Approaching Spring equinox

Talk:  Plants to die for by Alan Wilson 

At this meeting, there was a large, appreciative audience for Alan’s illustrated talk.  We learnt about the successes and failures of a wide variety of plants which Alan has tried in his own garden over the years.  There will be additions and deletions to our plant wish lists after hearing of his experiences.

Display Table 

The table was veritably heaving with plants brought by our members plus some brought by Alan.

 Ann's Tropaeolum tricolorum and narcissus cyclamineus

 crocus sieberi Tricolor

cyclamen coum

 

 Judith's Aeonium Schwarzckopf and Margaret H's Euphorbia Tasmanian Tiger and crocus Pickwick

 Elizabeth's hellebores, camellias Debbie and Donation, rhododendron praecox, polyanthus, olsynium douglasii and pulmonaria

 Mary's tall daffodils (held upright with tights!)

 A tip from Alan:  Instead of taking a bottle to a party, why not pot up some heathers or alpines and insert labels with the details of your gardening club?  Free advertising.

Other plants brought by Alan:

 The stunning Hemerocallis with its variegated leaves

 serapias lingua

Last, but not least, Graham displayed hellebore flowers from Paxton garden in a clever wooden stand with test tubes in holes.  Very effective.

Notice Board

Paxton Spring Show and Plant Sale 2nd April:  Full details can be seen here https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home/people/room-hire/show-dates

Friday Forum members can bring any plants for the sale on the day before.

September Show:  Graham has advised in good time that there will be an Olympic Challenge of plants of the colours of the five Olympic rings.

Paxton AGM:  This will take place on Wednesday 13^th April at 8 pm and all members are encouraged to attend.

Next Meeting

1^st April:  Friday Forum Mini Spring Show which will be judged by John Freer, who will also give a talk.

 

 Why not have a go? 

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow

 

Planting up Dutch Iris

This week, after discussing garden related issues including the weather and putting the world to rights, we plant up some bulbs.  It will be interesting to see whether the blooms are as bright as in the picture.

Display Table

Gill brought two pots of Iris Katharine Hodgkin purchased at the same time but flowers are of different shades

Gill’s Hyacinth has a fantastic fragrance

This interesting variety of greenery was Gill’s surplus from a manipulating foliage session at Pudsey Flower Club

Margaret H’s attractive Cyclamen Coum came from Otley market

 

 James’s informed us that all parts of Arum italicum 'Marmoratum' are poisonous when raw and that the Elizabethans would boil the leaves to make starch for their ruffs

Judith’s Helleborus lividus Silver Dollar is a lovely colour and has silver leaves

There are always plants for sale at our meetings, but we are starting a wish list for those hard-to-find ones.  A small, voluntary donation to Friday Forum to show your appreciation would be welcome

Notice Board

Jenny informed us that currently Paxton has no caretaker and asked if members could offer an hour or two on a Tuesday morning 10 – 12 to undertake tasks which are found on a list on the notice board.  Please tick off when complete.  If anyone has woodworking or electrical skills, these would be extremely welcome.

Paxton is looking for people to ‘adopt’ the garden, perhaps as allotments.

Important Dates

Spring Show and Plant Sale:  Full details can be seen here https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home/people/room-hire/show-dates

Friday Forum members can bring any plants for the sale on the day before.

Friday Forum Mini Spring Show:  This will take place on 1^st April and be judged by John Freer, who will also give a talk.

September Show:  Graham has advised in good time that there will be an Olympic Challenge of plants of the colours of the five Olympic rings.

Paxton AGM:  This will take place on Wednesday 13^th April at 8 pm and all members are encouraged to attend.

Next Meeting

18^th March – “Plants to die for” by Alan Wilson

Gardening is good for you

We always knew it but here is the evidence:

Proof: gardening is healthy

by GEORGE GORDON, Daily Mail

Those with green fingers have long known that gardening is good for you, physically and mentally.

And now it has been proven scientifically. Researchers have found that smelling roses and pulling up weeds can lower blood pressure, increase brain activity and produce a general upbeat feeling.

Even just looking at a garden can give you a positive boost. The evidence is so compelling that the health factor has been given its own name - horticultural therapy - and is being used to treat hospital patients, plan cities and even to calm prisoners in jails.

Horticultural therapists say gardens produce the most positive effects on mental health.

They do this by providing a sense of control - the psychological counter to stress and anxiety. Gardens are also beneficial for stroke patients, those recovering from physical trauma or people with disabilities.

The science is now being used in hospitals and rehabilitation centres in the U.S., where "healing gardens" have been created for patients to look at and walk through.

Doctors and nurses are also using the leafy retreats to cope with daily life-and-death crises.

"For patients who find themselves restricted by a disability, even the simplest gardening experience - such as growing a potted plant from a cutting - gives them a feeling of control," said Teresia Hazen, who oversees horticultural therapy programmes in Oregon.

"Gardening, more than most rehab activities, has the ability to be very distracting. Simply by taking people's minds off their problems can alleviate pain and depression."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-193859/Proof-gardening-healthy.html#ixzz414r4NdXR

 So, here’s a garden to look at although I suspect we will be looking at our own this week

 Entrance to Felley Priory

Next Meeting:

4^th March:  Forum.  Discuss your problems, successes,  hopes and dreams; preferably garden-related.