“November comes, and November goes. With the last red berries and the first white snows.” Clyde Watson

Presentation: Suzanne White allowed us to look around Beth Chatto’s garden in her interesting and informative illustrated presentation. 

Beth Chatto OBE, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 94, won many awards for her garden which she developed from nothing into beautiful gardens that provide a demonstration of her mantra 'Right plant; right place' showing how plants thrive when they’re grown in the conditions that suit them best. Suzanne’s photos, taken on her visit in summer, showed us the various parts of the garden and the choice of plants for damp, shade and dry conditions in the renown gravel garden developed on the former car park.

Display Table

Proving that there is still colour and interest to be had in our gardens:

Ann’s display contains Fatsia japonica, Fuchsia Genii, the winter flowering Iris unguicularis, Hypercium with its black berries, Nerine Bowdenii, Persicaria J S Caliante and Golden Arrow and Amicia zygomeris which she rings with copper to stop it being eaten by pests

Carol brought Hesperantha coccinea major Pink Princess plus another pink one, Fuchsia, Jamaican Primrose, Viburnum Tinus and white Chrysanthemum

Carol’s Christmas (or Thanksgiving) Cactus in full bloom

Peter brought a variety of plants including Mahonia Charity, Liriope, Salvias and Hesperantha, Mallow, Passion Flower, Alpine Anchusa and Cyclamen

Suzanne brought Choisya ternata “Sundance”, Carex morowii “Ice Dance”, Salvia “Pink Lips”, Sedum “Autumn Joy”, Potentilla “Miss Willmott”, Salvia Amistad, Erysimum Bowles Mauve, Anemone “Splendens” and an unidentified white flower.

Still out in Kate’s garden: Asplenium scolopendrium “Golden Queen”, Hydrangea macrophylla “Tricolor”, Alchemilla mollis, Salvia “Nachtvlinder”, Fatsia Japonica, Astrantia “Buckland”,Blechnum spricant, Polystichum setiferumpolystichum setiferum “Pulcherrimum Bevis” and Panicum “Purple Haze”

Next Meeting: December 1st Presentation – In the not so Bleak Midwinter – Peter Williams

“Fallen leaves lying on the grass in the November sun bring more happiness than the daffodils.” Cyril Connolly

 

Presentation: Steve Halliwell – Logan Botanic Gardens

Steve with his newly published book "The Snowdrop"

Steve walked and talked us through Logan Botanic Garden with illustrations from his visit to the gardens which were established in 1869 at the south-western tip of Scotland.

Voted 'Best Garden in the UK' 2021, Logan enjoys an almost subtropical climate and its walled garden includes one of the remaining walls of Logan Castle. We thanked Steve for what was a most interesting and comprehensive talk.

Display Table

There is still a lot of interest in our gardens at the beginning of November, with some plants even flowering again.

Judith’s Miscanthus malepartus is from one of two clumps in her garden and stands well over 6 ft. (How did it fit in the car?) Judith said anyone who wants some is welcome to dig some up.

John F brought a pot of Oxalis Youval which he grew from three bulbs

Ann brought Venus Fly Trap, Dionaea muscipula, which grows in the bogs of North and South Carolina and the carnivorous Butterwort Pinguicula Grandiflora which grows in W. Europe and S. America

Dorothy grew this wonky carrot

Dorothy’s Echeveria in flower

Kate brought Aralia ‘Sun King’, Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’, Salvia, Melianthus major ‘Purple Leaf’ and a selection of Persicarias

Linda brought Persicaria, Gaura ‘Freefolk Rosy’, Salvia ‘Hot Lips’, Abelia, Artemisia ‘Powys Castle’, Cosmos ‘Gazebo Mixed’, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and Spirea

Next meeting: 17^th November – Suzanne will talk about her visit to Beth Chatto’s garden