By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer's best of weather And autumn's best of cheer. Helen Hunt Jackson

Talk: 

It was a pleasure to welcome once again to Friday Forum John and Gail Summerfield. In their talk “Staff only beyond this point” John and Gail took us behind the scenes of a small nursery with their amusing anecdotes of the typical questions and comments made by customers.

We were fascinated to see the process of producing ornamental grasses and how John mixes his special compost in a concrete mixer.

Westshores Nursery, who have won many gold medals and once produced annuals and hanging baskets, now specialise in ornamental grasses and autumn perennials.  http://www.westshores.co.uk

Gail, a botanist and lecturer in horticulture as well as a background in merchandising, writes for the publication “The Hardy Plant”

Display Table

There is still plenty of colour and interest in the gardens of our members

 Caroline’s pots of Persicaria capitata

 

Maggie found the name of her tall aster to be Mrs T S Wright

Eric’s Nicandra physalodes (Shoofly plant) which bears blue flowers

In Gill’s container: Japanese Anemones, Phlox, Salvia,, Alstromeira, Chelone, Campanula aesthetica, the yellow Kirengeshoma, Crocosmia Severn Sunrise,  the Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana, Dahlia, Hydrangea and Begonia evansii

Left:Propagating Basil:  Thelma gave us a masterclass on this two weeks ago and Judith put it to the test producing many cuttings with a good root system in that time.

Centre:Judith's jug of Dahlias and Ageratums 

Right:In James’ pot is  Tropaeolum speciosum (Scottish flame flower) which has bright green foliage and crimson flowers in the summer, followed by blue berries.

 

James also brought from his garden Aster x frikartii 'Monch' (which initially James mistakenly heard named as African Monkey!) Clematis, Hesperantha, Actaea simplex 'Brunette' which thrives in a damp, dark corner) Crocosmia Solfaterre and  Rudbeckia gloriosa

Notice Board

Remember to support the Paxton Show on 23^rd September

Next Meetings

6^th October:  Presentation – “People, Plants, Pleasure and Passion” by Don Wittam

20^th October:  Harvest Forum – more details to follow