Easter Exhibits

Members were asked to display “a flower in any form” and just look at the variety brought in.

 

 

Also, with an Easter theme, member were asked to grow curly cress in an painted eggshell.  Just look how these turned out.  Eggcelent!

Forum Discussion

Members enjoyed a lively discussion on plants they regretted acquiring - here are a few of these:

Spanish bluebells

Smyrnium perfoliatum (lovely spring plant but a prolific self-seeder)
Geranium nodosum - very pretty, good in shade but will seed anywhere including into other plants
Euphorbia griffithii - very attractive but can run around quite a lot
Cardamine bulbifera - BEWARE!
Allium paradoxum - attractive but also an enthusiastic self-seeder
Saponaria ocymoides (soapwort) - a spreader
Little violet and oxalis - pretty but a bit of a nuisance

One member announced that he found Tulipa sprengeri to be a nuisance - this was greeted with howls of incredibility by the many people who struggle to grow it!

Notice Board

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:    2nd May - A talk by Rob Edwards onTown Gardens; making the best of a small space.                      

Friends of Paxton are meeting Monday 5^th May 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

 

 

 

 

Show time

 Gwen is delighted being placed second and third with her floating hellebore flowers

 

Friday Forum had its own mini-show the day before the Paxton Spring Show.  All seven classes received many entries which were judged by John Freer, Daffodil shower and knitter (yes, really, see the jumper he is wearing in the photos below) and Paxton’s own Graham Wheatley.

Class 1 – One vase containing one Daffodil

Class 2 – One vase containing three Daffodils

Class 3 – One vase containing three Tulips

Class 4 – Container of Spring flowering bulbs

Class 5 – One pot plant, indoor or outdoor

 Marjorie's winning pot plant

Class 6 – One vase containing flowering branches

Class 7 – Dish of floating flower heads

Talk on Daffodils

The expert grower and shower of Daffodils and knitter extraordinaire John Freer entertained us with his knowledge of Daffodils.  John gave us lots of tips, some a bit cheeky and others we wished we had known before the show!  

Display Table

 This basket of camellias took centre stage

 

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

Members were able to see the Strulch, mentioned last meeting and to sign up to order some bags.  Strulch is a light and easy to use garden mulch made from wheat straw for organic gardening.   More information on the properties of Strulch and how it can be used can be seen at http://www.strulch.co.uk

If you are interested in purchasing plant labels which peel off from a handy roll, please see Norma.

Gill and Graham were thanked for their efforts and commitment on the Friday Forum committee.  They have decided to step down, leaving a couple of vacancies for anyone interested.

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:   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. 

Friends of Paxton are meeting Monday 5^th May 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