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                                             NOTTINGHAM AND NOTTS

FUCHSIA SOCIETY 

JANUARY 2018 NEWSLETTER  

What is happening in the Garden Centre: 

Having visited various Garden Centres over the past few weeks, I’d like to say that Christmas is finally over, however, I visited Brookfields last week and they still had Christmas decorations for sale!  I can’t wait until a Garden Centre resembles a Garden Centre again! 

If you looked hard enough, you could find onion sets and seed potatoes and bulbs but the perennial plants looked very sorry for themselves. 

What is happening in the Garden: 

  • Fruit & Vegetables

My plans for 2018 include removing my Yucca and transforming that area into a small vegetable plot.  However, it will be a big job, one that I’m not looking forward to!  I also need to go through my seeds and decide which ones to I plan to grow this year, mainly in pots.  Can’t wait for Spring! 

  • Perennials/Garden Shrubs etc

Before Christmas, I managed to rid my arch of the ivy which had well and truly taken over.  With Bob’s help, I succeeded.  I have just the thick stumps to dig up – so really still a lot to do!

I need to be pruning back my Buddleias soon and generally give the garden a real good tidy in readiness for the new growth which will soon be showing through, i.e, snowdrops and daffodils.  I will then be mulching. 

  • Fuchsia Growing
  • I have checked on my fuchsias and given them a small amount of tepid water, where needed.  I have a number of mini greenhouses dotted around the garden – 3 at the front; 5 on the patio at the back and a further 4 at the bottom of the garden and not forgetting 4 by the side of the house.  Having them in different locations means that some need more water than others. However, I was pleased to see some shooting already.  Unfortunately, the strong winds we experienced recently, caused me some concern as it managed to blow several of my greenhouses over. Not happy! I managed to resurrect them and did my best to replace the fuchsias, some had come completely out of their pots and a lot have lost their labels, which is very frustrating.  It was at this point, that I have decided that perhaps I need something more sturdy. 

          Wildlife/Pondlife

As a lover of wildlife, it is important that the garden is as wildlife friendly as possible.  When I look to buy plants, I consider whether they are bee-friendly.  Food is always available on the birdfeeders for the birds (and squirrels!).  The pond at the bottom of the garden is essential for encouraging wildlife into the garden.  I can assure you that I have a little bit of wilderness somewhere in the garden to attract wildlife as well! 

Thanks to our efforts, we have already seen sparrows, blue tits; great tits; long-tailed tits; robins and wrens. This year I was really excited to spot 6 redwings on the tree at the bottom of our garden, pecking away at the berries. I bet they are nowhere to be seen when it comes to the annual RSPB Garden Birdwatch which is taking place at the end of the month.  If you have an hour to spare, why not take part. Count as many species of birds you see in your garden at any one time and register your findings online. 

https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/           

***Next Month – 3 Corners AND Mini Stewards Course *** 

We are endeavouring to put on a similar event to last year and reaching out for any volunteers who would be willing to talk for approximately 15 mins (3 times) on their favourite subject.  

However, we are planning to do something slightly different this year.  Geoff Smith has offered to do a talk on Stewarding. Geoff will need more than 15 mins to cover the main aspects of stewarding.  Therefore, the committee are considering having 3 corners PLUS Geoff speaking on Stewarding for 1 hour. Those who are interested in knowing more about stewarding will remain in Geoff’s group while everyone else will participate in the 3 corners.  Speakers will speak for 20 mins and everyone will rotate round and have the opportunity to listen to 3 different talks 

**Anyone interested in delivering a talk to members next month, please let Colin or Jayne know ASAP.  Many thanks.

** Anyone interested in attending Geoff’s talk – please let Jayne know. 

AND Buffet

Also, we plan to hold a buffet similar to that at our AGM. Contributions to the buffet would be greatly appreciated and a list will be circulated so that we can ensure that there will be variety on the buffet table. Many thanks. 

BFS STEWARD COURSE – SUNDAY 22 APRIL 2018

The above one day course has been arranged and will be held at Coronation Hall, Toton.  Anyone interested in attending the course, please let Jayne know.  After the course, you will be able to Steward at any local fuchsia society as well as the BFS National shows.  It is also a very good way of finding out more about showing – hints and tips, etc. 

BFS 2018 AGM and 80th Anniversary Celebrations to be held on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th March 2018 at the Chateau Impney Hotel, Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, WR9 OBN. 

The Fuchsia Friends Fuchsia Society will be hosting the event.  The beautiful French styled chateau, the only one in the UK, is set in 108 acres of wonderful rolling parkland in delightful Worcestershire.  An action-packed agenda has been put together, including a talk by Mario de Cooker, a well known Dutch hybridiser. 

If you are interested in attending over both days, more information is available in the BFS Autumn Bulletin 2017. 

If anyone is interested in perhaps just attending one day, please can you let Jayne know ASAP. Depending on numbers, we were considering travelling down in cars. 

FREE CUTTINGS 2018 

Just a quick reminder that your FREE CUTTINGS will be available at next month’s monthly meeting (February). 

RENEWALS 2018 

Anyone, still to renew their membership, please do so before end of January, to be included in the Free Cuttings distribution.  See Derek. 

BFS ROADSHOW 2018 

Our society has been approached by the BFS to consider hosting a BFS Roadshow this year.  All talks/speakers will be organised by the BFS.  Our responsibilities will be to book the Hall, man the entrance table and provide Refreshments.  Most of all, it will be a great opportunity for members to attend the Roadshow, learn more about our favourite flower, with it being held on our doorsteps. Provisional dates could be end of September/beginning of October.  Watch this space! Of course, I’ll be asking for helpers......    

PLANT SALES VENUES 2018 

Coffee Morning at Wollaton Park Community Centre – The Community Centre have proposed that the Coffee morning be held on a Saturday this year and will be inviting other groups to hold stalls (i.e. The Alpine Society).  The provisional date is 12th May 2018   

Cossall Open Gardens – to be confirmed 

Autokarna – date to be confirmed - this is our regular event which normally falls the first Sunday in June.

January is always a good time to start planning ahead, especially if you are considering showing. Some hints and tips to help you on your way: - 

  • Read the schedule (please note a new schedule for 2018 is due soon!!)

  • Decide which classes you’d like to enter - if you have never shown before, then I’d suggest    the Beginners classes and/or novices.

  • Speak to other members, all enthusiasts/exhibitors are happy to share their knowledge.

  • Purchase an up to date Judges & Exhibitors Handbook (see Derek) 

    More Hints and tips next month…. 

FUNDRAISING 

The easiest way for all internet users to help raise funds for our Society is simply by every time you search the Web you use easysearch. Easysearch combines results from Yahoo!, Windows MSN Live Search and Ask.com in one simple search, the address is http://nottsfuchsia.easysearch.org.uk  Please try it and encourage others too. Don’t forget if you make any purchases on the internet, to go through our webshop to make sure we receive commission from the retailers (currently over 2000 well known retailers), the address is http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/nottsfuchsia .   

 

 

 

27 Feb

Monthly Meeting: 3 Corners AND Mini Stewards Course led by Geoff Smith followed by Buffet – Start 7.30p.m

 

27 Mch

Monthly Meeting: Geoff Smith talking on Fuchsias

 

7 April

Long Eaton & District Horticultural Society SPRING Show - held at the United Reformed Church, Midland Street, Long Eaton.  10.00a.m to 4.00p.m.  ADMISSION FREE

 

24 Apr

Monthly Meeting: Sid Garcia talking on Fuchsia

 

22 May

Monthly Meeting: Dave Staines talking on Begonias

 

26 June

Monthly Meeting: Rod Young talking on Bonsai

 

 

 

Remember our next meeting

Will be

Tuesday 27th February 2018

MEMBERS – 3 CORNERS & Mini Stewards Course

& BUFFET

 

 

NEWSLETTER 

 

If anyone wants any item included in the Newsletter, please let me know, either at a meeting, or phone me on Tel: 0115 8758928, or email: jayne.daykin@ntlworld.com  I will gladly include any article or event in the Newsletter.  

Also, if anyone would rather I send them an electronic copy, please let me know. 

 

Remember: It is YOUR newsletter.

WANTED  

If anyone has been searching for a long lost fuchsia, then why not ask your friends at the society!  The Noticeboard will now be on show at our monthly meetings, and at the bottom of your newsletter, there is a form.  Complete and attach to the noticeboard. Simple!