Fascinating Facts about daffodils

James entertained us with some interesting tales about the daffodil.

·         Often given on a 10^th wedding anniversary but James discovered that daffodils shouldn’t be mixed in a bouquet with other flowers when he bought flowers for his young lady, who then became his wife.

·         Goats can chomp through most things without coming to harm, but can’t eat daffodils.

·         Many Chinese people living in the Bristol area were hospitalised for mistakenly eating daffodil bulbs for what they believed to be giant chives.

·         Hollywood screen star Sir Anthony Hopkins has donated £1m towards buying Snowdon.  When the land first became for sale, the National Trust launched its Save Snowdon Campaign, asking the public appeal to help buy the land which was put up for sale for £3min order to save it from being commercialised.  Sir Anthony, president of the trust's Snowdonia Appeal since its launch in 1990, said: "Snowdonia is one of the most beautiful places in the world and Snowdon is the jewel that lies at its heart. It must be cherished and protected.  The daffodils which grow in the may soon yield a cost effective drug, galantamine, for use in the treatment of the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Display Table

Elizabeth put on a real show of what’s in bloom in her garden; can’t wait to visit it next month!  Small tulips; the red humilis Lilliput and  yellow Marjoletti.  Solomon’s Seal and Smilacena racemosa, from the same family but like chalk and cheese, Iris, Rose Banksia, and clematis Guernsey Cream, Wada’s Primrose,  Freda and Markham’s Pink.  

 Clematis Moonbeam

 Daphne Redusa, Honesty, Bluebells, Aqualegia,  Allium, Polyanthus, variegated Rosemary and Rhododendron Pink Pearl

Magnolia Susan, camellias: a white one and the pink Donation

Azeleas in pink, yellow, red, orange and the small dark pink Mother’s Day

 

Jenny brought white Stock which is highly perfumed and has been grown in a cold greenhouse.   The lanky plant gives out these lovely blooms.

 

Kate brought a Canna  tuerckheimii which she grew from one of a selection of seeds which was distributed by Graham who acquired it from a keen collector, now deceased.  Other members have raised plants from these seeds; a fitting legacy.

Judith ‘s Nemesia Wisley Vanilla, which she bought from the Laskett Gardens in Herefordshire.  The gardens were created by Sir Roy Strong and his late wife Julia Trevelyan Oman and well worth a visit or even a virtual visit to read a very touching story.

Gill almost covered the alphabet with the shrubs and flowers which are out in her garden.

Gill’s shrubs:  Azara, Tree Peony with yellow, globe-shaped flowers, Viburnum, Rubus, Choisya, Kerria, Ceonothus, Pieris, Teucrium fruticans, Sorbraria, Solanum glasnevin, Sambucus nigra

Gill’s flowers:  Valeriana, Lily of the Valley, Bugle, Daphne, Aqualegia, Corydalis, Dicentra, Epimedium, Geum Bell Bank, Pulmonaria opal, perennial Lunaria, Allium triquetrum, Stylophorum and Smyrnium.

Judith’s Salvia Amistad

Ann’s trough contains Wall Pennywort umbilicus rupestris which grows in dry crevices in rocks and walls

 In the plant pot is Marsh Pennywort hydrocotyle vulgaris which likes a wet habitat

Ann’s arrangement contains Soldanella villosa, Paris polyphilla, Smilacena racemosa, the aptly named little mouse plant Asarum proboscideum, a blueClematis alpine and the deeper blue alpine Helsingborg and clematis macropetala Octopus

James brought the smelly Lysichiton americanus, the American Skunk Cabbage – the slugs don’t seem to mind it

Notice Board

Next Meeting:  Friday 3^rd June – Garden visit to Whixley (see tab Garden Visits for details).  Some members are meeting at Paxton at 1.00 pm to travel together.  If you have any issues, please contact Judith.

As we have garden visits for the next two meetings, 3^rd and 17^th June, please note the details of the next meeting at Paxton which will be the mini show.  I defy anyone to say that they can’t find a suitable entry in their garden!

Friday Forum Mini Show:  Friday 1^st July 2016

Class 1  One Bloom HT Rose

Class 2  One Stem Floribunda Roase

Class 3  One Stem any other Rose

Class 4  One vase Sweet Peas

Class 5  One vase Pinks

Class 6  One vase cut flowers, judged for frontal effect

Class 7  One pot plant

Capability Brown:  Kate told us about an exhibition to celebrate the tercentenary of Capability Brown’s birth.  It is at the Mercer Gallery in Harrogate between 25^th June and 11^th September and entry is free.  For more information, go to http://www.capabilitybrown.org/event/noble-prospects-capability-brown-and-yorkshire-landscape