“The wise gardener anticipates June in January.” Anonymous

 Presentation

We were pleased to welcome Brian Dennsion again to Friday Forum. On this visit he took us on a tour around his beautifully designed garden. Members made copious notes on the printed lists when they saw a plant or an idea to copy in their own gardens. Brian also wowed us with the ingenious watering methods which he has invented and showed us how he keeps his lawn in pristine condition. A cheerful slide show on a very cold afternoon.

Display Table

There is still a lot of interest in the gardens of some of our members.

Amanda’s Snowdrops: The double Lady Beatrix Stanley on the right and Rosemary Burnham with its fine green lines (currently selling at £45.00 per bulb).  In the foreground, Carol’s Clematis Winter Beauty

Gill’s posy contains Hellebores which she split the stems to last longer, variegated Ivy and single and double Snowdrops

Ann’s basket contains Witch Hazel Hamamelis Mollis, Snowdrops Galanthus Elwesii and Wendy’s Gold, the half hardy Narcissus Elara (n.cantabricus × romieuxii), Cyclamen coum, Iris ungularis, Viburnum tinus and Christmas Box (Sarcococcus confusa) and Muscari Early Bird

Kate brought Smimmia japonica and Kew Green, Hamamelis Arnold Promise, variegated Cistus, Christmas Box (Sarcococcus) and Polypodium cambricum Richard Kayse

Kate’s Helleborus niger

Next Meeting

3^rd February: Plants from our childhoods; a group participation session led by Judith Ladley.

Christmas Forum

What better way to end the year?

A flower arranging and wreath making demonstration with lots of useful tips from Friday Forum members Judith and Peter.

Members then tried their hand at creating their own masterpieces

Home made mince pies and Christmas tree parkin by Liz

Liz also made this Boxing Day Chutney which flew off the sales table

Next meeting will be on 20^th January: Activities and their Results in a Freely Blooming Garden by Brian Denison.

Merry Christmas and Happy New year

“A bare tree stands with roots on both ends in December days.” – Kiran Bantawa, “Bare Trees”

Presentation: An Introduction to Japanese Gardens by Dr Andy Bolton

Dr Bolton is the Chairman of the regional group of the Japanese Garden Society

Andy gave a fascinating talk on Japanese gardens. We learnt about the elements which these gardens contain and the symbolism of these. These naturalistic gardens are predominantly evergreen, with no variegation, and have a limited range of plants. Some are just to be gazed at while others take you on a journey by following the stones and bridges. We were shown examples of the gardens including from his visits to Japan and his own garden.

For more information and images click here here or check out their Facebook page of The Japanese Garden Society.

Display Table

There is still interest and colour in the garden at the beginning of December.

Ann brought the tall, lates flowering Amicia Zygomeris, Liriope muscari, Bergenia, Hesperantha Mrs Hegarty and coccinea, a burgundy Vinca minor, foliage of Arum italicum and Crocosmia Emily MacKenzie

Kate’s Anisodontea El Rayo, the African mallow and Penstemon Plum Jerkum

Dorothy’s Christmas Cactus in full flower

Next Meeting

Our last meeting of 2022 is our Christmas Forum is on 16^th December when we’ll be creating festive floral displays, eating home-made mince pies so please dress in Christmas apparel.

The 2023 programme is now on the blog page here.  Please note that meetings begin on 20th January

 

“November’s sky is chill and drear, November’s leaf is red and sear” – Sir Walter Scott

Presentation

Ben Cooper told us about the very interesting history of East Riddlesden Hall, where he is the part-time head and only gardener. We learnt about the garden’s past, present and future design plans before Ben answered all our questions.

For more details about opening hours and walks around East Riddlesden Hall click here

A couple of photos I took in Spring pre-covid:

Display Table

These roses are still blooming in Kate’s garden

Judith brought Cotinus coggygria Grace with its attractively coloured foliage, Abelia and Geranium Rozanne

…. and what’s this from Derek’s garden? He planted a few bulbs of Allium Summer Drummer which RHS describes as  “ a tall stunning onion”  and Google calls  an extremely tall and late-flowering ornamental between 4 – 5 ft!

Next meeting:

Presentation by Andy Bolton – An introduction to Japanese Gardens

Cold and Frost-free Glasshouse Gardening

 Presentation on cold and frost-free glasshouse gardening by Peter Williams

Peter gave us a most interesting talk on the history and usage of greenhouses.  Starting about 30 AD before glass was invented when the Roman emperor Tiberias wanted cucumbers out of season, the need for the plant explorers to keep the tender plants they brought back to Britain and the removal of the glass tax in the 1850s all influenced the growth and design of glasshouses.

We saw how the glasshouses developed over time and how they can be used for cuttings, alpines and overwintering plants.

Peter brought keys from the Acer tree in his garden and showed how to choose the best seeds and treat them.  It will be interesting to see the results from our members.

Display Table

Ann brought this from her Eriobotrya japonica Loquat tree which she planted from a stone brought back from Turkey or Australia, planted in 1990s and is now 15 – 20 ft.  The Loquat originates from China and Japan where it can grow to 25 ft and produces orange/yellow edible fruit in the spring. The flowers have a lovely fragrance and the autumn leaves are an attractive brown.

Peter’s Mimosa

Amanda says frequent deadheading has kept these plants in flower:  Cornflower, Rosemary, Nemesia, Alstromeria Silvester, Penstemon Just Jane , Chrysanthemum and Spiraea

Kate’s Salvias are still flowering:  Amistad, Confertiflora, Nachtvlinder, Mystic Spires and Leucantha.

Judith’s orange Bidens

Margaret H’s Winter Jasmine

Gill A’s Christmas Cactus in full flower which thrives on neglect and goes unwatered from May to October

Next Meeting

November 18^th Presentation - Ben Cooper followed by Paxton AGM

 

 

Harvest Forum

 

We were treated to a real feast including chutneys, cakes and fruit in today’s meeting

Norma demonstrated how to make an attractive hanging basket using Heuchera after seeing one in an RHS magazine.  The following trailing Heucheras were used:  Solar Power, Solar Eclipse, Copper Cascade and Cherry Truffles.

Display Table

Kate’s purple bouquet comprised Salvia Amistad, Verbena bonariensis, Callicarpa “Profusion”, Asters frikartii “Monch” and “Violet Queen” and Euonymus alatus

Kate also brought Salvia “Mystic Spires”

Norma’s Euonymus with seeds splitting to show orange pips

Maggie’s  pink Japanese Anemone and “Wild Swan”, Heuchera “Bronze Beauty” and Tulbaghia violacea “Silver Lace”, Persicaria affinis and “Golden Arrow”, Aster “Monch”, Calar mintha nepeta

Judith also brought Tulbaghia violacea “Silver Lace” (Society Garlic)

Ann brought Dahlias, Liriope muscari, Hesperantha, Persicaria affinis, Chrysanthemum “Dixter Orange”, Tithonia, Corydalis ochroleuca an Amicia zygomeris

Amanda’s Salvia Amistad plus Asters and colourful flowers, names unknown

This extra long parsnip which will make a hearty soup was a reject from a recent show!

Next Meeting

4^th November – A talk by Peter Williams.   The meeting on the 18th November will be followed by the Paxton AGM.