By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer's best of weather And autumn's best of cheer. Helen Hunt Jackson

Talk: 

It was a pleasure to welcome once again to Friday Forum John and Gail Summerfield. In their talk “Staff only beyond this point” John and Gail took us behind the scenes of a small nursery with their amusing anecdotes of the typical questions and comments made by customers.

We were fascinated to see the process of producing ornamental grasses and how John mixes his special compost in a concrete mixer.

Westshores Nursery, who have won many gold medals and once produced annuals and hanging baskets, now specialise in ornamental grasses and autumn perennials.  http://www.westshores.co.uk

Gail, a botanist and lecturer in horticulture as well as a background in merchandising, writes for the publication “The Hardy Plant”

Display Table

There is still plenty of colour and interest in the gardens of our members

 Caroline’s pots of Persicaria capitata

 

Maggie found the name of her tall aster to be Mrs T S Wright

Eric’s Nicandra physalodes (Shoofly plant) which bears blue flowers

In Gill’s container: Japanese Anemones, Phlox, Salvia,, Alstromeira, Chelone, Campanula aesthetica, the yellow Kirengeshoma, Crocosmia Severn Sunrise,  the Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana, Dahlia, Hydrangea and Begonia evansii

Left:Propagating Basil:  Thelma gave us a masterclass on this two weeks ago and Judith put it to the test producing many cuttings with a good root system in that time.

Centre:Judith's jug of Dahlias and Ageratums 

Right:In James’ pot is  Tropaeolum speciosum (Scottish flame flower) which has bright green foliage and crimson flowers in the summer, followed by blue berries.

 

James also brought from his garden Aster x frikartii 'Monch' (which initially James mistakenly heard named as African Monkey!) Clematis, Hesperantha, Actaea simplex 'Brunette' which thrives in a damp, dark corner) Crocosmia Solfaterre and  Rudbeckia gloriosa

Notice Board

Remember to support the Paxton Show on 23^rd September

Next Meetings

6^th October:  Presentation – “People, Plants, Pleasure and Passion” by Don Wittam

20^th October:  Harvest Forum – more details to follow

Autumn approaches

Propagation Tips

We had a lively discussion on methods of propagation and members shared their knowledge and experience on propagating plants.

Two of the best ideas were:

From a supermarket pot of basil, take cuttings by breaking bits off and let them root in water.  The roots may try to double back on themselves so make sure they stay immersed.  Use clear pots when potting on so the development of the roots can be clearly seen.

When propagating cuttings, put a smaller plant pot inside a larger one and plant up the seedlings in the outer rim.  This means that, by removing the smaller plant pot, it is easy to see when roots have formed without tipping the plant out plus the cuttings can be watered by adding water to the pot in the centre.

Display Table

 

The Rudbeckias which members had grown on from plug plants gave a cheerful display and there is still plenty of colour in the gardens of our members.

 Kate’s Eucomis Autumnalis which has flowers with tops like pineapples

 Graham’s Clerodendron.  This is 1m tall and the same in width and has purple berries.

 Gill’s pot contains various Japanese Anemones, Phlox maculata, Willow gentian, a perennial Antirrhinum, Chelone, Campanula aesthetica, the yellow Kirengeshoma, Crocosmias Severn Sunrise and Lucifer, Hibiscus, Thalictrum Splendide,  Eucryphia, Persicaria Red Dragon, Japanese wallflower, Impatiens omeiana and Bergenia

Sue G’brought purple Rosocea and Sollya, the dainty bluebell bush or climber

 Ann’s pottery jug contains flowers in shades of yellow:  Rudbeckias, Robinia pseudoacacia Frisia which brightens up a dark corner, the purple flowered, variegated Phlox Nora Leigh,  Kirengeshoma, Hedera buttercup which starts off with Ivy leaves, the holly leaved Desfontainia with its orange, waxy flowers, Tithonia, Crocosmias Solfaterre and Star of the East, Fuchsia genii, Clematis helios, Ligularia dentata and  Ceratostigma desert skies

Notice Board

It’s the Paxton early Autumn Show on 23^rd September.  Graham has asked for support in the kitchen or donations of cakes.

For entry details contact Graham Wheatley 0113 2563055 or look on the Paxton website https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home

Judith recommended First Impressions nursery https://ackworthplantnursery.co.uk

Graham drew our attention to the many flower shows in the area.

Next Meeting

15^th September:  Presentation by Gail and John Summerfield “Staff only beyond this point please”