What memoir of childhood doesn't at some point turn on the scent of a sweet pea or a freshly cut lawn or a boxwood hedge, to leap the fence of years? — Michael Pollan

Presentation

David Matthewman gave us an interesting and detailed talk on Growing Sweet Peas. David, who started out working in Parks, and, after many years is retiring from his successful business  growing sweet peas at the end of this year. He has won many top awards at prestigious flower shows during this time. We learnt that the UK sweet peas came from Sicily in 1699 and were blue/maroon in colour until  Henry Eckford in the town of Wem in Shropshire bred new colours. Nobody has managed to grow a yellow sweet pea!  In 1900, Silas Cole, the gardener at Althorp, the estate of Earl and Countess Spencer, discovered a larger flowered sweet pea, Countess Spencer, and by 1910, the sweet pea was the most popular annual flower in cultivation.

David took us through the sowing, planting and growing of sweet peas. We saw photographs of his nursery and of the growing process through to collecting the seeds.

Some of the plants David brought from his nursery

Display Table

Norma’s large flowered Hellebores and Skimmia which attract the bees with their scent.

Kate’s container: Smimmia, Pachyphragma macrophyllum, Euphorbia characias ‘Black Pearl’,Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’ and Veronica umbrosa ‘Georgia Blue’

Suzanne brought Helleborus Argutifolius and double Ellen White, Ribes sanguineum, Brunnera macrophylla and macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’,Euphorbia amygaloides var. robbiae, Narcissus tete boucle, Osmanthus burkwoodii and Pulmonaria affinis

Thank you:

Our thanks go to Norma for arranging our speakers for many years

and also to Liz for the refreshments which this week featured scrumptious chocolate cake and fruit loaf.

Next Meeting:  5^th April is Friday Forum Spring Show. Below is a list of the categories so you can plan ahead. John Freer will judge the show assisted by Eric . John will give us a talk after the judging and he usually makes a collection for charity if you wish to bring some change.

FRIDAY FORUM SPRING SHOW

5th APRIL 2024

CLASS 1 One vase containing one Daffodil

CLASS 2 One vase containing three Daffodils

CLASS 3 One vase containing three Tulips

CLASS 4 Container of Spring flowering bulbs

CLASS 5 One pot plant, indoor or outdoor

CLASS 6 One vase containing flowering branches

CLASS 7 Dish of floating flower heads

Daffodils, that come before the swallow dares, and take the winds of March with beauty. -William Shakespeare

Friday Forum held its AGM. Chairman and Treasurer’s reports are available for members.  Committee members were thanked and appreciation was shown to Liz for donating her delicious cakes  to our meetings.

Display Table

Judith’s Corydalis cheilanthifolia, the fern-leaved corydalis

Judith’s Corydalis Chocolate Stars with bronze leaves

(photo not available)

Kate brought Camelias Simple rouge and Silver Wedding, Prunus incisa Kojo-no-mai, Narcissus Jetfire and Chaenomeles Crimson and Gold

Sue G’s vase contains Corydalys solida grown from corms Beth Evans and the red George Baker, Winter Honeysuckle, Muscari, Daffodils pseudonarcissus and Tête à Tête, Daphne 'Jacqueline Postill' , Erythronium 'Purple King', Pulmonaria ‘Trevi Fountain’, Iberis ‘Candytuft’ and Crocus tommasinianus 'Ruby Giant'

Ann brought a variety of Arum leaves which differ in shape and markings: Arum maculatum, Arum italicum 'Marmoratum,Pictum and Creticum

Amanda sent us seeds and sowing instructions for Achimenes (Hot Water Plant)

Caroline brought a magazine article on Charles Dowding’s no-dig method

Forthcoming Events

Paxton Spring Show will take place on Saturday 13^th April.

Next Meeting

15^th March - Presentation on Growing Sweet Peas by David Matthewman