A bare tree stands with roots on both ends in December days. ~Kiran Bantawa, "Bare Trees"

Creative Crafts

Have you ever wondered what gardeners do in the winter?  Well we can see what Friday Forum members get up to!

 

 Gill's wreaths and holly with ivy attractively sprayed gold.  Tips: when using sprays, hold upside down to stop bunging up.  Also cut a v shape in oasis to make watering easier

Outide pot with robin.  Easy to change plants for others as the season progresses

 Lovely silver and purple colour scheme.  Includes Eucalyptus and Senecio vira vira

 Liz B' made this ribbon tree

...  and a lovely tree of sweets

 L Norma brought these beautiful wall hangings, Janella's book Homemade Christmas, Kate's angels and Gillian J's figure called Brownie which her grandmother bought from Germany and comes apart to be filled with sweets

 Maggie framed cards and buttons

Linda's shadow frame, initial and painted stone using materials from beach and Celias paper angles made from a paper pattern

 Edna's pin cushion made from a kit and Janella's frames

 for cards

 Celia showed us how to fold a party serviette

 Janella brought this trough and matching pot which her friend made for her with decoupage

Display Table

 

There is still plenty of colour in the gardens of some of our members:

Phyllis had an impressive 44 plants flowering in her garden:  8 x fuchsias, 7 salvias, 3 x penstomens, 3 c perpetual wallflowers, primula, marigold, 3 x geraniums , scabious, kafir lily, sweet rocket, nasturtium, 2 x hellebores, 2 x heathers, jasmine, viola, 3 x cyclamen, 2 x rudbeckias, 2 x roses and an unidentified red flower

 Out in Ann’s garden are at least 24:  Clematis cirrhosa Lansdowne gem and Freckles, Iris unguicularis, Amicia zygomeris, Jasmininium nudifllorum, Hesperantha (red and pink), Astrantia, Alstromeria Indian Summer, Liriope muscari, 3 x Brunnera (Jack Frost, Sea Heart and Looking glass) Dahlia australis, Anemone, Nerine, allium italicum marmoratum, Pittosporum Tom Thumb, Persicaria, Rudbeckia, Erysimum and  Bupleurum

 Gill’s container with Cyclamen, Malus Red Sentinel, Viburnums  hortense dawn and tinus

Kate brought Pittosporum Tom Thumb, Ferns (polypodium cambricum Richard Kayse and Polystichum setiferum 'Pulcherrimum Bevis) and roses

Gardening Matters

"We garden for tomorrow, and thereafter. We garden in expectation, and that is why it is so invigorating. Gardening, you are no longer stuck in the here and now; you think backward, and forward, you think of how this or that performed last year, you work out your hopes and plans for the next. And for me, there is this abiding astonishment at the fury for growth, at the tenacity of plant life, at the unstoppable dictation of the seasons." Penelope Lively

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Garden-Penelope-Lively-ebook/dp/B073CB96DD/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1543483646&sr=1-1&keywords=life+in+the+garden+penelope+lively

Notice Board

The Friday Forum Programme 2019 page is now up on the Blog so you can enter the dates in your diaries. 

Next Meeting

21st December:  Friday Forum Christmas Party.  Activities include flower arranging and mince pies.  Festive dress obligatory, whether it be simply headgear or full costume!