The show must go on

Talk:  Behind the scenes at the Chelsea Flower Show

Tracy Foster gave us a fascinating presentation about her 2012 exhibit which she based on Yorkshire and the Brontes. 

Applications for the show are made in August for the garden to be completed the following May.  Tracy began by thoroughly researching the Bronte family and where they lived, made a preliminary drawing and a rough 3D model from plasticine.  She then had to source the plants, the stone and even trees with a windswept look.  It takes a lot of hard work, especially in the time allotted to build the garden in the week before the show.  Her efforts earned her a gold medal.

Tracy is exhibiting again at Chelsea this year inspired by the Yorkshire coastline.  We shall be interested to see the finished garden, especially now we know the background and the work that goes into it.

Display Table

On the left Janella’s snowdrops S.Arnott, which came from Derek’s garden with Margaret H’s on the left which she double pots to frost proof the containers.  In the pot on the right of the frame are Margaret’s Cyclamen Coum

One of the stalks of Carol's Tasmanian Tiger Euphorbia broke off and she pushed it into a plant pot.  It threw up new shoots and it will soon be coming off Death Row! 
(This is not the specimen that Carol brought in)

Gill bought the attractive Primula and Hellebore at High Trees Nursery, which now has a good cafe as well as offering good plants http://www.hightrees.co.uk/

Carol’s container includes the unusual Grevillea rosmarinifolia jenkensii, Daphne intermedia Jacqueline Postill, Hamamelis Arnold Promise, Viburnum Dawn, Hellebores and Heathers

Ann’s jug contains Hamamelis Aphrodite, Iris unguicularis, Iris Harmony, Iris Kathryn Hodgkin, Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite), various snowdrops, Crocus tommasinianus, Scilla Tubergeniana, Hellebores tibetana, Cyclamen coum, Arum italicum Marmoratum leaf. Osteospermum Orange and Narcissus Tête-à-tête

Gill brought Cornus mas, Mahonia, Corydalis, Snowdrops, double and single, Snowflakes, Primrose vulagaris and the white form.

Notices

Dorothy advised us of the dates of the Paxton sales (see below) when we will be selling plants and bric a brac.  Members are asked to bring any items they have for the first sale to the Friday Forum on the day before the sale; March 17^th.

Margaret D was thanked for the wonderful way she has organised the kitchen on Show days over many years.  Margaret is now standing down and we are looking for someone to take over this task.

Graham reminded us of the Paxton AGM which will be on Tuesday 25^th April at 8:00 pm and urged members to attend.

Janella is taking bookings for our day trip (see the page Garden Visits 2017for details) and has informed us that non-members are welcome to join us.

Next Meeting

3^rd March – Forum, York Gate, our local treasure

Behind the scenes at Chelsea

Talk: Behind the scenes at Chelsea by Pat Inman 

Dynamic Pat is Secretary of the Hardy Plant Society and has been involved with horticulture for 30 years, leading teams to winning medals at Chelsea.

Their first stand, True Yorkshire Grit – hardy plants for tough places, consisted of strong vertical and horizontal lines symbolising the skyline of contemporary Leeds. A wide variety of plants were displayed to demonstrate some of the challenging situations that hardy plants are capable of thriving in such as Hot, Dry and Stony, Dry and Shady and Wet and Boggy.

We learned how, after 18 months of sourcing funds, submitting the brief and design, they had to loan a huge polytunnel for all the plants (some loaned from gardens of members), cope with the harsh winter of 2009 and transport a load of plants down to Norfolk to get them into flower in time for the show. Form filling was demanding, a rota system had to be devised for passes into the grounds and   every item they would be needing including compost had to be brought with them.  The team overcame problems such as having to work through the night and the heat and humidity causing the verbascum to lose its colour.

Once there, the team had to adhere to all the regulations of the showground from the precise dimensions of the stand, hi viz clothing not to mention having to dissemble the whole display and leave it as they began.  Plants were sold off in the final frenzy but those on loan had to be returned to their owners.

It was a wonderful experience which paid off as the stand was awarded a silver medal.

The team entered again in 2013 when they could draw on past experience and brought along loads of plants to sell off on the final day which made a significant contribution to the expenses.  

Hardy Plants attained Silver Gilt for the Bridge of Time  

Thank you Pat for a wonderful insight into what goes on behind the scenes at Chelsea.

Display Table

 Brian’s chrysanthemum balou

 Cineraria to brighten up the garden

Gill brought examples of plants still flowering in her garden in mid-November including

Primrose, redhornet crab apple, fatsia,  saxifraga fortune, Osteospermum, corydalis, hesperentha and viburnum

 

 Ann’s Fascicularia Bicolor, a Bromeliad from Chile which has pale blue flowers, attracted a lot of interest from members.

Notice Board

Norma brought her ceramic poppy from the display at the Tower of London.

Carl requested the green tops from plastic milk containers of semi-skimmed milk for charity.

The cleaning blitz of Paxton Hall was effective and the Bring and Buy sale was a financial success which will be repeated next year.

Subscriptions for 2015 has been increased by £1 and can be paid from now.
Friends of Paxton meet regularly on the first Monday of the month from Midday.  An hour or two or your time to help maintain the premises are always welcome.  If another date is more suitable for you, please let us know.  

Dates for your Diary

Next Meeting:  5^th December – Yorkshire Wildlife

Christmas Party:  19^th December.  This year we will again be taking part in James' Xmas Quiz and we will be making festive displays.