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  • A BIG Thank You from our House to Yours!

    Many of you will have enjoyed our Summer Flower Exhibition back in July.  Our very large house full of flowers was well received and the 200 plus plants were enjoyed by everyone that visited us.  Some of our favourite comments taken from our guest book include:

    “Brilliant floral displays as usual, and a really touching memorial”.

    “A spectacular display and a wonderful tribute”.

    “An absolutely wonderful display”.

    “A pleasure to visit.  A wonderful display of colour”.

    Those of you that visited us will know that this year’s exhibition was a floral tribute to Evan Shonfield, who worked with us here in Arthurs Restaurant before his very sad and sudden death last year at the age of 20.  All your generous donations were therefore, sent off to Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) in memory of Evan.

    Together we raised £1,560.38.  Thank you to everyone who kindly donated to support the continuing good work of Cardiac Risk in the Young.

    Looking forward to next year already!

  • Coolings Irrigation Systems – are you hooked up yet?

    Be Water Wise With Coolings Irrigation Systems Get ready for the Summer!

     

    Did you know that here at Coolings we install irrigation systems? Our on-site expert, Ian Hazon and his team, will make a full site inspection, produce an estimate unique to your needs and install the system for you. Better still, the systems we fit are easy to use, require little maintenance and are very water efficient.

    Having an irrigation system will not only save you hours of watering every day, it will even do the work for you while you are on holiday. Thames Water states that drip systems are exempt from hose pipe bans. We install the same equipment on our nursery here at Coolings and it continues to give us many years of trouble free service.

    For more information or to book an initial site inspection please contact Ian Hazon on 01959 532269. rushmorehill@localhost.coolings0909.com or visit him in-store.

  • Know Your Boundaries

    As the last rays of the summer shine, before autumn gets under way, you will be starting to tidy your garden, getting it ready for winter. This is a good time to think about planning your garden structure for next season, while the plants are sleeping.

    At Coolings, we have a fantastic range of wooden and metal boundaries to help structure the garden. A solid boundary can give you a good background to show off your plants, such as Grange Professional Lap panel (1.5m), £32.99. These can be painted or left a natural colour (there is a wide range of colours in stock). You can then add trellis for climbing plants. Better still, if you have a nice view, use trellis panels, so you can incorporate the view into your garden.  This gives the impression of a bigger garden plus, it lets the wind blow through putting less pressure on the panel during windy conditions. The Grange Elite St Meloir Bow Top Lattice panel (1.8m) is available at £73.50.

    Panacea fencing is a fairly new range of metal fencing. This is easily slotted together, combining gates, sections and posts to create an authentic looking wrought iron fence. The posts can be pushed into the ground or there are ground and wall mounts to use for fixing to hard landscaping. Ideal for keeping a dog or children off an area of garden, making a walkway or fencing the front garden. The Kensington fence is our newest range. Metal fence panels range from £22.99 to £39.99 each.

    We have a great range of garden arches and arbours. These make lovely features in themselves and are useful for supporting climbing plants such as Beans, Clematis and Roses. They are made from pressure treated wood or tubular steel which is galvanized on
    the inside and out, then powder coated. This gives a very tough construction made to last.

    An arbour is great, because you can sit and enjoy the scent of Roses climbing over the arbour while enjoying a glass of your preferred tipple! Some arches have gates which lead to another section of garden. The Panacea Arch Top Garden Arch with Gate is £189.99 and the Panacea Scroll Arch is £99.99. Some of the arches have matching trellis too. In timber you can have a Kelkay Rosedale Arbour, £99.99 or if you would like a covered roof how about AFK Painted Arbours for £419.

    Finally, are you planning a wedding? Maybe you are looking for an impressive arch for the ceremony? We have a tunnel of three arches in white from Panacea, which is perfect for such an occasion. This is also available in black costing £299.99.

    Items in this article can be found in and outside of our Outdoor Accessories glasshouse, or in our timber area by the compost. Please pay these areas a visit to see lots of other items for sale and ideas.

    1. The Kensington Metal Fence

     

    2. The Grange Elite St Meloir Bow Top Lattice panel

    3. The Grange Professional Lap panel

    4. Panacea Scroll Arch

    5. Panacea Arch Top Garden Arch with Gate

    6. Panacea Three Arches in Black

  • There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothes!

    Wellies have come a long way since the early 19th Century. The Wellington we know today is a type of boot based upon the leather hessian boot worn by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of

    Wellington. They were suitably hardwearing for riding, yet smart enough for formal evening wear and so quickly became very popular amongst “gentlemen”.

    In 1839 Charles Goodyear invented the vulcanisation process for natural rubber (obtaining the patent in 1844). He decided to make rubber tyres and his friend Hiram Hutchinson bought the patent to
    manufacture footwear. Hutchison moved to France, started a company called A L’Aigle that is today known as Aigle and still going strong.

    In those days 95% of the population worked in muddy fields wearing wooden clogs, so waterproof rubber boots became an instant success and the rest, as we say, is history. Today, we can buy a pair of wellies nearly anywhere in any price range, style or colour.

    Now that we are approaching the time of year with rain, mud, wind and cold, my choice of footwear has to be “TMMuck boot” boots.

    The TMMuck Boot is known to be the most reliable, durable boot that works anytime, anywhere, in the harshest conditions, keeping their customers’ feet dry, warm and comfortable. In my opinion, their quality is second to none.

    Here at Coolings we keep a good range in stock, but if we don’t have your size, colour or style we will be happy to order them in and they should be in stock within 3 days.

    These are just a small selection of our foot and hand wares, why not pay us a visit to see the rest of our large range of gardening gloves and wellies.

    Choose from…

    TMMuckmaster Hi (available in high and mid sizes 4-14) are suitable for temperatures down to -30°C. £120.

    Arctic Sport II (available in tall and mid sizes 3-9) are suitable for temperatures down to -40°C. £100/£110.

    Arctic Apres Sheep Fleece lined (available in low (£95) and tall (£115) and in sizes 3-9) are also suitable for temperatures down to -30°C.

    That’s your feet taken care of – now for your hands!

    It’s difficult to find a warm and waterproof glove. My favourite would be the Gold Leaf Winter Touch Glove, all soft leather with an insulated lining. It will keep your fingers warm and snug.  Although a gardening glove, it is nice enough to wear for any outdoor activity. They come in two sizes, ladies and gents, at £24.95 a pair.

    For extreme cold the Argon Skytec Glove can withstand temperatures, well below freezing. They are available in four sizes at £7.99 a pair.

    A lighter glove would be Showa Thermo 451, a very good fit and will give a more precise grip. Also available in four sizes at £6.99 a pair.

  • Top Evergreens for Autumn Colour

    Autumn is far from being a time when things wind down, in fact it can be the most colourful season and one when Shrubs and Conifers excel…if you choose the right ones!  The autumn shrub palette delivers reliable colour and really conjures the mellow, warm and glowing colours of the season. Take your pick from these easy to care for evergreens…

    Leucothoe ‘Scarletta’ and ‘Rainbow’
    Both of these varieties boast colour and interest all year round and are ideal for pots in winter or as groundcover when planted en-mass. The long, glossy leaves of ‘Scarletta’ emerge dark maroon, turning greener as they mature and then take on lovely bronze and wine tints in the autumn. ‘Rainbow’ turns to a bronze-red, mottled with cream and pink in autumn with marbled purple red tints in winter. Springtime brings small cream flowers, creating yet another dimension to this wonderful evergreen.

    Leucothoe ‘Curly Red’
    This splendid recent introduction is an ideal choice for a patio pot and will live happily in a shady spot. The attractive curly evergreen leaves turn purple red as it gets cooler. Needs planting in acid ericaceous compost.

    Pieris ‘Little Heath’
    Pieris are much admired for their whorled evergreen foliage, often edged with cream, with the tips of the foliage turning pink through the year. Bell-shaped, creamy flowers appear during spring to complete the deal. The compact habit of Pieris japonica ‘Little Heath’ makes it the ideal shrub for growing in patio pots. This dwarf variety grows to just 60cm in height and is easy to maintain, requiring minimal pruning. A lovely addition to borders and eye-catching patio containers.

    Skimmia ‘Magic Marlot’
    This handsome evergreen has lots of tricks up its sleeve. As well as its beautiful evergreen leaves with a glittering golden edge, it produces its flower buds in autumn when they sit amongst the leaves as white clusters. Through the winter months they mature to deep pink and open to thick white spikes of starry flowers in spring, wafting their scent around the garden.

    Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’
    This tough, little evergreen will offer something a little different to your garden with its bronze-purple flushed leaves. It also makes an unusual low maintenance hedge. Each spring it produces lime green new shoots, which darken over the season, and the following year are deep purple. Looks great planted with the red stems of Cornus.

    Pinus ‘Wintergold’
    Dwarf pines are now very popular with modern garden designers. ‘Wintergold’ is a stunning variety which turns from green to gold as the temperatures fall.

    Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’
    The light green summer foliage of Podocarpus ‘Red Embers’ becomes striking in winter with brick-red tips. An open habit with an irregular shape.

    Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Rubicon’
    An easy evergreen with compact habit, changing from green to rich purple through the autumn.

  • Create a Feast for the Eyes with Bulb Lasagne Planting – Easy as 1,2,3!

    Lasagne? No, we don’t mean the tasty Italian dish made out of layers of pasta, however, this treat is made out of layers. By the time you’ve read this you’ll understand how to make a real feast for the eyes, by planting a Bulb Lasagne!

    Planting a ‘Bulb Lasagne’ of spring flowering bulbs in the autumn offers impact and colour come spring. Most spring bulbs can be grown in a Lasagne, but for the display to work you need to ensure that you pick three types of bulb that look good together and will give a display that lasts throughout the season (i.e. combine early, mid and late spring bloomers). This rather clever ‘Lasagne’ planting technique was developed by the Dutch to ensure your pots are full of blooms that will be followed by more varieties as the spring progresses and avoids having great big gaps in between blooms.

    The general idea is that you put the smallest, earliest bulbs on top and the slightly bigger, later ones underneath so as they grow they hit the bulb above, curve around it and carry on growing up.


    Our Lasagne Panting Packs are available in three colour themes – pink-blue, red-purple and white.

    NEW for this autumn are our Lasagne Planting Packs from our friends at Kapiteyn Bulbs, who have done all the combination work for you! Each pack contains three different bulbs to create 100 days of spring flowers in your pots!

    Just follow these three easy planting steps:

    STEP 1.
    Choose a pot with nice, big drainage holes and place a layer of gravel at the bottom to improve drainage, alternatively a well-drained potting mix (such as Coolings Professional Compost 35L £4.99) will also do the trick. Once you have your first layer of potting medium in the pot, begin with your large, late flowering bulb i.e. Tulips/Anemones. Place the bulbs close together but don’t let them touch each other or the sides of the pot.

    STEP 2.
    Now add a layer of soil, and firm it down lightly around your bulbs. You can now plant your midspring layer i.e. Hyacinths. Add more pasta (or potting compost in this case!).

    STEP 3.
    Plant your final layer of early bloomers i.e. Crocus. Cover them with potting soil, add water and wait for the results come spring!

    Images supplied by Kapiteyn

  • A Taste of the Orient Comes to Coolings

    Few plants can send up a succession of flowers from August until late October and look elegant at every stage, whether tight bud, long-lasting flowers or neatly spherical seed head. But the Japanese Anemone manages it perfectly. Japanese Anemones are ideal for the no-fuss gardener and thrive in sun or part shade. The large, long-lasting flowers in pinks or white are held on strong stems that don’t need supporting.

    If it’s a tall variety you are after, consider:

    Anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ is elegant and has neat, white flowers with a boss of golden-yellow stamens set round a green, pin-eyed centre. It is superb against a north or east wall, as it lights up a shady spot.

    Anemone ‘Andrea Atkinson’ is one of the most vigorous of the Anemones. A truly beautiful site as the abundance of its pure white flowers, with central green button, sway in an autumn breeze.

    Anemone ‘Whirlwind’ is a stunning semi-double white variety.

    Anemone ‘Splendens’ will undoubtedly grab the attention of your autumn garden. A great performer with masses of single, deep pink flowers adorned with a ring of golden stamens. Low maintenance and
    well behaved, this beauty is a wonderful naturaliser that is perfect for adding a splash of long-lasting colour late in the season.

    ‘Honorine Jobert’ and ‘Splendens’

    If a shorter variety fits your garden scheme then try:

    Anemone ‘Prinz Heinrich’ is an excellent German variety bred by Wilhelm Pfitzer in 1902. Loved for its deep-pink, semi-double flowers and quilled petals.

    ‘Prinz Heinrich’, ‘Whirlwind’, ‘Cinderella’

    Fantasy Series Anemones including ‘Cinderella’, ‘Pocahontas’ and the unusual ruby flowered ‘Red Riding Hood’ are all short growing varieties ideal for easy care, later season colour.

    Anemone Pretty Lady Series ‘Maria’, ‘Emily’, ‘Diana’, ‘Susan’ and ‘Juliana’ are compact modern hybrids perfect for adding late summer interest where space is more limited.

    ‘Red Riding Hood’, Pretty Lady Series ‘Emily’ and ‘Diana’.

  • Comeback Grasses

    Providing movement and silhouette, ornamental grasses come into their own at this time of year. Their autumnal colours match anything else that the garden can grow for colour and drama. Used well, they can lift a border into designer league and are a magnificent addition to any garden.

    Top choices for autumn interest include:

    Tall growing:

    Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’
    A statuesque grass producing attractive purple-flushed flower plumes in late summer.

    Stipa gigantea
    Commonly known as Elephant Grass. Makes a stunning focal point.

    Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’
    Fantastic for late season colour and texture in beds and borders.

    Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’

    Medium growing:

    Anemanthele lessoniana
    Possibly the number one grass for garden designers thinking of autumnal interest. Turns from green through fiery coppers as the year progresses.

    Stipa tenuissima
    This Pony Tail grass is a wonderfully tactile addition to autumn tubs and borders.

    Carex buchananii
    Unusual evergreen grass that is an easy to grow, mid-height planting solution.

    Anemanthele lessoniana

    Low growing:

    Carex ‘Evergold’
    The gleaming evergreen variegated foliage of the ‘Evergold’ is attractive year-round.

    Uncinia ‘Everflame’
    The flaming reds and browns of this beautiful evergreen evoke the feel of autumn.

    Festuca ‘Intense Blue’
    The steely blue foliage makes this an excellent front of the border choice.

    Festuca ‘Intense Blue’

    Autumn is not the time of year to be thinking about dividing grasses, best to wait until the soil is warm and they’re growing. Grasses and their fallen stems also provide excellent cover for hedgehogs and other small mammals to hibernate in, so leave them well alone and enjoy their gentle fading as the year draws to a close.

  • Welcome to Hairy Hounds – NEW Dog Grooming Service

    Hairy Hounds is owned and managed by Francine Bennett.  They have just moved their successful small business from the Sevenoaks Veterinary Practice to their very own bespoke grooming room inside Coolings (next to Waggles Pet Emporium).

    Fran has over 10 years’ experience in professional dog grooming and understand that your dog is more than just your pet.  They can be the very best and most loyal of friends so when it comes to treating them, you want the job to be done by dedicated professionals in a friendly, welcoming and safe environment.

    Hairy Hounds recognise that the customers’ needs are of the utmost importance and are deeply committed to meeting those needs.  Our dogs are important to us all and Laura and Fran strive to ensure their visit is as relaxing and as positive as possible.

    When you enter the grooming salon, Fran will chat through your dog’s history and likes/dislikes and discuss the grooming procedures you would like to be carried out on your dog.  It is extremely important to Fran that your dog is groomed in a way you would like it.  Your dog will never be left alone and is with someone at all times with plenty of treats to hand.  Hairy Hounds can make your pet feel as special as they make you feel.

    Hairy Hounds now has an ever increasing client base and are welcoming new clients to their salon every week.

    Hairy Hounds operate on an appointment basis only.

    Contact Hairy Hounds now to book you next grooming session or if you need further information about the salon, or just want to chat about your dog’s first grooming session please contact Hairy Hounds to make an appointment on 07717 317181.

    hairy-hounds.uk

    Welcome to Coolings!

  • Our New Summer Menu is Here!

    We work with the seasons here at Coolings and the same for our team in Arthurs. With summer just a few weeks away, our new menu already gives you a taste of it with fresh, colourful and light dishes.

    Following your wonderful feedback on our winter menu, our Head Chef Thomas Williams, has been working hard to evolve our much-loved dishes to ensure we deliver the flavours of summer with equal success.

    Our summer menu includes as much homegrown produce as possible from our onsite market garden, and we source from carefully selected local suppliers wherever possible.

    As always, a big emphasis has been placed on the ingredients that can be easily grown at home too and that can be used to recreate our dishes. We want to use our menu at Arthurs to demonstrate to customers how to achieve the best out of such produce.

    Coolings director Ian and Arthurs head chef Tom taking the first crop of little gem lettuce from the on site vegetable garden

    The new menu will still contain the Arthurs classics such as the; Home Cured Ham Egg & Chips’ as well as new additions, like our mouthwatering ‘Pancetta Mac ‘N’ Cheese’ which we hope will become a firm favourite.

    We have added a number of lighter seasonal dishes and a more diverse range of vegan and vegetarian options to ensure our menu has something for everyone. Our salad recipes showcase great quality produce, taking our customers on a journey from plot to plate through delicious composite salads that deliver enticing flavour combinations.

    “Our new Summer Salad of Strawberry, Rocket, Balsamic, Melon and Mozzarella is a must try. I know it sounds like it wouldn’t work, but I promise it tastes amazing!” Dan Penfold, Arthurs General Manager.

    Click here for a sneaky peak at the NEW Arthur Summer Menu!