: Spring Bulbs

A dedication to those whose flowers didn't open.

Danielle Cowell, 4 Ebrill 2011

The cold weather this year resulted in a few schools not getting any flowers.

I'd like to make a special dedication to the schools whose flowers didn't open. This is always very disappointing. Despite their flowers not opening each of these schools still worked hard sending in their records. I am very proud of all the schools that carry on despite their disappointment - it shows what excellent scientist they are! Each school will receive a certificate and some seedlings. Many, many thanks Professor Plant. 

Below you will find many of the questions and comments that have come in over the past few weeks.

Ysgol Clocaenog: Yn anffodus dydy ein bylbiau ddim wedi tyfu. Rydym wedi edrych yn y potiau ac mae'r bylbiau wedi pydru. Ond mae'r bylbiau oedd dros ben a blannwyd yn yr ardd wedi tyfu. Mae pawb yn drist iawn iawn!! Rydym ni yn meddwl eu bod wedi rhewi yn y tywydd oer. Oes ysgolion eraill wedi cael yr un broblem a ni? Ans: Roeddwrn i yn teimlo yn drist iawn yn darllen y neges yma. Gobeithio bod y plant yn teimlo yn well nawr. Fel i chi yn gallu gweld wnaeth hyn digwydd y rhai ysgolion erail hefyd. Diolch am eich gwaith galed. Athro'r Ardd.

Ysgol Nant Y Coed asks: My daffodil has got a lovely flower but it's really short. I wonder why? Ans: Sometimes some bulbs are very small which makes smaller flowers or sometimes you just get a short flower in the same way that some people are short and some people are tall. It sounds very cute!

Murch Junior School reported: "6 flowers from one bulb!". Ans: This is amazing not heard of this many before.

Ysgol Deganwy reported: "Only 2 of our crocuses flowered this year and none of our daffodils. Maybe the hard winter killed them off. Ans: Yes this winter has been very hard for our flowers and this has unfortunately meant that some schools didn't get any daffodils this year. I'm really sorry to hear this it must be very disappointing. 

Ysgol Nant Y Coed:  My leaves grew to 42cm but there's no sign of a flower. Ans: This happened with one of my flowers too, it can be very disappointing. It may flower next year. Take a look at the bulb if it's very large try to divide it before you re-plant it.

Ysgol Rhys Pritchard: The bulbs rotted. We dug them up to look at them. Ans: I'm really sorry to hear this. So disappointing :-( It was probably due to the frost or perhaps they got to damp. Obviously you will all still get your certificates as you have done everything that you could to look after your bulbs. Thanks for letting me know.

St. Mary's Catholic Primary School: We only had the one flower that opened. Ans: Really sorry to hear this, again you must be very disappointed. Obviously you will all still get your certificates as you have done everything that you could to look after your bulbs. Thanks for letting me know.

Milford Haven Junior School: We've had a fantastic week of sunshine. Really, really warm in the quadrangle where the plants are. HUGE problems with our internet, so sorry that these records are late. Ans: Sorry to hear about your problems with the internet but glad to hear about the sunshine!

Tynewydd Primary School: Unfortunately the same situation that arose last year has happened again this year, none of the bulbs have grown over the last few months, even though some bulbs showed some shoots coming through during January there appears to be no growth again and there are not even any shoots visible this week. We will continue to collect the weather records and monitor any growth within the bulbs. Some of the pupils are disappointed with the project as they have said how they have still seen daffodils growing strongly within the school grounds, however this has provided useful discussion points once again. Ans: This extremely unlucky! I chatted to the teacher on e-mail and the school has done everything correctly. This winter and last winter were very cold and this has killed off the bulbs in the pots. It may be worth planting the pots in the ground next year so they are kept a little warmer.

Eyton Primary School: None of the crocus came up this year. Ans: Sorry to hear this Eyton :-(

And the winner is...

Danielle Cowell, 1 Ebrill 2011

Congratulations to Saint Roberts Roman Catholic Primary School, winners of the Spring Bulbs for Schools competition 2011.

They will be awarded a day trip to St Fagans: National History Museum for a fun-packed day of nature activities on the 25th of May.

Standards were very high this year and I was overwhelmed by the number of schools sending in records, so I would also like to congratulate the following schools.

Runner's up: These schools came very close to winning. Each will be sent a special prize with their certificates by the 3rd of May 2011.

  • Morfa Rhianedd
  • Ysgol Bro Ciwmeirch
  • Ysgol Clocaenog

Highly commended: These schools demonstrated excellent record keeping. All to be sent certificates and prizes by the 3rd of May 2011.

  • Murch Junior School
  • Ysgol Nant Y Coed
  • Ysgol Deganwy 
  • Ysgol Pencae
  • Ysgol Y Ffridd
  • Lansdowne Primary School
  • St. Mary's Catholic Primary School
  • Ysgol Gynradd Glantwymyn
  • Ysgol Penycae (Ystradgynlais)
  • Ysgol Rhys Pritchard
  • Eyton Primary School
  • Ysgol Bodfari
  • Ysgol Cynfran
  • Cwm Glas Primary
  • Milford Haven Junior school
  • Oakfield Primary school
  • Tynewydd Primary School
  • St Joseph's Primary School
  • St. Joseph's R C Primary (Penarth)
  • Windsor Clive Primary
  • Ysgol Porth Y Felin
  • Glyncollen Primary School (2nd)
  • Coleg Powys

Special recognition: Is awarded to these schools. They will each receive Super Scientist Certificates together with a few seedlings by the 3rd of May 2011.

  • Maesycwmmer Primary School
  • Bishop Childs CIW Primary School
  • Coleg Meirion Dwyfor
  • Laugharne VCP School
  • Glyn Hafod Junior School
  • Howell's School Llandaff
  • Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn
  • Pembroke Dock Community school
  • Ysgol Gynradd Brynconin
  • Ysgol Brynffordd

Not too late! If your school isn't listed here and you have some records to send in then please do so. You will receive recognition for your work.

Many thanks.

Professor Plant

Un wythnos arol...

Danielle Cowell, 25 Mawrth 2011

Dim ond un wythnos sydd ar ôl bellach i ysgolion anfon eu data tywydd atom ni. Mae llawer wedi gwneud yn barod ac maen nhw ar eu ffordd i gael tystysgrifau gwyddonwyr gwych.

Hyd yn hyn yr wythnos hon, rydw i wedi derbyn 305 o gofnodion! Bydd yr ysgolion sydd wedi cadw cofnod orau yn cael y cyfle i ennill taith weithgareddau natur. Byddwn yn dewis ac yn cyhoeddi’r enillydd ddydd Iau nesaf!

Erbyn hyn hefyd mae adroddiadau o flodau wedi’n cyrraedd o bob cwr o Gymru. Dwi mor falch bod cymaint o flodau wedi goroesi’r gaeaf caled. Fe gollodd rhai ysgolion eu cennin Pedr i’r rhew – dyna biti mawr – ond bydd tystysgrif ar eu cyfer nhw hefyd am fod yn wyddonwyr mor dda.

Bwlb dirgel eleni yw’r tiwlip. Dwi’n hoffi’r blodyn yma am ei fod mor lliwgar.

Ar ddydd Sadwrn 2 Ebrill, byddwn ni’n cynnal diwrnod o weithgareddau natur yn Sain Ffagan. Cliciwch ar y ddolen i weld ffilmiau byr am ystlumod ac anifeiliaid arbennig eraill sy’n byw yn Sain Ffagan.

 

 

Croeso i'r Cennin Pedr

Danielle Cowell, 14 Mawrth 2011

Hwre! Mae’r Cennin Pedr wedi cyrraedd! Adroddiadau o Ysgol Y Ffridd, Ysgol Nant Y Coed ac Ysgol Cynfran. Mae fy mylbiau i hefyd wedi agor ac maen nhw mor brydferth ag erioed.

Edrychwch ar y siartiau a’r mapiau

Dwi wedi tynnu rhai lluniau. Anfonwch eich lluniau a cofiwch gymryd rhan yn y gystadleuaeth tynnu llun blodau. Os yw hi’n heulog am hanner awr, beth am fynd i dynnu lluniau’r blodau yn yr ardd?

Darllenwch sylwadau o’r ysgolion isod.

Diolch yn fawr

Athro’r Ardd

Mae'r crocysau wedi cyrraedd!

Danielle Cowell, 3 Mawrth 2011

Bron fel hud a lledrith mae crocysau wedi blodeuo hyd a lled Cymru!

Agorodd llawer ohonyn nhw yn ystod gwyliau’r hanner tymor, felly fe ddylen ni dderbyn llawer mwy o gofnodion gan ysgolion gan fod y disgyblion yn ôl yn yr ysgol nawr.

Yn anarferol eleni, rydyn ni wedi derbyn cofnodion o grocws yn agor yn y canolbarth cyn cofnodion o’r gorllewin. Dyma newyddion da i Ysgol Glantwymyn sydd fel arfer yn gorfod aros hiraf am eu blodau.

Darllenwch fy llythyr i weld sut i ennill trip ac i ennill eich tystysgrifau gwyddonwyr gwych.

Does dim cofnodion o gennin Pedr wedi fy nghyrraedd i eto, ond dwi’n si?r y clywn ni am adroddiadau cyn hir.

Mae fy nghennin Pedr i wedi dechrau troi eu pennau sy’n arwydd eu bod yn paratoi i flodeuo. Mae’r coed yn fy ngardd wedi dechrau blodeuo ac mae’r dail yn dechrau tyfu – cyn bo hir bydd fy ngardd i’n llawn lliw. Dwi methu aros! Mae llawer o arwyddion bod y gwanwyn wedi cyrraedd Sain Ffagan hefyd.

Cofiwch ddweud wrtha i sut mae’ch blodau chi?

Athro’r Ardd