Here is a time-lapse of an Artichoke flower. I think it’s fascinating.

Filmed on a 35mm Nikon D300 digital camera.

Filmed over a period of two days

Here is a time-lapse of a runner bean germinating underground. This is an example of Epigeal germination where the cotyledons expand, throw off the seed shell and become photosynthetic above the ground.

Beans like other seeds need temperature and moisture to stimulate germination.

Stage 1:
Radicle expands and pushes against the testa at the micropyle
Testa spilts open and radicle emerges
Lateral roots develop
Root hairs form behind tip of radicle which helps absorb water and mineral salts in the soil

Stage 2
Stem below cotyledons elongates
Pulling cotyledon through soil and above the ground
Sometimes the is testa remains underground or discarded above ground
Cotyledons are closed together to protect the delicate pumule within

Stage 3
Cotyledons open up above ground
Cotyledons turn green
First foliage leaves start to develop
Foliage expands and turns green carrying out photosynthesis
Runner bean seedling is now a self-supporting plant

This and other of my time-lapses can be found on You tube http://www.youtube.com/user/neilbromhall

Time-lapse copyright Neil Bromhall.  www.complete-gardens.co.uk

Garden plant finder, identifier and pruning advice software for landscape and garden design needs. PC and MAC compatible

 Interactive, 3,500 garden plant identifier database with 9,000 photographs, displays the right plants for the right time and place within seconds. Helps you select the best plants to suit the conditions and create seasonal colour and interest.

 If your looking for advice selecting the right plants for shade or full sun or any garden condition but not sure which plants will survive, then the interactive garden advice, plant identifier and pruning guide database could be a useful plant resource to assist with your landscaping and garden design needs.
The plant database covers 3,500 garden plants from bulbs to trees and illustrated with 9,000 photographs to help with identification and seasonal changes.
To find the right plants to suit your needs, simply select any combination of month or season, colour, height, soil type, aspect or name and click search.
Within seconds the best plants to suit the requiremnts are displayed. Each plant is accompanied with in-depth planting advice, illustrated pruning techniques, pests, diseases and propagation information.

Each plants is accompanied with in-depth description, images, plant care and pruning advice plus pests, diseases and propagation tips

Each plant is accompanied with in-depth description, planting and illustrated pruning advice.
It’s possible to make visual, printable plant lists for personal use or to give to staff or clients.
The Calendar records the plants you have and reminds you when and how to prune the plants.
Add individual notes to plants and print with images.
The Complete gardens plant advice software has been designed for home use, professional gardeners and Garden Designers who want to find the right plants for every growing condition and seasonal need.
A useful plant resource to help with landscaping and garden design.
The Complete Gardens CD-ROM is the brainchild of Emmy Award winning cameraman / photographer Neil Bromhall. The Times have described the images ‘Stunningly lovely photography’ BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine ‘A Useful plant resource’ and Gold winning Garden Designer Chris Beardshaw wrote ‘This CD-ROM is the next best  thing to having your own private gardener‘
The Complete Gardens advice software is PC & MAC compatible
System requirements 256 RAM. PC Pentium 2 and above Windows 2000, XP and Vista. MAC OS 8.6 and above and Leopard compatible
Free helpline and garden forum to share questions and knowledge. If you have any garden problems put them to our members.
British nurseries should check this out, as their is a ‘where to buy’ link from the CD-ROM to recommended plant suppiers.

Free Garden AdviceForum

The Free Complete Gardens Advice Forum continues to grow.

Based in the UK and running since 2003, our friendly group of garden enthusaists can help answer a wide range of subjects from plant identification, growing vegetables, garden pests and diseases to tried and tested garden tools or even suggest nice gardens to visit.

The forum is free and easy to join.

You can add images, ask questions or share your expertise.

There are Links to other interesting garden related blogs and websites

The leading contributors are awarded a free copy of the Award winning interactive garden advice and pruning guide CD-ROM as a ‘thank you’ for generously providing their time and expertise.

The forum is monitored for spam and content.

If you want some interesting gardening ideas or advice then please feel free to join us.

Pruning miniature rose

Miniature roses need minimal pruning other than maintenance pruning.

Flowers are produced mainly on the current season’s growth, so our aim is to get a rose with healthy well-balanced new growth.

February – March. Cut out any weak and diseased wood.
Cut back strong stems to about 10 to 15 cm.

Any very vigorous shoots growing from the base can be removed completely.

June  and July, dead-head to encourage flower production.

Renewal / rejuvenation pruning.
February – March. Cut back 1/3 of old shoots almost to the base.

Repeat for rest of old shoots over next 2 or 3 years.

This method of removing old wood and encouraging new growth should gradually rejuvenate your rose and replace old unproductive wood with new healthy growth.

Extract taken from Complete garden plant advice and pruning guide CD-ROM

 Support UK nurseries

British plant nurseries are under threat from mass produced plant growers from abroad.

Imported plants are controlled: all growers supplying to EEC countries must have a Plant Passport, which allows the authorities to monitor and trace any problems with plant health. Standards of inspection are very stringent in the UK, says Guy Barter of the RHS, but in other countries the checking may be more relaxed. Also, it is not possible to check every single plant, so pests and diseases can be inadvertently imported. Diseases such as Dutch Elm have already done nationwide damage; others such as Sudden Oak Death are gradually spreading. Imported plants, such as Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam, can also become invasive, eventually pushing out native species and altering habitats. Some imported plants, such as tree ferns, cyclamens and orchids, may also have been dug up from the wild.

Many of the plants we buy have been raised in European countries such as Holland, France, Italy, Belgium and Germany, but an increasing number are being grown further a field in countries such as Roses from Africa and China where as in the case of Japanese Acers which are propagated in China, flown to Holland to be grown on and transported to Italy to mature, being moved between several countries and across continents before they reach the UK. The carbon footprint of these plants has not yet been calculated but is certainly considerable and could be avoided by sourcing British or locally grown plants.

Research by the South East England Development Agency shows that people who buy plants in garden centres show little interest in a plants country of origin. Many people will assume that the plants are grown here in the UK and will be shocked to learn that many are brought in from abroad. I think the labelling should include the plants country of origin. More people would buy British grown plants if they realised the key advantages of buying home-grown plants: plants that will grow better, fewer plant miles and lower carbon footprint from the grower to your garden, and support for jobs in the UK horticulture industry.

Look on the internet to find local plant nurseries or ones that offer mail order. Their website will often contain useful and practical plant care advice so you’ll know how to look after your plants once you’ve bought them.

You’ll find you’ll get a refreshingly diverse choice of garden plants and excellent value for money. Each nursery is run by enthusiasts who will give you a warm welcome and be keen to give you a genuinely professional level of advice.

The Complete Gardens plant advice and pruning guide CD-ROM is not stocked by some large garden centre chains like Wyvale because we link from plants on our CD-ROM to some quality UK plant specialist nurseries.

Although not being stocked will probably mean we’re loosing sales to the cheaper imported garden software they sell, we’re not going to support a monopoly which some large garden Centre chains demand and fully support our British plant nurseries.

Here are a few specialist nurseries not linked from plants on the CD-ROM to nurseries but we hope they will be added soon. 

http://www.blofieldnurseries.co.uk/camellia.htm camellia and azalea specialist

http://www.littleshopofhorrors.co.uk/home.php Carnivorous plants. Chelsea Flower Show Gold winner

http://www.wildflowers.co.uk British wild flowers

http://www.hardybamboo.com Bamboo and grass specialist

http://www.thorncroft.co.uk Clematis specialist. Chelsea Flower Show Gold winner

Garden software PC & MAC find right plant right place

We’ve designed an interactive plant advice plant database to help you select the plants for every aspect of your garden.

Simply select the soil type and aspect i.e. full sun, partial / dappled shade, or full shade, then with a simple click on the search button the CD-Rom finds and displays the plants to suit your requirements. You can narrow down your search by selecting a flower and or leaf colour, height, Latin or common name.

The software was originally designed for the garden novice yet Garden Designers and Garden Design students have found it extremely useful in there work where the individual clients and gardens have their own special needs. The Interactive plant database saves time and effort searching through books or the internet.

Each plant has plant description and pruning advice.

The Complete Gardens software CD-ROM has been designed for the UK gardener in mind, though it has been found useful as far north as Norway as far south and New Zealand as far west as America and east as far as Russia.

Add your own records and print with images and make your own plant lists and print with images.

We have produced a streamable garden software version for people to try if they live out side of the UK or prefer this to buying a CD-ROM

The Complete Gardens CD-ROM is both PC & MAC compatible containing 3,500 UK plants with 9,000 photographs.

Amazon are doing a special discount rate so we suggest that if you’re looking for a bargain them please have a look at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-selector-planting-pruning-encyclopaedia/dp/B000RW2CDY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1203610460&sr=1-5. Beware of other third party sellers other than Complete Gardens as I can’t guarentee if they are genuine suppliers. If Amazon run out of stock as they do on numerous occasions then please see Complete Gardens as a stockist though Amazon charge £3.50 for p&p but the Complete Gardens web site is inclusive of p&p.

The streamable garden software is only available on the Complete Gardens web site.

We have also developed the software to work on a hand held unit such as a Blackberry. Again this portable garden software is only available via the Complete Gardens website – software.

We hope you find the interactive plant finder, garden advice software useful and will help you create a beautiful garden design of your dreams.

There is a free help line see web site

Free garden forum where you can put your questions and images of plants for identification.