Gardeners Friday Forum at Paxton: March 2014

Tuesday, 25 March 2014

Propagating properly

Talk on Propagation

Mike Davey gave us an interesting and useful illustrated talk on propagation from seeds, cuttings and leaves. We may call ourselves gardeners, but I think everyone would have picked up a few practical tips from Mike, who is an expert in this field and lectures at Nottingham University on plant and crop sciences. Amongst other facts, I learnt about seeds with fungicide coating and to dry out cuttings of succulents before replanting but I don’t think I’ll follow the advice of walking around the garden chewing tomato seeds before sowing!

Display Table

Judith's Hellebores

Elisabeth's lovely Spring bouquet of purple Daphne, white Pachyphragma, pink Camelia Debbie/Donation, Heather, Prunus 'Kojo-no-mai' with Chionodoxa and Daffodil Rip Van Winkle

Gill's Tulips

Ann's Ipheion uniflorum 'Charlotte Bishop, Tropaeolum and Narcissus cyclamineus

Congratulations to Kay on her big birthday

Everyone wished this beautiful lady many happy returns and sang Happy Birthday

Paxton Friday Forum Day Trip to North Yorkshire

This trip, which takes in three gardens, has now been confirmed for Friday 18^th July. To reserve a place, which is offered on a first come first served basis, or for more information please contact Janella.

Notice Board

The Paxton Open Spring Show will take place on 5^th April. Pick up a leaflet or look on Paxton’s main site.

Friday Forum’s mini show will be the day before. Donations of tombola prizes will be appreciated.

Reminder: for the Good Friday meeting on 18^th April, members are asked to bring something in the shape of a flower for the “Flower in any form” contest; arts, crafts, baking etc all acceptable. Also, you are asked to grow some cress in an eggshell and paint it up. Should be interesting!

Members were asked if they would be interested in a bulk purchase of Strulch, a light and easy to use garden mulch made from wheat straw for organic gardening. This would be delivered to a central point for members to collect. More information on the properties of Strulch and how it can be used, go to http://www.strulch.co.uk

For our yellow flower display to celebrate the Tour de France in July, there are seeds available for members to sow and grow For more ideas of yellow flowers see http://letour.yorkshire.com/documents/tdf/rhs/RHSTurningYorkshireYellow.pdf If anyone any creative ideas on how to display our yellow blooms in front of Paxton Hall, please come forward.

Paxton Plant Market is on Saturday 31^st May. Please consider planting and growing on for the sales table and, if you can help on the day from 10 am, this would be appreciated.

Dates for your diary

Next meeting: 4^th April Paxton Friday Forum Mini Spring Show. There are seven categories to enter from a vase with one daffodil to a dish of floating flower heads, so have a go. Further information is available from Graham.

There will also be a short talk on daffodils by John Freer.

Friends of Paxton are meeting Monday 7^th April from Midday. An hour or two or your time to help maintain the premises are always welcome. If another date is more suitable for you, please let us know. In June, there will be a Dig In at Paxton Garden; date TBA.

Friday Forum meetings are 1.30pm on 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at Paxton Hall, Paxton Horticultural Society, 186 Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 2AB. Meetings may be hands-on sessions, guest speakers or garden visits. Regular features are the Display Table where members can bring their plants for discussion and advice and the Sales Table where members sell their plants, cuttings and produce to help the club funds. For further information log on to https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home

Saturday, 8 March 2014

March on!

Talk on Spring and Autumn in Japan by Ian Richardson

Ian's visits to Japan and his hobbies of photography and chrysanthemums makes him the ideal person to give an illustrated talk on Japan

Ian transported us to another world of white, pink and red cherry blossom, quince, acers in two seasons of every colour and multicoloured, gravel gardens and moss gardens in their settings of lakes, temples linked by bridges and parks. The reflection of the landscape in the water gave a feeling of serenity.

Please note that the photographs shown below are not by Ian Richardson

We saw densely planted bamboo forests. The bamboo was long and strong enough to be used in the construction industry. We also saw golden carpets where the leaves of the Ginko trees had dropped.

The practice of Bonsai was in evidence. This is the art of shaping trees using wire and rope and much patience and is not confined to the miniature specimens we tend to think of as Bonsai.

Ian visited flower shows for chrysanthemums and we saw photographs of 1000 blooms on one stem! Figures outside temples are dressed in hundreds of chrysanthemums which are renewed regularly.

We also learnt of the culture of Japan accompanied by beautiful illustrations by Ian. We saw examples of snacks of a fish on a stick and heard that battered and fried acer leaves are served for breakfast.

Ian had produced spectacular albums of his photographs; one for Spring and one for Autumn.

Display Table

Sue's Hellebores and Ann's Crocus sieberi 'Ronald Ginns', recommended as a good doer

Margaret's hardy cyclamen coum

Spring in a pot.

Any ideas? This is kapok from the kapok or Java cotton tree which Norma brought from Costa Rica

Gill's examples of Spring flowers from her garden.

Peter impressed us with his display of art work. My favourite was the potting shed.

Notice Board

The Paxton Open Spring Show will take place on 5^th April. Pick up a leaflet or look on Paxton’s main site.

Friday Forum’s mini show will be the day before. Donations of tombola prizes will be appreciated.

Paxton Plant Market is on Saturday 31^st May. Please consider planting and growing on for the sales table and, if you can help on the day from 10 am, this would be appreciated.

Dates for your diary

Next meeting

21^st April – Plant Propagation with Mike Davey

Friends of Paxton are meeting Monday 7^th April from Midday. An hour or two or your time to help maintain the premises are always welcome. If another date is more suitable for you, please let us know. In June, there will be a Dig In at Paxton Garden; date TBA.