June 2017 NEWSLETTER

 It’s been a very busy month.  I’ve been on many day trips plus a 4 day break in the Cotswolds! 

RHS Chatsworth Show

I visited the first ever show at Chatsworth.  It was indeed set in the beautiful Chatsworth grounds and was privileged to have the wonderful countryside as a backdrop. Unfortunately the weather that week was horrendous and I have to say that I was lucky to have gone on Saturday when the weather was fairly kind to us.  Despite the fact it was very muddy under foot, there were some inspirational show gardens and some wonderful indoor displays. The queuing experienced earlier on in the week had improved by Saturday.  Would I go again? Probably not.  It was expensive for a show that wasn’t particularly different from any other. However, stalls were housed in little chalet huts which was quite quaint and an unusual floral display arranged across the bridge, which I did not see as the queues were too long.  I sat in a very informative talk delivered by Martin Fish, who I find very easy to listen too; quite humorous and then later in the day I sat in on a floristry demonstration.  The demonstrator was very entertaining and produced some amazing and breathtaking floral creations.  

Gardeners’ World LIVE

Yet again, I visited this show. A present from Bob to me and my mum. Nothing changes there much, but we both always find some new gadget or interesting talk to listen to and we always have to visit the Fuchsia stands.  It was great to see that both C S Lockyer and Roualeyn Fuchsias both received GOLD awards this year. 

Half way through the morning, we were both in need of a drink and a sit down and found our way to the vintage Tearoom. Very quirky, but quite effective as Gardeners’ World were celebrating their 50^th Anniversary.  Anyway, we were lucky to find a seat and were soon joined by another couple. We began chatting and the gentleman asked whether we’d visited Chatsworth Show. They had as it was local to them and they visited quite often. We found out they lived in Sandiacre and we lived next door in Stapleford!  Not only that, when we said we went on a coach trip with the Derby Fuchsia Show, they assumed we’d gone on a Skills Coach.  I replied no we use Skills when we go on trips organized by the Long Eaton & District Horticultural Society.  At this point, he smiled and said ‘Lyndon Clements’. Yes, they too were members of the society! What a coincidence! We travelled all the way to Birmingham to sit chatting with a couple so close to home! 

Again we enjoyed a number of talks, especially one held at the Gardeners’ World LIVE Theatre, which was sponsored by Wyevale Garden Centre about Companion planting and good planting combinations. 

However, on a more serious note, all bags were searched for the first time and sniffer dogs were out in force.  It is a shame that this was a necessity, but it was better to be safe than sorry! 

Trip to the Cotswolds

My mum and I chose a very good week for our 4 day break.  We stayed in a lovely hotel just outside Tetbury, very close to Westonbirt. Apart from the normal visits to Broadway; Bourton on the Water, and Moreton in Marsh, we visited Malmesbury which included a visit to Abbey Gardens and of course, we had to visit Westonbirt Arboretum as it was only next door.  Luckily, we were able to hire the last mobility scooter, so that my mum could really appreciate all the magnificent trees. (Scooter hire was free, by the way!)  Mum was given a quick lesson on how to use the scooter, use of gears, reversing, stopping etc.  It wasn’t long before she got the hang of it and was turning the knob so she was zooming ahead quite happily. Eventually I’d catch her up and her comment would be either: ‘Can’t you keep up, dear?’ or ‘Am I going too fast for you?’  Grrrr…. 

Honestly, we were so lucky to have got the scooter as the Arboretum was wonderful, some lovely trees, so tranquil and the trees were so majestic in the right settings.  A majority of the trees were clearly labelled as well. 

On the way home, we stopped and visited Mill Dene Garden, which was just on from Moreton in Marsh and then we visited Hidcote Manor Gardens and saw their Fuchsia Garden, which appeared to be fairly newly planted. 

Trip to Woburn Abbey Gardens & Show

Mum and I had a wonderful day at Woburn last Saturday with the Long Eaton & District Horticultural society.  We left West Park, Long Eaton promptly at 8.30a.m and made our way down to Woburn.  A representative was there to meet and greet us and told us the procedure and the various events we would encounter during our visit.  Firstly, we went round the many stalls and found the prices to be very reasonable compared to the other shows we had visited so far this year.  It’s a shame neither of us have any more room in the garden!  However, mum did succumb to buying a clematis, only £1.50 – the bargain of the day!  I fell in love with a very scented sage (Silver Sage) which I will pot up in a planter.  We visited the Gift Hall and Food Hall before settling down for some lunch.  The setting was beautiful and we listened to the Bedford Town Band which played all our favourite golden oldies. 

Cossall Open Gardens

Thankfully the weather didn’t let us down, remaining dry, even though not as hot as last year.  We had more interest from the public this year, as we were selling plants which lured them in.  There was a fair amount of interest in our Annual show, and we managed to sell some plants too. Unfortunately, where we were located, in someone’s drive, the wind got up in the afternoon and it turned very cold, yet if we moved onto the pavement it was warm – very weird! 

Autokarna

Unbelievably, the weather was also fine, apart from the wind which kept knocking the plants over.  Again we did fairly well, although I didn’t think there were as many people there as previous years. 

We have held all our Plant events (except our Annual show) and would like to thank everyone who donated plants and who helped or offered help at the various events.  Your support is very much appreciated. 

There has been so much to do, reviving my plants after all this hot weather and potting on my cuttings and continuing to put out my plants around the gardens (those in pots).  It’s been several years since I’ve had the time to actually display my fuchsias as I’d like, so I have enjoyed having the opportunity to do this. 

I am now regularly feeding my fuchsias.  I have lost a few, due to neglect really. The wind, which to me has been a real hindrance for the past 2 or 3 years, has once again done its damage!  I took off my polythene covers, in readiness for summer and for the fact that I was going away and felt the plants stood a better chance of survival with the covers off and then the wind comes, dries them out and sweeps them off the shelving, breaking branches. Once the wind had died down, I picked up the pieces (in this case the fuchsias) but silly me I missed a couple and have lost them as they have both shriveled up and died!  The heat has also done some damage, I fear that some of my 3 ½ “pots may have perished as the roots have become too hot! 

Never mind, I keep persevering.  I still continue to water and turn my plants and will also be pinching out and shaping over the next couple of weeks.  I will be studying the schedule again to make sure that I know which classes I will be entering (well, hopefully!) 

Wildlife/Pondlife

I have finally managed to spend time working on my pond.  I dismantled the waterfall, to find the pipe split and needed mending. This is now repaired resulting in a pond that is no longer losing water.  Fish are hungry and the waterlillies have flowered.  I am seeing several dragonflies/damselflies and have spotted a few starlings on the bird feeders.  The sparrows have been hopping into the mini greenhouses drinking the water from the drip trays. 

Colin Nicklin delivered a very interesting talk last month on hanging baskets.  He demonstrated how he made up his baskets.  He puts approximately 40 plants into his baskets, using a variety of trailing plants which he grows from seeds or cuttings – absolutely amazing!              

WANTED - RAFFLE PRIZES

Remember – the Society welcomes any donations that could be considered for the monthly meeting raffle.

WANTED – TOMBOLA PRIZES

Again, we ask for any donations which will be suitable for our tombola which we hold at the Annual Show.

WANTED - PLANTS

Not only do we welcome any plant donations to sell at our plant sales, but also would like donations to sell on our Plant sale at our Annual show in August.

WANTED – CAKES AND PASTRIES

Also, to all those cooks amongst us – please bring any homemade goodies with you on the day.

REMINDER – TROPHIES!

Can everyone bring their trophies to next month’s meeting (July) please in readiness for the show.

PROMOTE! PROMOTE! PROMOTE!

Let’s make sure we reach every corner of the county this year! Word of mouth goes a long way, so tell all your friends and family about our show. If you know of an ideal spot for a poster, go to Keith – make sure there’s one there! Flyers, if you belong to another club, is it possible you can advertise our show at one of their meetings, by putting flyers on the seats or by posting one up on a notice board? At a local Post Office? Or Newsagent or Supermarket?  Posters should also be available at this month’s meeting – see Keith.

HELPERS

If I haven’t managed to speak to you about support over the Show weekend, please, please, come to me at the meeting.  The show can’t function without your help. 

Many Thanks.