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.
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| Burnby at Pocklington |
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| Sewerby nr Bridlington |
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| Valley Gardens Harrogate |
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| 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
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| Sue G’s fragrant Abelia Grandiflora |
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| Judith’s Ipheion |
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| 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 | |
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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 |
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.
Next meeting: 17th November – Friday forum’s Gardeners Question Time
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