The Adventurous Gardener

 

Hilary Hutson gave us an interesting talk on
The Adventurous Gardener.

This will be the fourth or fifth time Hilary has come to talk to us but this was the first time in our new location.

Hilary showed us lots of pictures of lesser known plants.  One of her top ten plants is AQUILEGIA Fancy Finch.

She talked about cross pollination, vagaries of the weather and how fences, walls and other boundaries don’t always shield plants.
 She advised us of the importance of knowing your own soil and how to get hold of unusual plants.

This was a most absorbing talk by Hilary who had put an enormous amount of work into it using graphs, charts and illustrations in her presentation.

Display Table

 Ann’s vase contained Paris – quadrifolia, Arum, May Lily and purple Lamium

 

 Kate brought Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko', Silene fimbriata, Geranium nodosum 'Blueberry Ice', Persicaria bistorta, Geum 'Lemon Drops', Lily of the Valley, Cotinus 'Royal Purple' and Actinidia 'Kolomikta'

Next Meeting: Friday 5^th June. This is a garden visit and members are asked to meet at 1.30 pm. Details are given below.

The Flowers and Gardens of Barbados

Talk

Hilary Hutson gave a fascinating presentation on the flowers and gardens of Barbados.

 

Her illustrated talk included the history, geography and culture of the island which, unlike the other volcanic islands of the West Indies, is made of coral and soil had to be imported. We saw photos of the beautiful flowers and trees in gardens from the little Chattel Houses to the huge Old Plantation Houses. We learnt that National Trust members can use their cards to visit Barbados National Trust properties.

 Display Table

Ann’s Allium Carinatum (Keeled Garlic) which is a pretty colour but very invasive 

Ann’s vase contains Houttuynia Cordata, Ceratostigma Willmottianum Desert Skies, the dramatic black grass Ophiopgon planiscapus nigrescens and a smaller Agapanthus Windlebrooke from a visit to Beth Chatto’s garden 

Kate brought Phlox paniculata in various colours: The King, Franz Schubert, Flame Purple, Monica Lynden-Bell and Blue Paradise 

Maggie brought a bouquet of blue: Ceratostigma Willmottianum, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, the scented, shrubby Clematis Cassandra and the sea holly, Eryngium amesthystinum 

Peter’s Datura noxia which he bought as a small plant from the Friday Forum sales table 

Next Meeting 19th August - a talk by Brian Dennison