Six on Saturday

It seems there is still plenty of colour and interest in our gardens, if the display table at our gardening group is anything to go by.  So here are our six.

Dorothy brought a bouquet of Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Carnation, Primula, Diascia and Rose

 Judith’s Rosa mutabilis

 Ann’s vase contained Amicia zygomeris, Salvia Mexicana and luecanthe, Corydalis ochroleuca, Persicaria affinis Fat Domino and Golden Arrow, Chaenomeles speciosa Geisha Girl, Tricyrtis Empress, Nerine bowdenii, a red and pink Hesperantha, Antirrhinum, Gaillardia, Rudbeckia and Calceolaria

James brought the annual Rudbeckia gloriosa grown from seed, Liriope which thrives under the canopy of a large tree and the heritage Chrysanthemum, Suffolk Pink, which he is helping to conserve in his garden

 Judith brought an attractive display of foliage which includes from Spotty Dotty, Cotinus,  variegated Iris foetidissima, Abelia grandiflora, Euphorbia griffithii, the silver Senecio, Rue, variegated Bergenia Tubby Andrews, Pittosporum Tom Thumb, Brunnera and variegated Laurel

On one of Jenny’s regular visits to The Hollies, she spotted this green/turquoise decomposing wood and wondered if it was from copper or algae.  The Hollies is a small park in the suburbs of Leeds which attained Platinum in this year’s Parks in Bloom competition

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." - Stanley Horowitz

Talk: 

As always, Friday Forum member Celia gave us another excellent talk. 

We heard facts, myths and legends about why Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe and Fir Trees are brought into our homes in mid-winter.  We learnt that Holly signified fertility as it retained leaves and berries throughout the winter and the Druids considered it to be a lucky tree.  Ivy was not as popular and in Greek mythology it is linked to drinking.  However, linked with holly it became more acceptable.  Mistletoe was thought to bring a blessing on the house and its occupants.  The  best Christmas trees are the Norway Spruce which has softer needles and the Nordmann Fir with its rounder needles which are less likely to drop.   

 

Display Table

It seems there is still colour and interest in our gardens, if the display table is anything to go by.

Dorothy brought a bouquet of Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, Carnation, Primula, Diascia and Rose

 Judith’s Rosa mutabilis

 Ann’s vase contained Amicia zygomeris, Salvia Mexicana and luecanthe, Corydalis ochroleuca, Persicaria affinis Fat Domino and Golden Arrow, Chaenomeles speciosa Geisha Girl, Tricyrtis Empress, Nerine bowdenii, a red and pink Hesperantha, Antirrhinum, Gaillardia, Rudbeckia and Calceolaria

 

James brought the annual Rudbeckia gloriosa grown from seed, Liriope which thrives under the canopy of a large tree and the heritage Chrysanthemum, Suffolk Pink, which he is helping to conserve in his garden

 Judith brought an attractive display of foliage which includes from Spotty Dotty, Cotinus,  variegated Iris foetidissima, Abelia grandiflora, Euphorbia griffithii, the silver Senecio, Rue, variegated Bergenia Tubby Andrews, Pittosporum Tom Thumb, Brunnera and variegated Laurel

On one of Jenny’s regular visits to The Hollies, she spotted this green/turquoise decomposing wood and wondered if it was from copper or algae.  The Hollies attained Platinum in this year’s Parks in Bloom competition

Jane brought along a steel fencing pin to show how robust they are and easy to use when staking plants as they have a pointed tip.  These can be purchased from builders merchants 

Notice Board

The Paxton Late Autumn show is on Saturday 25^th November.  Can anyone help in the kitchen or by baking produce?  The Show is open to the public from 2 pm.

Caroline has requested that Friday Forum annual subscription of £12.00 be paid within the next four meetings.  Payment should be made either by cheque made out to Paxton Horticultural Society or cash in a named envelope please. 

If any members have suggestions for forums to be included in next year’s programme, please let the committee know. 

Next Meeting

 

Presentation by Roger Parkinson of The Woodland Trust plus a demonstration of a seasonal floral arrangements to show members how to make their own for the following meeting.

“Parks and playgrounds are the soul of a city.” ― Marty Rubin

Presentation:  Municipal Marvels by Peter Mathers

We heard a fascinating talk by Peter, who took us through the history of the public park from its inception up to the present day.  He gave us an illustrated guide to many of the parks from the earliest one in the world at Birkenhead which opened on 5 April 1847, designed by Joseph Paxton, to the most recent in Birmingham, a roof garden at the public library opened in 2013.

He reminded us that we all have happy memories of being taken to the park at an early age and that today the councils are finding funding difficult for these wonderful areas which are mainly free to the public and rely more and more on volunteers.

 Burnby at Pocklington

 Sewerby nr Bridlington

 Valley Gardens Harrogate

 Queen's Park, Hull - a former dock

I’m sure Peter has encouraged us to add some of these parks to our places to visit list and look at others in a new light.

Display Table

Sue G’s fragrant Abelia Grandiflora

 Judith’s Ipheion

 Carl brought Sedum to illustrate how long lasting these flowers are.  Those at the front of the vase were picked a month ago, whereas those at the back of the vase were picked that day

Ann’s garden still has a wide variety of flowers at the beginning of November: Amecia zygomeris, Fatsia Japonica, Dahlia Australis, Persicaria Fat Domino, Rudbeckia, the annual Titohnia rotundfolia, a red Hesperantha, the pink Hesperantha Mrs Hegarty, Fuchsia and Saxifrafa fortunii.

The Hesperantha Mrs Hegarty' was named by Sir Frederick Moore, the Director of Glasnevin Botanic Garden, after the lady who discovered a chance pink seedling in her garden in County Galway in 1914. She was persuaded to show her plant at the RHS show in London in 1919

Notice Board

There is still a need for a membership secretary.  Can you help?

Dorothy informed us that this year’s plant sales have raised over £800!  Dates for next year will be decided soon.

If anyone has any recommendations/offers of gardens to visit in 2018, please let the committee know.

Dates for your diary

Next meeting:  17^th November – Friday forum’s Gardeners Question Time