks since we had our planting day with the 10 BBC H & W listener volunteers and everything is starting to grow well and get established.

The alternating fine weather and the amount of rain we've had has enabled all the 600 plants to get a good start.

The plants are planted through a membrane along with a pebble mulch on top which retains moisture and suppresses the growth of weeds thus ensuring a good start in life.  

Current Plants of Interest :-  
The Lavendula Munstead (Lavender) in front of the day ward window is showing good bloom and giving off a lovely fragrance.
The Elymus Magellanicus (Wild Rye) is a blue coloured tuft forming grass and looks at its best next to the Lavender.
The Eryngium Agavifolium (Sea Holly) is looking good with its long structural leaves and grey green colouring set off well by the blue grey pebble mulch.
Hebe Autumn Glory is in bloom with its purple blue flowers and strong green foliage.
The two Bamboos in the small borders, Arundinaria nitida and Phyllostachys nigra Punctata are at their best and give an architectural feeling when entering the garden."

Click on a section of garden plan below for a larger version.

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