Friday Forum Summer Show

 The numerous entries for our Summer Show brightened up the hall. Those gaining first place were awarded prizes. Judging was carried out by John Freer, who shared his knowledge about showing plants as well as giving us useful tips for future shows. Sandra judged the flower displays, Dorothy efficently completed the administration and Liz provided scones with strawberries. Our thanks go to all of them.

Here are photos of the entries and the winners of each category

 Class 1:  One stem Floribunda Rose

 1st prize - Eric

 Class 2:  One stem any other Rose

 1st prize - Brenda

 

1st prize for Class 4 one vase of Sweet Peas goes to Eric

 

 Class 5:  One vase cut flowers judged for frontal effect

Class 6:  One pot plant, flowering and 1st prize goes to Amanda

Class 7:  One pot plant non-flowering

1st prize - Norma

Class 8:  Exhibit of Fruit or Vegetable

1st prize - Dorothy

Class 9:  Posy for a bridesmaid.  1st prize - Amanda

Class 10:  A vase of flowers for pollinators

1st prize - Amanda

1st prize - Amanda

 

Congratulations to all, especially to Amanda for gaining first prize in four categories!

Display Table

Ann brought Fillependula ‘Red Umbrella’ which thrives in damp soil

Kate’s jug contains: Phlox ‘Franz Schubert’, Spiraea ‘Little Princess’, Dianthus carthusianorum, Astrantia maxima, Allium angulosum, Tradescantia, Persicaria ‘Pink Elephant’, Persicaria ‘Blackfield’, Betonica officinales ‘Hummels’ (was Stachys) and Rosa The Fairy

Next Meetings

18th July: Presentation - Peter Mathers. Diaries, Dahlias and Deadlines

1st August: Visit to Steven Medley’s garden in Mirfield. Further details tba.

Visit to Delph Cottage Garden

Friday Forum members Spent a very enjoyable afternoon at Delph Cottage in Methley where we were entertained by Colin, a master delphinium grower,  He chatted to us about his methods for producing the amazing show of delphiniums he grows in his back garden. Colin now has the national collection of delphiniums with over 100 different named cultivars. 

There can be no better way to spend a summer afternoon than in a gorgeous garden with lovely company and delicious tea and  homemade cakes baked by Colin's partner, Alison. 

"The smallest creatures often hold the key to the grandest mysteries of our ecosystems." - Rachel Carson

Bug Hotels

Members constructed bug hotels from wooden structures and tin cans using a variety of materials such as moss, straw, twigs and pine cones.

Some of the bug hotels were made by Chris VH

Katherine used this wooden utensil holder

The finished products

Suzanne's deluxe model

Bug hotels should preferably be placed out of the wind, away from the rain and have a waterproof roof.

These were no ordinary hotels, these were five star, luxury residencies for insects and bees.

Display Table

 Norma brought Erysimum with varieted leaves which were grown from cuttings of  Judith’s plant in sand, compost and rooting powder

Maggie brought a fragrant bouquet of Rosa “Pink Perpetué”, Rosa “Iceberg”, Clematis “Pangbourne Pink”, Rosa “blush Noissette” and Rosa Glauca

 Ann brought Crinodendron Hookerianum, Clematis Lampton Park, Rosa Penelope, Rosa Golden Showers, Salix babylonica crispa and a flower received in a gifted bouquet which was identified as Ornithogalum (Arabian Starflower, Star of Bethlehem, or Sun Star)

 Judith brought Prunella grandiflora

 Kate brought some stunning Hosta leaves: Abiqua Drinking Gourd, Empress Wu, Orange Marmalade, Snake Eyes, Paradise Island, Paul’s Glory, Blue Ivory, Blue Mouse Ears, Liberty and one which is thought to be June

Gardening Matters

Paxton show is on 21^st June  at the OPAL Centre, 55 Bedford Drive, Cookridge LS16 6DJ which also includes a craft category. Exhibitors should arrive 8.30 – 12.30.Any donations of cakes, money, plants to sell or help in the kitchen will be appreciated

Cookridge Show is on September 13^th

Addingham Open Gardens charity event returns on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd June 2025, entrance £6

Next Meetings:

Friday 20th June at 1.30pm.  Visit to Delph Cottage Garden, 51 Newmarket Lane, Methley LS26 9DN.

Friday 4^th July – Friday Forum Mini Show

Full details can be found on member's emails

The High Line of New York

 

Presentation: The High Line of New York by Dawn Johnson

Dawn, a garden designer and Chelsea Gold winner, took us down the High Line of New York in her talk entitled: A dream, an idea a public park. Starting with photos of the earlier constructed Promenade Plantée in Paris, we learnt how a foundation was set up to transform an abandoned area in New York which had previously housed a freight line into a public park. With water features, play areas, sculptures, art work and a variety of seating made from reclaimed and recycled material, this 3.5 mile stretch is open to the public. The area is planted up with 90,000 different plants and is looked after by gardeners and volunteers. This was no mean feat considering the shallow depth of the soil in which trees, shrubs and flowers had to be planted. Dawn gave us a fascinating insight into how it was all achieved.

Display Table

 

Kate brought Iris, Azalea ‘Rosa’, Persicaria bistorta superba, Silene fimbriata, Geranium, Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley) ‘Hardwick Hall’

Liz brought Dodecatheon ‘Red Light’, a Pacific Coast Iris ‘Broadleigh Rose’, Astrantia ‘Bo-Ann’, Heuchera ‘Beaujolais’ and Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ 

 Dorothy brought Centaurea  cyannus, Clematis Arabella, Poppy orientalis, Spanish bluebell, Aquilegia and another small flower which members thought was a rockery Phlox

 Judith brought the double Meconopsis, Erysimum, Heuchera, the attractive foliage of Filipendula ‘Red Umbrella’, Rose ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ (a gift from Friday Forum), Tellima and a white Aquilegia

Amanda brought Gladiolus, Welsh Onion seed head, double Lily of the Valley, Perennial stock, Nemesia, Rosemary, 3 Erysimums and Daphne

Katherine H brought Peony, Euphorbia chameleon, Persicaria ‘Red Dragon’, Ravenswing, various Geraniums, Euphorbia polystichum, Allium’Purple Sensation’, Tiarella, Tellima, Euonymus Emerald and Gold and Peltaria

Next Meetings

6^th June – We are constructing bug hotels so please bring suitable materials such as pine cones, hollow stems, bamboo canes, wood with holes in etc.  

20^th June - Visit to Colin Parton’s garden Delphinium Cottage.  Full details TBA