Saturday 8 May 2021

Final virtual meeting for Friday Forum

 It was a bitter-sweet moment for Friday Forum as we had our final Zoom meeting, we hope.  It hasn’t been the same as face to face, not being able to smell the flowers and no cup of tea, but it has kept us going for over a year.

This meeting was spent discussing what works well and what we are planting up in our summer pots.

Linda was a fan of Begonias which perform well in wet or dry conditions and pots up perennials which are better at looking after themselves than bedding plants.

Kate saw an article by Sarah Raven in the RHS magazine which recommended that a pot should contain a thriller (the wow factor) a filler (for the gaps) and a spiller (to trail over the edge).

Liz likes Cosmos and had just planted up vertical planter pouches with trailers such as bidens, petunias, fuchsias and bacopa. 

Maggie prefers flowers of the same colour in her containers.  She uses Heuchera with perennials with ivy to soften the edges or dense plantings of geraniums.

Norma is planting a bee friendly hanging basket as she did successfully last year with mini trailing petunias, bacopa, fuchsias Heidi Anne and Auntie Jinks and Peach Melba.

Sue had lost some plants to the bad weather but will try again with Salvias, Hostas, tubs of small vegetables, Argyranthemums and Fuchsia Tom West.

Amanda usually buys plug plants on-line but found stocks were low this year.  Nevertheless, she is planting up in the greenhouse nine colour co-ordinated pots in white, blue and purple with various scented plants with a purple bean as a central focus point.

Judith, our Queen of Pots, has chosen a colour scheme of Silver, White and Blue and includes various bedding plants, Salvia farinacea, Argyranthemum and the Coleus, which won her a Gold at Harrogate.

Norma sent a photo of a lovely little Tulip ‘Tyke’



Dorothy sent some pictures of her garden

Abutilon

Apple trees growing on my arch left side Lord Lambourne right side Fiesta

Doronicum, tulips and heuchera in the kitchen garden

Avery showing it’s Spring colours
Notice Board

If you have been missing visiting gardens and plant sales, just look at the opportunities available in our area.

Sale of perennial plants in the car park of Paxton Hall, 186 Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 2AB on Saturday 22nd May, 10-11.30am.  Outdoors (come rain or shine!)  

Make a day of it!  Later on Saturday 22nd May, 12noon-5pm is Peter Williams’ Open Garden at Weathervane House, Seaton Ross, YO42 4NE, again

This garden and a number of other Open Garden throughout the summer are in aid of the Yorkshire Arboretum and details can be found on the arboretum website www.yorkshirearboretum.org

Carol Abbot’s award-winning garden will be open Sunday 23rd May 12pm - 5pm at 4A Blackwood Rise Cookridge LS16 7BG. Admission £3.50, children free. Refreshments available plant and bric-a-brac for sale cover for inclement weather.  Proceeds to the National Garden Scheme. DRIVERS PLEASE PARK ON TINSHILL LANE

The date for Roundhay Open Gardens is Sunday 4 July. Start at any point on the map, which will be made available.  Most gardens are in easy walking distance.

Here is the link to a presentation given to HardyPlants by Tracy Foster on garden design.  It may only be available for another week 

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/TW75sTMugisSN8ZWlYTDSczIwOJmPFf6jZW-jssBOUarj9F1OPF-uDgdfEQNpfc_.uBsJK51U8tq5LuIZ

Next meeting

4th June: Garden visit. Sue Gray’s garden,Ilkley, from 1.30pm, refreshments available.  Members have received the full address by email.