Tulips from Amsterdam goes the song, but where did they originate?

Presentation: Tracy Foster – The remarkable story of the Tulip

We learnt some fascinating facts about the origins, trade and types of Tulips. Originally from Southern Europe to Central Asia, tulips were brought to Turkey and then to Holland in the Golden Age. Tulip bulbs were prized and changed hands for extortionate sums. Now Keukenhof in South Holland showcases 7 million tulips each Spring. We all know a lot more about Tulips and the best ones to choose for our gardens.

Display Table

 

Judith brought Mimulus gullatus, Senecio vira vira, Phytolacca Laka Boom, an annual Hibiscus; Triornum, Rudbeckia, Tithonium, Agastache with yellow leaves and blue tip.

 

Suzanne brought Salvia ‘Pink Lips’, Anemone ‘White Swan’, Verbena bonariensis, mophead Hydrangea macrophylla hortensia, Salvia ‘Nachtvinder’, Geranium ‘Rozanne’, Aster frikartii monch, Lysimachia clethroides (goose neck loose strife), Oxalis Deppei (lucky clover), Crocosmia, Eurybia divaricata farnley known as Aster divaricatus, Heuchera ‘Amethyst Mist’ which has crimson foliage with blue veins, Ferns: the evergreen Polystichum Makinoi which has formed a clump 2ft x 2ft, a deciduous fern, the semi-evergreen Dryopteris atrata and the evergreen Polystichum tsussimense

Liz brought Echinops, Dalias, one was ‘Edge of Joy’, Rudbeckia ‘Rudy Fire’, Salvia ‘Saigon’, Aster monch and a yellow Scabious 

 Dorothy brought wo varieties of Phlox, Kerria, various Dahlias, Antirrhinum, Fuchsia tryphylla Thalia, Vipers Bugloss and Mirabilis jalapa

 

Ann brought Itea illicfolia, Gentiana asclepiada, Liriope muscari, Fuchsia ‘Denise’, Persicaria affinis, Eucomis bicolor, Crocosmia ‘Harlequin’, Ceratosticma ‘Desert Skies’ and Tithonia

 Kate’s Fern with an interesting history: Polypodium cambricum ‘Richard Kayse’

Around about the time that Vermeer was finishing his painting ‘The Astronomer’, and in the year that Spain recognised Portugal as an independent nation, a man named Richard Kayse from Bristol discovered this beautiful fern growing on limestone cliffs near Cardiff.

Two centuries later it had disappeared from cultivation, and it was not until another 200 years had passed,in 1980,that fern expert Martin Rickard set out with a pair of binoculars and rediscovered it in the exact same spot, in an area which is now an SSSI: Site of Special Scientific Interest.

This beautiful, slowly spreading fern is easy to grow even in quite dry soils, and as polypodium do not really start to make new growth until late summer, they then reward us with their fresh green fronds at a time of year when everything else is looking a little tired.

Being sterile, the only way to propagate it is by division, (polypodium means many little feet which makes this quite easy)so my polypodium, whose shimmering green foliage looks so stunning during this rather dark and dreary month, is directly descended from that original plant

Kate brought an article by Val Bourne from the Guardian about watering the garden during a dry period. She says that while many plants will look after themselves, Geum and Astrantia will suffer, plus new roses, clematis and hydrangeas and will benefit from a bucket of two of water a week. I’m sure some of our members did this as soon as they got home.

In the vegetable garden, cabbage beetroot and carrots will do fine but suggests growing beans up a wigwam shape.

 

Norma can just be seen behind the plants of the Friday Forum sales table which is always very popular

Upcoming Flower Shows

13^th September: Cookridge Annual Show, Cookridge Village Hall LS16 7ER, 2 – 4 pm with Raffle, Plants, Tombola, Cacti and refreshment.

Amended date:  *Sunday 28^th September*: Paxton Autumn Show, OPAL Community Centre, 55 Bedford​​ Drive, Leeds LS16 6DJ, from 1.30 pm, Tombola, refreshments, further details to follow

Next Meeting: 5^th September – A presentation by Friday Forum member Suzanne White on her visits to gardens in Japan.

Stephen Medley’s Marvellous Garden

 As we approached Stephen’s garden and saw the beautiful street border, we knew were were promised a good garden visit.

Stephen gave us a potted history of the development of his 2 acre plot with free draining sandy loam soil from a virtual field in 1994 to what we saw on our visit.In 1995 the hard landscaping was constructed a professional firm made the front garden with lawns and planted mainly shrubs in the shallow borders.Stephen then took on the challenge of transforming the garden to his taste tackling each bed in turn in a week of his holiday from work. The front garden today is a stunning area, influenced by Piet Oudelf, using matrix planting with grasses and other plants running through. The garden with its sustainable plants, many of which reseeding, and shrubs mostly looks after itself. This doesn’t stop Stephen being out in his garden every day.

We then went through to the back garden which wowed us even more! Five years ago, Stephen had used this area for a project on his RHS course with input from his daughter with her designer background.

 A lovely backdrop of the fields behind

We loved this garden with its plants of different shapes, colours and textures. We took away some ideas and our “plants to buy” lists doubled. Stephen patiently answered our many questions on the names and growing conditions of the plants.

We thanked Stephen for taking the time to show us around his stunning garden and the visit ended with tea and delicious homemade cake, which was kindly provided by a few of our members.

Next meeting: 15^th August – Presentation by Tracy Foster on Tulips

The Dapper Dahlia Expert

Presentation

PETER MATHERS

As always Peter’s talk was full of information and he was resplendent in one of his waistcoats.  He gave us a fascinating talk entitled DIARIES, DAHLIAS AND DEADLINES.
He took us on a journey from halls and castles and gardens known for their literary connections. These included BOLSOVER CASTLE, WORTLEY HALL, MULGRAVE CASTLE, RENISHAW HALL (visit for their bluebells), SHIBDEN HALL,  a London garden square (HEREFORD SQUARE) adjacent to GLOUCESTER ROAD, OXFORD BOTANIC GARDENS AND finally RIPON CATHEDRAL including fascinating insights into who lived or still lives there.

We all had lovely afternoon and enjoyed Liz’s baking.  Ginger and date loaf, and a tray bake of coconut, lime with a passion fruit topping.

The sales table made £47 so a big thank you to everyone who contributed and to Norma who manned the ‘shop’.

Display Table

 

KATE brought  Phlox ‘Blue Paradise’, Allium Angulosum, Monada ‘Deep Purple’,
Lythrum ‘Lady Sackville’, Saponaria ‘Max Frei’

 DOROTHY.    Penstemon, some miniatures, plus a miniature orange rose.   Dorothy doesn’t know their names.

 ANN.  Malvastrum lateritum (from Argentina and Uruguay), Allivin Flavum,
Mina Lobata (Pomoea), Ophiopogan planiscapus,
Dianthus isensis (dancing geisha), Tanacetum, Houttuynia Cordata

ANN.   Mandrake seed heads.     Flowers in January with purple flowers

TREVOR.  Dahlia ‘Arabian Night’ plus two unnamed dahlias.   Trevor bought a seed packet of pompom dahlias, nurtured them and was disappointed as not a pompom in sight!

Next Meeting

1^st August – Visit to Steven Medley’s garden in Mirfield. Members will receive full details by email.

Friday Forum Summer Show

 The numerous entries for our Summer Show brightened up the hall. Those gaining first place were awarded prizes. Judging was carried out by John Freer, who shared his knowledge about showing plants as well as giving us useful tips for future shows. Sandra judged the flower displays, Dorothy efficently completed the administration and Liz provided scones with strawberries. Our thanks go to all of them.

Here are photos of the entries and the winners of each category

 Class 1:  One stem Floribunda Rose

 1st prize - Eric

 Class 2:  One stem any other Rose

 1st prize - Brenda

 

1st prize for Class 4 one vase of Sweet Peas goes to Eric

 

 Class 5:  One vase cut flowers judged for frontal effect

Class 6:  One pot plant, flowering and 1st prize goes to Amanda

Class 7:  One pot plant non-flowering

1st prize - Norma

Class 8:  Exhibit of Fruit or Vegetable

1st prize - Dorothy

Class 9:  Posy for a bridesmaid.  1st prize - Amanda

Class 10:  A vase of flowers for pollinators

1st prize - Amanda

1st prize - Amanda

 

Congratulations to all, especially to Amanda for gaining first prize in four categories!

Display Table

Ann brought Fillependula ‘Red Umbrella’ which thrives in damp soil

Kate’s jug contains: Phlox ‘Franz Schubert’, Spiraea ‘Little Princess’, Dianthus carthusianorum, Astrantia maxima, Allium angulosum, Tradescantia, Persicaria ‘Pink Elephant’, Persicaria ‘Blackfield’, Betonica officinales ‘Hummels’ (was Stachys) and Rosa The Fairy

Next Meetings

18th July: Presentation - Peter Mathers. Diaries, Dahlias and Deadlines

1st August: Visit to Steven Medley’s garden in Mirfield. Further details tba.