Abbey Square Main Library in Reading

[diasthema]

Walking past the main library yesterday I noticed a number of vacant planters on the side.  I'm thinking Poundland roses, what say you?

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=abbey+square+library+reading&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=51.454903,-0.967934&spn=0.008116,0.022724&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.454887,-0.967773&panoid=m6iJ4vkATqZN9GjdSN7VVA&cbp=12,5.9,,0,15.55

[Grendle]

I say let's do it! But I don't see the planters on the map you've linked to! Perhaps we should meet up for a drink this weekedn and actually talk about co-ordinated effort. I have a couple of friends I've been talking to who're interested in getting involved.

[diasthema]

I can see six.  It's easier to see if you wiggle the street view so you can observe its depth by the sides of the windows. They're the non-red brick structures in-between the windows; will get a better pic.  Actually it is really three planters, because the pillars do not bisect the planters (which currently have some kind of decayed looking bark mulch in them).  But I wouldn't plant anything behind those pillars, as it's too dark.

I'm going to have a look at Wilko's today as the Friar Street Poundland roses are pretty dubious looking. There's also the 99p store in the Broad Street Mall and the Poundland in that mall as well. I sprang for a thingy of mycorhizal (sp) fungi off ebay (it should arrive soon), and I already have a sachet of rose food.  Water could come from the Holy Brook. I have containers to get it with.

Alternately if the rose situation is bad everywhere,  I have some bulbs from Poundland which could go in.

email is sproutreading @ gmail . com -- I am thinking of going on Sunday because the library will be shut and there will be less foot traffic (it's a busy spot as it is near a bus stop).

[diasthema]

Actually roses won't do -- it's going to have to be something that can take little moisture again.  I didn't see how covered over the beds were.

Back to drawing board, will have a think on plant potential.

[diasthema]

http://www.sunflowerguide.com/sunflower-care.html

I have some seedlings that weren't big enough on Sunflower Day...but now they are.

[diasthema]

Pics:

[diasthema]

As per the pics below, each of the halves of the beds is about 21 inches  by about four and a half feet. The midsections are shadowed by double brick pillars which shield that area from the worst of the sun.   See street view link for the zoomed out view.

The soil inside is not terrible but is completely dry like powder. It is covered by three to four inches of good small bark chip which would retain moisture to some extent were moisture introduced.

Tnere are three of these doubled beds, so a bit more than 30 feet of planting to consider; it's not a small task even if it were tackled just one bed at a time.  It would require a number of people to do, at least in one go, and the plants would need to be perennials, tough, suitable for xeriscaping, and not obviously weeds. The mulch would have to be removed and then put back on at the end.

The library is right beside the Holy Brook and across the street from the canal, so water is available, though it is necessary to find an area where one can reach to lower containers into it. I have containers.

If this is to get done it's going to take manpower and a concerted, coordinated effort.

Email's still sproutreading@gmail.com if anyone's up for it.

[Grendle]

That's more like what I'm talking about! Let's get together and do something as a community! Perhaps (if people are inclined) we could meet up for a drink on Saturday somewhere and talk through some ideas? Maybe RISC Cafe? I don't know how popular the idea will be, or what people are up to this weekend, but if we arranged to actually meet up it would let us put faces to names and perhaps spark enthusiasm!

Just an idea, but in order to get the ball rolling, let's say...

Saturday 27th May
@ RISC Cafe (http://www.risc.org.uk/globalcafe/)
@ 17:00

It's early, but that way we're all free to do what we like with our evenings!

Let me know what you think of the idea so I don't end up showing up to an empty pub!

[diasthema]

http://www.bloomingdirect.com/p/20-Mixed-Lavender-Plants.html  -  Should I order or wait?

Sure, I'm interested, though I think Lucy is probably doing something on Saturday.  I created a Facebook event for this, and invited everyone I know in the area who is a little bit of a hippie.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=225390357488089  - invite folks!

That's more like what I'm talking about! Let's get together and do something as a community! Perhaps (if people are inclined) we could meet up for a drink on Saturday somewhere and talk through some ideas? Maybe RISC Cafe? I don't know how popular the idea will be, or what people are up to this weekend, but if we arranged to actually meet up it would let us put faces to names and perhaps spark enthusiasm!

Just an idea, but in order to get the ball rolling, let's say...

Saturday 27th May
@ RISC Cafe (http://www.risc.org.uk/globalcafe/)
@ 17:00

It's early, but that way we're all free to do what we like with our evenings!

Let me know what you think of the idea so I don't end up showing up to an empty pub!

[Grendle]

Cool. I would say wait to order, at least 'til after tonight. I'll hop onto facebook as well and invite some folks as well.

[Grendle]

I just checked. I don't have any of the people I invited on my facebook. I'll still invite people, but I won't be able to get them to join the event on facebook. :?(

[diasthema]

I just checked. I don't have any of the people I invited on my facebook. I'll still invite people, but I won't be able to get them to join the event on facebook. :?(

I just made you an admin, assuming you're the one who is attending whom I don't know

Also created a FB page for Reading GG, called Sprout Reading.

[diasthema]

Right, we're going to sort these planters on 19 June at 3pm. Everyone welcome.

[diasthema]

Reminder: that's this Sunday, please contact sproutreading@gmail.com or the 'Sprout Reading - Guerilla Gardening'  Facebook group if you'd like to attend.

Any drought-resistant plants or water containing vessels would be particularly welcomed.

[diasthema]

One more bump! Reading main library, tomorrow, at 3pm.  Pictures will be forthcoming.

[diasthema]

Three people showed up, and we were able to plant out four of six beds, mostly hampered by lack of hands at watering and amount of time on parking. We came in a few minutes before three, left shortly after four.  Last bed still needs doing, and all will require watering now and then, if anyone is in the area.

[Grendle]

Oh no! I've been negligent and missed the planting! I saw everything planted out and looking lovely last night as I walked past! I think I've identified another issue in terms of water as well. When I passed last night it was raining. Everything was drenched except the garden by the library where the overhang had kept everything bone dry! So it's not just the sun that keeps that garden arid but also the fact that unless we're actively bringing water to the garden, it's not getting any!

But seriously, it looked great and it made me smile to see it as I walked past. (Even if I was a little upset that I'd missed the event!)

[Twigz]

I'm also gutted that I missed out on the planting, but I'm happy to water it tomorrow night. How much water do you reckon is required? I don't want to drown anything!

[diasthema]

It would be impossible to 'drown' the thing because it has no source of water whatsoever except what we choose to put on it.  I put in drought-resistant plants, with the idea that once they are established they will survive despite rare watering.  There's a range of little plants in the first four planters, and I had time to stick a large buddleia in the fifth.

I watered it several days ago with 10L because that is literally all I could carry, and it just stretched over what was there. There is a Tesco around the corner, but I don't know if it sells the 5L bottles. If it does they would be ideal.

[diasthema]

But seriously, it looked great and it made me smile to see it as I walked past. (Even if I was a little upset that I'd missed the event!)

Y'know, bed number six is still empty :3

[Twigz]

I would like help to fill bed 6 with anyone soon, but have no plants (apart from basil and tomato seedlings) and am new to guerilla gardening, so don't fancy doing it by myself! What do you want to plant? I'm happy to find some!

[diasthema]

I would like help to fill bed 6 with anyone soon, but have no plants (apart from basil and tomato seedlings) and am new to guerilla gardening, so don't fancy doing it by myself! What do you want to plant? I'm happy to find some!

Honestly, unless we can find a way of regularly watering and keeping everything alive there's little point.  I did have enough plants to finish up, just not enough manpower.

It takes a LOT of water. We were hauling it from the canal across the street using buckets and old 5L bottles, but it wasn't easy.  Even if it has been rainy, as Grendle said the rain will never hit the planters at all. 

[Twigz]

Watered them using about 15ltrs of water from the canal. The smaller plants look okay but the bigger ones were a bit droopy. I can do it again later in the week.

[diasthema]

Watered them using about 15ltrs of water from the canal. The smaller plants look okay but the bigger ones were a bit droopy. I can do it again later in the week.

Let me know if you do want to do the last one.  Have enough  mini plants, and I think I have a packet of those crystals still. Can save up free newspapers to go under the mulch. 

It was me (Lori) and Kathryn and Lucy on the day. I mostly did the mulch gathering.  I had a giant bag and raked all the mulch--very dusty work!--from the to-be-planted spot into it. Then raked crystals through the soil. Then we saturated the soil with the first watering. K and Lucy did all the water haulage. After that we planted, put folded newspaper around the plants to retain water, and replaced the mulch. Then we did a second watering.  All of us took turns planting what we had.  We had plants left over--just not time.

[Twigz]

I'm happy to help out with planting the 6th one, it did look a bit empty compared to the others. Do you want to meet up to arrange a time or are you happy to sort that on here? Or add me on facebook and we can private message? My name on that is Twigz Autton-Wise.