Latest news with #RoyalGardens
Muscat Daily
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Muscat Daily
Oman showcases equestrian heritage at Royal Windsor Show
Windsor, UK – Oman is participating in the Royal Windsor Horse Show 2025 being held at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom ending on Sunday. The Royal Cavalry of Oman began its participation in the event on Friday with a presentation titled 'The Sultanate of Oman – Jewel of Arabia' highlighting the country's rich heritage and tourism potential. The performance included traditional horse sports, with male and female riders demonstrating equestrian skills, and Ardha (traditional horse-riding), accompanied by the Royal Cavalry band playing Omani and Arab compositions. The show also features competitions in show jumping, endurance and equestrian discipline, as well as chariot driving and small horse shows. Col Toby Brown, Chairman of the show, noted the strong ties between Oman and the UK, saying, 'The relationship between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom is very important, and we are very fortunate to have enjoyed good relations with Oman for many centuries.' Hilal bin Mohammed al Waili, Head of Horse and Camel Affairs, Farms and Royal Gardens at Royal Court Affairs, said Oman's participation in the show highlights its cultural and heritage, contributing to greater global awareness of the sultanate's equestrian traditions. Dr Sarhan bin Salem al Zaidi, Director General of Royal Cavalry, emphasised the fact that Royal Cavalry's performances at this year's show showcased the skill and deep bond between Omani riders and their horses while captivating the audience.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Ex-royal gardener reveals what you should NEVER do to your lawn to keep grass green & healthy
A FORMER royal gardener has revealed one thing you should never do to your lawn if you want to keep grass green and healthy. With temperatures set to climb again this weekend, after a chilly bank holiday, many of us are likely making plans to spend time relaxing in the garden. 2 2 However, after a long winter of neglect, our lawns may be in need of a bit of TLC. You may be tempted to get your mower out and cut your grass in it during the heat, however, former royal gardener Jack Stooks who worked in the royal gardens of the Highgrove Estate for more than 20 years, revealed that this is a mistake. "When it gets too hot, what you definitely don't want to do is keep mowing the grass and keeping it as short as possible", he told Big Fat Links. "You want to forgo cutting for a week or two so that the grass keeps growing by itself, rather than depleting it. "Wait until you have some moisture back in the soil." Ivana Agustina, Head of Project Management at ShrubHub seconded this tip, stating: "You're slicing into already-dry blades under a blazing sun. 'That kind of trauma leaves your grass vulnerable to pests, yellowing, and fungal infections.' Jack added that it is also not a good idea to do any planting in hot weather. "You don't want to put too much stress on the plants by moving them or planting anything if you can help it. "People will be planting bedding plants and potted plants for the summer, but they will constantly need attention and watering morning and night. "So, if you're planting anything right now, it's only bedding plants, and they will need a lot of water. "I would suggest not putting them in the borders yet but putting them in pots and checking them morning and night." Jack previously revealed that a great tip for banishing slugs from your garden is using brassica leaves, which can be found on vegetables such as Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and more. The expert explained that you should place these leaves down in the corners of your vegetable patches with something sturdy on top to keep in place. He said to check these 'every day' and you are likely to find up to 'five or six' slugs, before either 'hand picking off' slugs, or 'feeding to birds'. Jack added: 'Put the brassica leaf onto the ground and put a rock on top of it to keep it in place. 'In the morning, go out early, pick up the brassica leaf and you'll find about five or six slugs on each. 'You can either hand pick them off, or people tend to go and feed them to the birds, but that isn't such a good idea because they can scuttle off into the garden. 'I think the best way is to put them into a beer trap, that way they can drink the beer and enjoy their last few minutes…'
Times of Oman
07-05-2025
- Science
- Times of Oman
Royal Gardens and Farms successfully achieve early production of Al Khunaizi dates
Muscat: The Royal Gardens and Farms of the Royal Court Affairs have successfully conducted an experiment to advance the production of Al Khunaizi date variety for the 2025 season. This achievement follows multiple trials and monitoring over consecutive seasons using natural methods without chemical intervention, after observing early pollination in certain palm varieties due to inherent genetic traits. The experiment began by pollinating Al Khunaizi palms in the Wilayat of A'Seeb, selecting the optimal pollination timing and the most suitable pollen type to ensure quality results. The clusters were carefully monitored and maintained, ensuring continuous fruit development, full growth, and the appearance of ripening indicators—culminating in the formation of Tabasheer (early-stage dates) by early April, approximately 3 to 4 months ahead of the usual harvest period. These efforts resulted in a successful harvest, with multi-season monitoring confirming the feasibility of consistently obtaining early dates without any negative impact on the palm's seasonal productivity. The experiment aimed to transform Al Khunaizi variety from a mid-season to a premium early-season crop, producing exceptionally early Tabasheer—the first of its kind in Oman and the Gulf region. This enhances future economic viability by marketing a premium variety at an ideal time while ensuring 100% natural Tabasheer at all ripening stages. Eng. Madlen Said Al Mahrouqi, Director of A'Seeb Gardens Services Department, stated: 'This experiment was based on prior knowledge of the genetic characteristics of certain palm varieties, which demonstrated a unique ability to produce pollen twice a year, suggesting possible genetic or environmental factors stimulating this phenomenon." She added that the best pollination timing was selected to ensure the experiment's success, along with high-quality pollen to boost production yields with premium-grade fruit.
