"Gardening is an exercise in optimism. Sometimes, it is a triumph of hope over experience." - Marina Schinz

Presentation:  Chelsea Coastal Garden – Tracey Foster

Tracey gave us a wonderful talk about the garden which won her a silver medal at Chelsea last year.  We were given an insight into how she managed to portray the chalk cliffs, the sea and shore in her Yorkshire coast garden.  When asked if she would design a garden again for Chelsea given all the hard work involved, Tracey said she definitely would – but not this year!

Display Table

 Gill’s Spring display with daffodil Topolino

Gill’s container with Corydalis Beth Evans and Cava, allium paradoxum normale, Pulmonaria and Primrose 

Dorothy’s Cyclamen which she has kept for many years

 Judith's Euphorbia Robbiae 

 

Judith’s Euphorbia foetida in blue pot, the bronzy red Euphorbia Walberton and a Hellebore

Gardening Matters

A couple of articles to read if the weather prevent you from gardening this weekend:

https://themindfulgardener.blog/2018/01/30/learning-to-play-again/

http://www.organiclesson.com/6-wonderful-health-benefits-of-gardening/

Congratulations to Rodley Nature Reserve who beat many other prestigious sites to win this accolade.

http://westleedsdispatch.com/rodley-nature-reserve-wins-bbc-counrtyfile-magazine-award/

Notice Board

Saturday 31^st March: Paxton Spring Show.  Help is requested in the kitchen and any contribution to the plant sale will be appreciated and can be dropped off on Friday evening before the show.

Next Meeting

6^th April – Spring Mini Show with judge and speaker John Freer

See the categories below.  I’m sure we can all find something to bring.

 

CANCELLATION OF FRIDAY FORUM 2ND MARCH

The Friday Forum committee have decided to cancel the meeting this Friday due to the weather, but hope to see you all on Friday 16th March for the Presentation:  Chelsea Coastal Garden by Tracy Foster.
Stay safe and warm

"The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size." - Gertrude S. Wister

Presentation

Don Witton, who holds a Plant Heritage National Collection of hardy Euphorbia, kept us interested and entertained with his knowledge and wit as he talked about Euphorbias and other Spring flowers.  Don, whose enthusiasm is catching, showed us that there is a plant for every situation and we went away clutching the handouts we were given to decide which we could add to our gardens.

 

Display Table

A hint of Spring:

 Ann’s Crocuses; the Chrysanthus yellow Advance and the white Ard Schenk’ plus the purple Tricolor

 Gill’s attractive display of Spring flowers

 Gill’s Hellebore flowers

 In Gill’s pot contains:  snowdrops including the tall but droopy Cicely Hall, the Snowflake Leucojum, Pulmonaria rubra and Cardamine

Kate brought a tall Euphorbia in a pot with only a few leaves at the top.  Expert Don Witton advised her to plant out in the soil and new leaves will soon appear at the base.

Gardening Matters

Are you guilty of Godwottery? 

Meaning: 1. A highly romantic, exaggeratedly elaborate garden, usually composed of bizarrely incompatible plants and objects. 2. A love or affection for such gardens. 3. Affected, archaic language.

https://www.alphadictionary.com/goodword/word/godwottery

Here is a gardener’s blog about it:

https://jury.co.nz/2018/02/07/the-peculiar-affliction-of-gardeners-godwottery/

Notice Board 

 

Maggie braved the weather and visited Burton Agnes to see their Snowdrop Spectacular. She was disappointed that they had no interesting ones on sale.  Open until March.

https://www.burtonagnes.com/DB/Events/Snowdrop_Spectacular.html

Hodsock Priory’s Snowdrop Walk is also open until the beginning of March and there is a list of snowdrops for sale on their website.

http://www.hodsockpriory.com/snowdrops/

Next Meeting

2^nd March:  Forum – content to be advised.  That’s what it says on the programme, but we all like a surprise and we are never disappointed!

  

February Forum

Forum

AGM:  The accounts had been presented at the last meeting.  Judith went through the Friday Forum’s activities during 2017 and thanked the committee for their efforts throughout the year and the members for their participation.  Judith was thanked for  her able leadership.

Display Table

Gill’s container with Snowdrops, Celendine, blue and white (Rolf Fiedler)  Ipheions, Cyclamen coum and Garrya elleptica

Gill’s double Primula with a dark red flower

 Gill’s purple Iris Pixie

 

 Judith’s pot contains Ipheion Jessie, a geranium seedling and Sempervivum

 Jenny brought Snowdrop Primrose Warburg

Jenny brought a newspaper article which told the amazing story of a cliff top village in China which was reached by 2556 steps!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/21/chinese-authorities-make-perilous-cliff-face-school-run-safer

This put her in mind of the plant hunter Ernest Wilson who brought back plants from high altitude situations in China in 1899.

 Peter brought some of his artwork including a painted canvas

 Janella’s Snowdrops S. Arnott

 Ann’s pot reminds us that Spring is on its way:  Narcissus Tête á Tête and Iris reticulate Polar Ice and Clairette

 Ann’s Winter flowering Mandragora aka Devil’s Apple or Love Apple.  Ann told us many fascinating facts and myths about this plant which also features in Harry Potter. https://psychonautwiki.org/wiki/Mandragora_(botany)/ 

Notice Board

 

York Gate garden is open from 20th – 23rd February 2018, with many different varieties of snowdrops for visitors to enjoy.  The recently refurbished tearoom will be open for lunches, afternoon teas.
Tuesday 20th – Friday 23th February, 12.30pm – 4.30pm
Monday 19th February, Friends of York Gate private preview
Standard admission £5.00,  Children (16 and under) Free, Friends (plus two guests) Free
Address: Back Church Lane, Adel, Leeds, LS16 8DW Tel: 0113 267 8240

On 21st February at 7.30, Aaron Hickman talking about Orchid care to the WY Fuchsia and Pot Plant Society.  All welcome.

The Women in Horticulture Exhibition celebrating women’s contribution to the horticultural industry over the last 100 years can be seen from 11am – 3pm daily in the Harlow Carr library until 25^th February.  Normal entry fees apply.

Paxton Spring Show and Plant Sale with free admission is on 31^st March

On 16^th June there will be a luncheon and talk on the life of Joseph Paxton.

Hearty congratulations to member Kate van Heel for winning best private garden in the area.

Carl recommends these two companies for good soft fruit: https://www.pomonafruits.co.uk/   and  http://www.rvroger.co.uk/index.php?ls=fp

Next Meeting

16^th February:  Presentation by Don Witton – Euphorbias and other spring flowering plants