Author: carolinewright201

After being a course leader and lecturer in Horticulture at Nottingham Trent University for nearly 20 years I am now working on a new venture in Limousin, France. In our plant nursery and garden school we aim to carry on sharing our passion for horticulture and natural crafts.
Specialist subjects include plant science, propagation, plant identification, specialist traditional and modern pruning and maintenance techniques. We also teach greenwood crafts, weaving, stained glass art and other crafts using natural materials.

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Learn basic weaving skills and make a unique hanging basket out of willow and other natural materials. Your basket can be used as for plants or for storing onions, garlic etc.

Cost per person is 35€ This includes the materials to make our basket including the chain for hanging and light refreshments. (Plants are not included)

We will have a selection of bedding plants available for sale on the nursery or you may use your own plants for potting up. (We add in free compost, water retaining gel and slow release plant food if you purchase the plants from our nursery)

THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULLY BOOKED. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH USING THE CONTACT FORM BELOW TO REQUEST EXTRA DATES. To book onto this course you can use the online system below. Once we have received your booking we will send further information by email. If you have trouble using this system or prefer to pay by cheque then please use the contact form below to check availability and request a booking form. You can use the contact form for any other questions too.

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Learn the basics of basket weaving and create a decorative basket from a combination of willow and other hedgerow plants.

This course will run from 1-4pm on Tuesday 24th March 2020 and includes light refreshments as well as all materials needed to create a unique basket. Cost 35€

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We are holding three half day courses in February and early March covering different types of pruning and training of fruits. Each course will cover some of the theory that is useful to know for understanding the practical techniques followed by practical demonstrations and the opportunity to practice the techniques. The courses are designed so that they can be accessed separately to cover one specialist subject or you can book onto two or all three to benefit from the full range of information (for booking see bottom of the page):

Pruning and Training of young orchard trees; How to plan, plant and train a young orchard of ‘top fruits’; this course will cover the principles of choosing and planting orchard trees and will look at the principles and practices of training young standard trees for maximum health and productivity. We will also look at a range of bush fruits. Tuesday 3rd March 2020 1-4pm 35€

Pruning, maintenance and renovation of mature orchard trees; This course looks specifically at established orchard trees, how to keep them healthy and productive with regular maintenance and how to renovate neglected and overgrown fruit trees. Suitable for beginners to gardening and managing a range of fruit trees and can also be tailored to suit an intermediate level of experience. You will learn some basic tree biology and how to put these principles into practice to maintain healthy, productive orchard trees. Covering apples, pears, cherries and other stone fruits. Tuesday 10th March 2020  1-4pm 35€

Training of decorative forms of Fruit: This specialist course explores the traininSDC11678g and pruning of decorative forms of tree including espalier, fan, and cordon forms from initial planting and training to ongoing maintenance. These specialist forms are excellent for smaller gardens and for adding decorative dividers and boundaries to your garden or potager. Thursday 5th March 1-4pm 35€

SDC11677We can also offer bespoke courses at your site and/or consultancy. Get in touch with us to discuss what you require.

Group bookings and extra dates are also possible – get in touch with us by email to check availability: lejardincreatif87@gmail.com or use the enquiry form below.

To book onto any of the above courses you can use the buy now button to confirm a place. This is a secure PayPal transaction but you do not need to have a PayPal account in order to use it, normal card payments are also accepted. If you prefer to pay by cheque please use the enquiry form below to check availability and request a booking form.

Young Orchard Trees Tuesday 3rd March:

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Renovation of Mature Orchard Trees Tuesday 10th March:

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Training of Decorative Fruit Forms Thursday 5th March:

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For group bookings, extra date requests or bespoke sessions  please use the enquiry form below:

 

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Have you ever wanted to try the skill of grafting? This specialist propagation technique takes a little patience and practice but can be mastered by beginners with a little guidance. We are offering this half day course on Tuesday 18th February 2020: 1.00pm-4.00pm. 40 Euros per person including all materials and light refreshments.

You will learn a little about the science behind the technique and then have a go at Graft2 (2)grafting your own fruit tree. We will provide you with two dwarfing rootstocks and a selection of heritage apple varieties to graft (you will make two grafted trees to take home) but if you have your own tree that you would like to propagate then please bring some along, use the contact form below to contact us to find out how to harvest grafting material from your tree.

All tools and materials will be provided. Part of the workshop will take place outside so please wear warm work clothing. This technique does need some manual dexterity and patience! You will take home your grafted maiden trees with full instructions on how to care for them in the first year to maximise success. (Typical success rates for grafted trees is around 75% but if your graft doesn’t work first time you can use the rootstock again to have another go).

BOOKINGSTHIS WORKSHOP ARE NOW CLOSED PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING TO GRAFT To book a place on this workshop you can use the online system below. If you have any problems using this system, or prefer to pay by cheque then please use the contact form below to check availability and request a booking form.

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Please use the contact form to enquire about postal booking or  if you have any questions about the workshop or would like information on how to harvest grafting material from your existing tree:

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SDC15666This basic course in plant propagation will look at the basics of propagating from seed and from semi-ripe and hardwood cuttings. You will learn a little botany that will help you to be more successful in rooting cuttings and understanding the different types of seeds, seed saving tips and overcoming different types of dormancy in seeds.

You will have the opportunity to take cuttings from a range of plants to take home.

There will be follow on courses in February and May 2020 where you can learn the art of grafting (February) and softwood cuttings in May.

Pricking outThis half day introductory course is running on Tuesday 5th  November 1-4pm: 25€ per person. All materials and light refreshments are provided and You will be able to take home your cuttings.

To book a place on the course use the online payment system below. If you have any trouble using this system or prefer to send a cheque please use the contact form below to check availability and request a booking form.


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img_0007This stunning herbaceous perennials is a close relative of the well known ‘Red Hot Poker’ but this species flowers much later, in England it would normally flower from July into August but here in France it reliably flowers twice each year once in June/July and again during October. This particular plant has only been established for 3 years and had over 15 flower spikes on it in June, now in early October it is starting to produced a second flush of flowers with many more buds to come.

This is not a plant for a small space, measuring up to a metre and a half tall and spreading to over a metre wide it likes a bit of room, preferably in a sunny spot in neutral to acid loam or sandy soil and makes a fantastic plant for late summer/early autumn colour in a large herbaceous border.

Cut back the faded flower spikes immediately after the first flowering to get a second flush. The foliage is semi- evergreen and needs a bit of a tidy up in mid to late autumn by cutting back dying or damaged or straggly leaves and again in early spring after any winter damage.

We have young  plants for sale at La Petite Pépinière – come along and see our selection of perennials. Open Saturdays 10-4 until end of October – at other times by prior appointment – you can message us on Facebook or email: lejardincreatif87@gmail.com

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IMG_2796So many of our garden visitors have been stunned by our chicken wire Alliums that we have decided to put on some workshops so that you can come and make them.

This half day workshop teaches you some basic chicken wire sculpture skills and you will make 3 Allium flowers on spikes to decorate your garden. They flower all year round!!

The workshop will run from 9.30-12.30 on Friday 18th October.

35€ per person. Light refreshments are included as well as all materials  to make 3 flower heads on spikes.

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THIS DATE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED – IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN EXTRA DATE THEN PLEASE USE THE CONTACT FORM BELOW TO GET IN TOUCH

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At Le Jardin Créatif we offer a range of courses in Horticulture and gardening alongside all of our ‘garden craft’ workshops.

This autumn we have a ‘Basic Botany for Gardeners’ course running over three sessions covering the basics of how plants live and grow, reproduce, carry out photosynthesis and use nutrients, their basic circadian rhythms and the way they respond to the seasons and their environment.

 

Epidermis through the microscope showing stomatal pores
Aeonium
Dissecting lily flower buds
Bedding plants

This course is aimed at those who have been inspired by their gardens and would like to know more about the fascinating world of plants and how they live. Based on the plant science module of the RHS level 2 courses it is suitable for complete beginners. The basic understanding of how plants work will help you to apply this knowledge in the garden and improve success and understanding of the principles and practices of gardening for flowers, fruits and vegetables.

For further information and booking visit our webpage: BOTANY FOR GARDENERS

Throughout the year we offer courses seasonal  in Pruning of orchard trees, Pruning of ornamental shrubs, Plant Propagation for beginners, Grafting of fruit trees, Winter tree identification, Soil Science, Vegetable growing for beginners, Gardening for beginners. If you would like to be notified when these courses are scheduled please use the contact form below to register interest.

 

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If you are looking for a new hobby, a day out learning a new skill or just something different to do this Autumn we have places left on the following willow sculpture & weaving workshops:

Willow Lanterns: make a unique hanging lantern for your home or garden out of willow and other natural materials; 25th September – This half day workshop is suitable for complete beginners and teaches basic weaving techniques in the process of making an ‘Acorn Lantern’

Willow Bird feeders: make a decorative fat ball bird feeder to keep your garden birds happy this winter; 9th October – This half day workshop is suitable for complete beginners and teaches basic weaving techniques in the process of making your bird feeder.

Willow Stags Head sculpture: Make a life sized Stags Head Sculpture to mount in your home, garden or barn wall. This full day workshop includes a light lunch. We have two sessions with spaces available in October – 9th or 22nd.

Hedgerow Baskets: Make a unique and decorative basket from a range of ‘hedgerow’ materials. This half day workshop also coves basic weaving techniques and is suitable for beginners. 30th October

For more details about all of our current Willow courses and others that we offer which you can request visit our web pages: WILLOW WORKSHOPS or COURSES AND EVENTS (this page includes our full range of scheduled courses)

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Come along and make an owl out of chicken wire! You will learn the basics of building a sculpture using chicken wire and create a stunning owl sculpture for your garden or home.

The course will run from 10.00-4.00 on Thursday 3rd October and will include a light lunch & refreshments. (Please be aware that everyone works at different speeds and you may finish a little earlier or later than the scheduled time) cost: 45 euros

Chicken wire is a fairly malleable material  and easy to mold and this course is suitable for beginners but some dexterity and physical strength is needed to work with this material over a day.

THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULLY BOOKED, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH TO REQUEST AN EXTRA DATE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN OWL

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