![]() ![]() A show pot with no rim (left on the above pictures), traditional pot with a small rim (centre) and a 'fluted' auricula pot (right). Here’s the final result, before and after painting, with the six shelves awaiting the addition of plants. Auricula Pots In days gone by, Auriculas used to be exchanged for a weeks wages and they remain very popular plants. Having some black wood stain left over from the alpine planter I used this to give the whole thing a unifying finish that would tie it into the courtyard. Quality Horticultural Images and Plant and Garden Photos Picture Library with over 2 Million Images Quality Horticultural Images and Plant. ![]() Having measured up and done a rough design, I bought a few planks of pressure-treated gravel boards from a local timber merchant and set to work measuring out the spacing of the ‘shelves’ that would sit on the angled frame, cutting the notches in this to receive the shelves and screwing them home. What is an Auricula Theatre An Auricula theatre is the traditional way of displaying these lovely antique flowers, instantly adding to their romantic atmosphere. ![]() Having reorganised our sheds and so no longer in need of a rack for our bikes, it seemed a good opportunity to recycle something with local historical links. The old Bike Rack before it’s makeover It is a relic of the local School at Cawston and must be a good 50- 60 years old. Designed to hold nine 9-12cm diameter pots, they can also be used for violas and other small alpine plants, or vases of individual blooms as shown here. Here’s what the bicycle rack looked like before I got to work on it. Having recently completed an Alpine planter for the Courtyard here at the Old School Garden (which is now looking splendid- I’ll put some pictures in my next ‘Dear Walter’ letter), I thought this would add another interesting feature. Auricula Theatre at an RHS show To avoid losing the interesting foliage effects (or ‘bloom’) on some varieties of Auricula, its advisable for the plants to have some overhead protection from the rain. Calke Abbey has the only original auricula theatre in England. As tastes changed they fell out of fashion and houses removed the theatres. In large country houses, it was the fad in the 18th century to have auricula theatres to display these flowers at their best. Here’s an example of an Auricula Theatre recently shown at an RHS show. Auricula Theatre illustration by John Farleigh. Auriculas and Pelargoniums are some of the plants often used. These are traditionally structures where small specimen plants are put on display- usually in old terracotta pots. These items are made to order so may take up to three weeks to arrive.You may recall I mentioned trying to convert an old wooden bicycle rack into a plant theatre. Auricula Theatre janethaigh Flora Exhibition catalogue cover Holburne Museum. They can be purchased as singles or on an offer price gardeners’ gift pack for 15. These pots were salvaged from a derelict market garden in the grounds of an Elizabethan nursery and are estimated to be around 100 yrs old. Hand thrown, these pots are brimming with character. Please note because of their rustic nature, each set of shelves will be slightly different, and the wood may mark or warp slightly as it weathers. These pots are perfect for starting your own Auricula theatre. The shelves will be delivered fully constructed with fittings designed to be fixed to a masonry wall. The colour finishes are water and UV-resistant, preservative-free and manufactured on a base of natural, sustainable raw materials. Although the alpine auriculas are generally robust enough to grow in borders, Luci and Gillian believe both show and alpine auricula types are best grown in individual pots, and perhaps displayed in a traditional Auricula Theatre, where the vast array of different flowers in wonderful colours can be fully appreciated. The theatres are hand made and finished, and robustly constructed to withstand the elements. Left untreated, it will weather to an elegant silvery grey over time. Strong and durable, cedar is an ideal wood for outdoor use, containing high levels of natural protective oils and resins that make it resistant to decay. The cedar wood we use is sustainably sourced from managed estates in the West Country. The theatres are available in natural cedar or finished in a semi-opaque eco wood finish in Chalk, Charcoal or Sage. Designed to hold nine or twelve 9-12cm diameter pots, they can also be used for violas and other small alpine plants, or indoor plants such as cacti. Based on the design of an old-fashioned auricula theatre, the shelves have a slatted back to show off the plants and the terracotta pots traditionally used for auriculas. Handmade in Dorset, these vintage-look plant shelves are crafted from durable cedar wood which will last many years outside. ![]()
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