The Gardens of Madeira

 

 Wendy Platt

Wendy presented a very well researched and interesting talk on the gardens of Madeira. She explained about the history of the island, its climate and topography before taking us on a journey from garden to garden in and around Funchal. Along the way we learnt about some beautiful, unusual and exotic looking trees, shrubs and plants which thrive in the humid temperature. Some of these were highly poisonous. The gardens illustrated were:

The Residence of the President of Funchal - a peaceful and shaded garden overlooking the harbour.

Santa Catarina Park.

The Botanical Gardens of Funchal - eight acres on terraced land.

Palheiro Garden - an English style garden. 

Reid's Palace Hotel Garden - where the gardens were completed before the hotel. 

Next Meeting

Next meeting is on the 20th November when Trevor Nicholson will be speaking to us about  'The Gardens at Harewood House'. 

What humans do over the next 50 years will determine the fate of all life on the planet." — Sir David Attenborough

 Presentation

Alastair Fitter. The State of Nature in Yorkshire

We heard a very interesting talk by Alastair on the work of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and its work in Yorkshire. We learnt about the importance of Yorkshire to the management of wildlife and how a survey is carried out every three years to assess the state of nature, about declining species and how the Trust is rectifying this. The government has pledged to conserve and manage 30% of our land and seas for nature by 2030. This commitment is known as  30by30 . For further information go the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Display Table

 

Ann brought: Amicia zygomeris which originates in the Andes, Schizostylis Coccinia, Aconitum “Helen Dillon”, Ceratostigma “Desert Skies” and Liriope muscari

 Sue brought an extra tall Kniphofia “Happy Halloween”

 Plus a vase of Asters: Little Carlow, Alma Potschke, Barr’s Pink, a purple variety (name not known), Samoa (Island series) and a sprig of Callicarpa

Norma brought a work-in-progress of a Pomander. Here are instructions to start yours off at home to be ready for Christmas for your home or a gift. Bring in your pomander so we can measure the progress.

Next Meeting

6^th November: Forum – Talk by member Wendy Platt. The gardens of Madeira

Harvest Forum

Harvest Forum 2026

Although the attendance was low for this meeting, those who did attend had a fine afternoon tea tasting the exhiibits.

Harvest forum baking competition results were as follows:

Categories

1. Savoury scones no entries

2. Fruit scones 1st Prize – Dorothy

3. Fruit Pie 1^st Prize - Carol

4. Cake to include one vegetable 1^st Prize - Suzanne

5. Shortbread no entries

Our thanks go to Liz for judging the entries and to Dorothy for being contest secretary.

Display Table

Amanda brought Stapelia hirsuta which has flowered for the first time

Garden matters

Our members Derek and Olwen recently visited Jervaulx Abbey Gardens with Rainton Garden Club and Derek sent this report:

What a nice day, blue skies all he way showing off the Yorkshire Dales
at its best. We followed our Sat-Nav, so instead of the expected route
using main roads via Ripon it took us up past Fylingdales to
Summerbridge and almost to Pately Bridge, before turning up through
narrow twisting one track lanes to get up on the moors. Here what must
have been a Roman road it was so straight, before again narrow lanes
down to Masham and the main road to Jervaulx. Meeting Janella and ten
others from her group we were escorted through an impressive gatehouse
to the garden. The extensive gardens are on both sides of ridge behind
the Abbey ruins. Planned as a romantic woodland setting in the 1800s so
has some very impressive Giant Redwoods, Cedars, Yews and Pines. Modern
improvements have included a glasshouse and formal gardens, with huge
varieties of unusual bushes and plants, beautifully manicured lawns and
paths with an incredible number of sculptures everywhere you looked. I
apologise for using so many superlatives in my description but all were
well deserved, it is an outstanding garden . 

We finished at Brymor ice-cream parlour for a drink and an ice-cream before retracing our route back home. 

Our best day out for a long time, many thanks to Janella for organising it.

This definitely sounds like one to add to our “to visit” list.

Next Meeting

18^th September: Presentation by Alistair Fitter on The State of Nature in Yorkshire

“If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.” ― Therese of Lisieux

Presentation 

Guest Speaker - Nigel Eaton from Moss and Moor Garden Centre, Ilkley.

‘Adding Colour to the Spring Garden’

Nigel brought with him a selection of plants, bulbs and seeds. He gave us lots of advice and ideas for our spring gardens next year.

One of these was how to plant a lasagne of bulbs to give nine to ten months of flowers. The flowering time dictating as to where you placed the bulbs in the pot. He then talked about plants such as viburnum tinus, leucothoe, sarcococca and other foliage plants to add to the pot to give interest.

Nigel then gave us several ideas for plant combinations. For example, tassel ferns, ophiopogon planiscapus and snowdrops planted together in a pot.
He gave us tips on how to plant bulbs in pots such as iris reticulata and frittillaria (lay the bulb on its side when planting). He also gave us advice about compost, feed and micorrhizal fungi.

Display Table

 

Peter brought his tricyrtis from Reighton Nursery in Hunmanby

Ann Fritchley brought in a display of :-

Polygonum baldschuanicum

Colchicum autumnale

Liriope muscari

Clematis pink dwarf

Clematis lambton park

Ceratostigma desert skies

Caryopteris clandonensis

Caryopteris summer sorbet

 

Sue Gray brought in a Salina involucrata ‘Hadspen’

Gardening Matters

Paxton Horticultural Society Autumn Flower and Produce show on Saturday 26th September 2026. Open to the public 1.30pm to 3.30pm. 

Cookridge Garden Club

Tuesday 20th October. Gardening to delight the senses by Sarah Hopps.

Tuesday 17th November. RHS Harlow Carr. Past, Present and Future by former curator Paul Cook.

Next meeting

Friday 2nd October - Harvest Forum baking competition and Quiz.

Categories:

1. Savoury scones

2. Fruit scones

3. Fruit Pie

4. Cake to include one vegetable

5. Shortbread

“A late summer garden has a tranquility found no other time of the year.” — William F. Longgood

Late Summer in our Gardens

Members took photos of their own gardens and those of others and spoke about the plants which are still doing well.

There was also a range of seeds to swap.

Display Table

 Sandra brought Dahlias ‘David Howard’ and ‘Le Baron’, Salvia, Sedums ‘Red Cauli’ and ‘Autumn Joy’, Aster, Salvia ‘Patio Blue’, Verbena and annual Mallow

 Amanda’s Datura (Angel’s Trumpet) which gives off a heady scent in the evening

Judith brought Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower), Rudbeckia ‘Cherry Brandy’, Verbena rigida and Nicandra

 

 Dorothy broughtSolanum capiscastrum, Citrus and Achimenes

Next meetings:

18^th September – Nigel Eaton’s talk “Adding colour to the Spring garden”.

2^nd October – Harvest Forum – Baking competition and Quiz.

Categories for baking competition:

1, Savoury Scones

2. Fruit Scones

3. Fruit Pie

4. Cake to include a vegetable

5, Shortbread

Now summer is in flower and nature's hum Is never silent round her sultry bloom - John Clare

 

Presentation by Martin Wright

Although, due to technical difficulties, Martin was not able to deliver the scheduled talk,
he did give us an interesting and informative talk about his career in the plants and parks departments at Leeds City Council and how this led to becoming involved in the garden entries for the Chelsea Flower Show.
Martin gave us a brief introduction to some of the entries produced by Leeds City Council for the show and told us some amusing background stories.
We eagerly look forward to Martin returning next year to tell us more about building a Chelsea garden.

Display Table

This vase of five dahlia ‘s was from Trevor

 Arabian night, Dutch explosion, Edinburgh ( old fashioned variety), Viking ( Pom Pom variety) and Temple of Beauty. 

Dorothy brought in hardy fuchsia, dahlia, miniature rose, begonia illumination and fennel. 

 

 Maggie's vase contained Rosa glauca and late honeysuckle

Cookridge Flower Show 

Next meeting 

Friday 4th September. Photos of members’ late summer gardens and seed swap.

Methods of Propagation

I think we all learnt some new tips for propagating our plants at this Friday Forum session.

Derek told us how he uses his own compost to grow the Pony Tail Tree (which eventually reaches 15 ft) and Cactus from seed.

John demonstrated how to make mini-greenhouses from butter containers and yoghurt pots over plant pots. Also he plants Pelargonium cuttings round the edge of a pot and puts a smaller pot in the centre which can be removed for watering and checking the progress of the roots.

Carol brought an impressive assortment of cuttings which she puts into pots using her own compost and can tell when they are ready if they can be lifted up by their stems. She showed us Winter Hazel, Stachys Wisley White, Salvia, Itea, Lavender, Photinia, Euonymus and Physocarpus.

Other tips and examples:

Display Table

 

Judith brought Tithonia, Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy and Phytolacca laka boom. Annuals all grown from seed and Judith recommends Chiltern Seeds 

Sue’s Roscoea Spice Island is a member of the Ginger family and comes in various shades. 

 Suzanne brought various Hydrangeas: a blue mop head, pink lace cap (from Margaret), quercifolia Snow Queen plus Oregano and Sage

 Suzanne also brought a bouquet of over 15 flowers: Cosmos Purity, Salvia Pink Lips, Geranium Rozanne, Heuchera Amethyst Mist, Nepeta Walkers Low, Salvia amistad, Crocosmia, Phlox Grey Lady, Penstemon Just Jane, Salvia Nachtvinder, Aster Frikartii Monch, Symphyotrichum Eastern Star, Lysimachia clethroides (Gooseneck), Anemone Wild Swan and Salvia Jezebel.

Suzanne used a tip from Peter to keep feeding Cosmos for thicker stems.

Also from Suzanne: Achimenes Purple King 

 

                                      Sandra’s Pelargonium Berkswell Bolero

 

Sandra’s vase contains: Galega Lady Wilson, Dahlias – David Howard, Lavender Perfection and Le Baron, Fennel, annual Mallow, Rose Gertrude Jekyll and Pittosporum

John brought Achimenes (Hot Water plant) Sweet and Sour and Honey Queen, StreptocarpusPretty Turtle and various Dahlias and Cosmos grown from seed

 

Peter’s container of annuals was a riot of colour: Tithonia, Lavatera, Nicandra (Shoe-fly plant), Petunias, Nicotiana, Amaranthus, Rudbeckia, Violas, Scabious, Echium, Sunflower and Hibiscus

 

Maggie brought a Hardy plumbago Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Ceratostigma willmottianum and Clematis heracleifolia Cassandra

Gardening Matters

Paxton Autumn Show takes place on Saturday 26^th September at Welcome in Community Centre (Opal) 55 Beford Drive Leeds LS16 6DJ.

Staging: 8.30 to 11.45

Judging: 12 noon

Open to the public 1.30 to 3.30

There are 46 categories in all including four for Paxton members only.

Check out Paxton Horticultural Society - Leeds | Facebook for more details

Next Meeting

21^st August: A presentation on Building a Chelsea Garden by Martin Wright