Landscape and garden expert

Robert Buelteman's amazing electric plant photographs

The process starts when Robert Buelteman selects a living plant and takes it back into his specially fitted photographic studio; after which a creative process begins by sculpting the plant material and opacity.

An open letter to the APL and BALI - A time for change

I write to you on behalf of all good landscapers and garden maintenance workers who are employed within the horticulture trades.

Times are hard - for many it will not get better. For some businesses and individuals, things will never improve and they will be forced to give up what they love; For others, time has already run out.

Helen Nock makes bespoke garden furniture

Since Helen Nock joined the Landscape Juice Network I have marvelled at her garden furniture designs and the style of her art.

Helen appears to be no ordinary artist; Initially training in fine art and design leading to professional sketching before moving into mosaics and a yearn to set up her own practise, making, among other things, bespoke garden furniture with wrought iron and reclaimed non-corroding materials - Helen even moulds her own ironwork in her blacksmith's forge.

How to run a successful garden design company

Earth Designs will be holding and open day and seminar at the Earth Designs Studio on the 25th September 2009 from 9am - 5pm.

As well as hearing what it takes to be a successful garden designer you will also hear tips on marketing and branding your business, finance and legal information as well as aspects of health and safety.

Tree professional needed by Microbee

Microbee are looking for a Tree Surgeon/Arborists/Climbers/Groundsman to work across London operating from Wimbledon SW19.

Qualifications: CS30, 31, 38 & 39 plus 2 Years experience.

Tracmaster at Saltex

Saltex grounds care, sports facilities, amenities and landscaping show at Windsor racecourse in September, where they will be exhibiting their CAMON C8 Hydraulic Rotavator for the first time.

Tracmaster can be found on stands DAA56/58/58A

Why not enter the Tracmaster free competition before going to Saltex and try and win a C8 rotovator as a prize in their anniversary celebrations.

London Underground in Bloom competition

Did you know that fifty percent of the London Underground is actually above ground and the land LU manages accounts for over ten percent of London's entire wildlife habitat?

Much of it is inaccessible to the public for safety reasons but nevertheless this land needs to be managed in order to maintain its bio-diversity in and around the capital.

Many of the London Underground staff have created small gardening displays in depots, control rooms and around stations to help brighten the daily lives of anyone who travels through, or works in and around London's tube stations.

Taking some time away from the computer

I am going to take a couple of days away from the computer and head up country to see some friends - I won't be back until Monday afternoon.

If you are bored then why not take a look at the Landscape Juice Archive at some of the older posts.

I will leave you with this view (click to enlarge) that greets me every day as I walk out of my front door. The sunflowers are at their best at the moment (although it hasn't rained for ages so the heads are probably smaller than they could have been).

See you all next week.

Tim Richardson takes on the RHS at Hampton Court

What a brave fellow Tim Richardson is to stand up to the RHS. I mean, take a swipe at the bastion that is British horticulture and then have the audacity to attend one of their events.

Writing on today's Telegraph, Richardson tells how he was 'ambushed' by RHS members in the Telegraph Gardening Theatre by members who were unhappy with his swipe at the RHS' archaic judging system for its shows.

I will let you read the article for yourself but I have to say that I am with Richardson and there has to be a much more democratic way of judging.

Lord Heseltine gets RHS vice presidency at Hampton Court

Michael Heseltine took another step closer to horticultural dominance this week when he was awarded his badge of office at the RHS President's award lunch - Heseltine is now a Royal Horticultural Society Vice President.

The Right Honourable The Lord Heseltine, is seen here standing between RHS President Giles Coode-Adams (right) and show judge Jim Buttress.

It did cross my mind that this closeness between the RHS and the owner of Horticulture Week (Haymarket) would become a conflict of interest for Heseltine.

Is your garden insurance covering everything

I have just spent over £600 on a new laptop computer and I am very pleased too. It's not top of the range but hey, it has a fast processing speed, 4gb of memory and enough storage to suck in the highest resolution photographs - it does the job.

I now have the flexibility to travel and take my everyday office with me and the built in wi-fi lets me hook up to adhoc networks wherever. I also have the flexibility to work in the garden if I so wish.

It crossed my mind that if I did choose to work in the garden, I would not leave my laptop unattended if I decided to pop to the shops or go out for the day.

Tree survey software launched by Bluesky

Building subsidence is said to cost the insurance industry an estimated £500 million every year - only fire exceeds it as a greater insurance liability.

A mature tree can remove hundreds of gallons of water from the soil every single day; if a tree is adjacent to a house and has been there for many years then its presence will be influencing the soil structure and water content in the proximity of house footings.

A Gold Medal for the perfumed garden at Hampton Court

Congratulations to Jill and Simon Foxley and the team, for their gold medal success with The Healing Garden in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Trust.

Regular readers will know that this success has been achieved through extremely hard work, the generosity of sponsors and Jill's dogged determination.

Just as soon as she has dusted herself off and, I suspect, had some sleep, I sure Jill will blog about her last few days and the feelings when the gold medal award was made.

Here is a list of all the small garden medal winners.

Read Jill's Healing Garden blog.

Sunflower's cheerful smile all night long

I am watching the all American tribute to Michael Jackson on the television. My Daughter Fleur is listening to Michael Jackson's ABC.

The Royal Show signals the end of traditional showground events

The show organiser of GLEE and Saltex should pay careful heed to what the organisers of the 170 year old Royal Show have said as the very last show kicks off at the Stonleigh show ground in Warwickshire.

A BBC news report has just stated that the culture towards the traditional show has changed both geographically and demographically.

Exhibitors are more content with attending much smaller and intimate shows in areas that cater to their specific need.