2021 has been an exciting year in the medicinal garden. Many new plants have been added and some of the early plantings have thrived beyond our expectations. Finally in September we had the official opening (see pictures and link to video below).
Our volunteer gardening team have enjoyed sociable and productive days as the hard physical work on site has proceeded through the year.
So far, around 80 species (some 200 plants), all with herbal associations, from around the globe, have been planted and are being accessioned. Throughout the project we have benefitted from co-operation and support from council and gardening staff.
The garden in summer 2021
As soon as the Covid restrictions allowed we were back to the garden.
April 2021–a welcome sign of vibrant life in the soil after winterThe glossy leaves of Galanthus woronovii promise a display next yearIn May, the May-apple Podophyllum hexandrum has come through the winterYoung Phormium tenax25 April. Pseudowintera colorata New Zealand Pepper Tree goes into the New Zealand zone along with Phormium tenax ‘Chocomint’.
This was a big planting day:with Hidcote lavender, valerian, Christmas box, dyer’s greenweed and jasmine all going in.
6 June. Planting Corymbia (Eucalyptus) from the Botanic Gardens. The Australian zone lacks plants, hard to source with Brexit and Covid restrictions.The Zantedeschia has established well and the bare soil is beginning to be colonised.Foxglove and pot marigold.Ugni molinae A rooted cutting of Chilean guava. Planting is consolidating– all that work behind the scenes during lock-down is paying off. Young plants of horseradish, roseroot, shoo-fly and society garlic are now large enough to plant out.Statuesque angelica Angelica archangelica with cardoon and wormwood at last giving us a luxuriant look.16 May. The first hazel obelisk is constructed from BBG hazel and our own willow, to support the hop plant which is starting into growth.4 July. Pokeweed, Phytolacca americana. We have been given this from shrubbery elsewhere in the Botanic Gardens where it seeds freely.This lovely specimen of Blue Gum Eucalyptus globulus was grown by Derek Lockwood, propagator BBG. Maybe a temporary specimen, or we can coppice it when it threatens to get too large.
The opening of the Global Medicine Garden by Lord Mayor of Belfast on 9 September 2021
The Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl and FoBBG Chair Adrian Walsh admire the colourful displayBelfast’s Lord Mayor talks to Barbara Pilcher, designer of the Global Medicine GardenLooking at plants in the Europe sectionThe view across the garden from “South America”
See report from Belfast City Council here and a short video by the Mayor on Twitter here
October 2021
planting Silybum marianum, milk thistle, a gift from our friends at Greyabbey Physic Gardenmeanwhile, more handmade labels are put in place such as this ID tagand this explanatory sign
November 2021
dividing a large clump of Eupatorium (now Eutrichium) purpureum, sweet-joe -pye weed, ready for relocation.late flowers of Lavandula vera, English lavender, catching November sunshine. Regular dead-heading has extended the flowering season.the view across Phormium tenax ‘Chocomint’ New Zealand flax, and Impatiens tinctoria, dyer’s impatiens, to autumn colour on Mespilus germanica, medlar and Taxodium distichum, swamp cypress
December 2021
a simple leaf bin made from poles and wire panelsleaves when rotted to leaf mould will be a useful mulchour favourite gadgets for gathering leaves: brush and leaf boxand leaf grabbers (especially when used with a lightweight wheelbarrow)
More plants for the garden continue to be sourced and propagated off site.
