How to improve your chances at Flower Shows and Plants for Shade

Presentation:  Improve your chances at Flower Shows

 John Freer

The multi-prizewinning and knowledgeable John Freer showed us the best way to stage exibits to improve your chances of winning at Flower Shows.

John passed on invaluable tips such as bringing a wet and dry cloth to ensure your vase is clean, place pot plants on a saucer and label your entries where the judges and public can see.

He had various other implements in his box of tricks to achieve the first prize, leaving us well prepared to enter Friday Forum’s own Spring Mini Show on April 5^th or Paxton Spring Show on March 30^th.

Plants for Shade

We had many books and articles with information about plants to suit the shady areas of our gardens.

 Carole’s Leucothoe axil Curly Red

 

Jenny’s Rohdea japonica, related to the Aspidistra 

Jenny’s tried and test Ground cover for shade: Jenny’s container includes symphytum hidcote pink and blue, pachyphragma macrophyllum, Trachystemon orientalis

Other plants recommended by Jenny for shade include: maianthemum bifolium with its heart shaped leaves, Beesia calthifolia, Euphorbia robbiae, Gunnera manicato, Astilboides tabularis, Geranium nodosum Blueberry Ice, white vinca, Wood anemones, Ferns and Hepatica.

Janellarecommended  Viburnum tinus,  Ivy, Holly, Skimmia, Sarcococca confusa, Pachysandra, Lamium galeobdolon yellow archangel, Euonymus emerald and gold, Pulmonaria officinalis and Vinca

Other members cited  Arum italicum subsp. italicum 'Marmoratum', Hosta Halcyon, Brunnera Jack Frost, and Foxgloves

 

 

Sue G – not particularly shade loving but will grow in spring deciduous trees:

Pulmonaria Opal, Silver Bouquet, diana clare and Victorian Brooch, Erythronium, Epimedium, Pteridophyllum racemosum, Glaucidium palmatum

Display Table

 All these are blooming in Ann's garden now.  Sadly I forgot to pick up the list which Ann obligingly draws up for me

 Jerry’s Spiraea 

 

Judith’s Tulips The First

 Judith's Tulips an hour later!

Variegated wallflowers

 Sue G Anemone Pavonina which is a meadow type requiring full sun

 

Gill’s container includes Daffy Peeping Tom,  the fragrant winter flowering Honeysuckle, Allium paradoxum normale, Skimmia Kew Beauty, white Pulmonaria, Pachyphragma, Vinca illumination, Cyclamen coum, Cardamine, Pieris

Notice Board

A plant sale is being held on the afternoon of 30^th March, after Paxton Spring Flower Show

Dorothy has made a request for plants which could be brought to the preceding meeting (15th March) or on the day of the sale.

 

Next Meeting

15th March:  Presentation by Phil Gomersall BEM on Creating an Allotment Show Garden and what the President gets up to!

  

Mini Spring Show

We had more than our usual number of entries for all categories.  Thanks to John Freer and Graham for judging and Rose for logging the entries.

Category 1: 

 

 1^st Prize Dorothy Ambridge, Daffodil Sportsman

Category 2:

 

1^st Prize Dorothy Ambridge, 3 Daffodils

 

Category 3:

 

 

 1^st Prize Judith Ladley, 3 Tulips Red Apeldoorn

Category 4:

 1^st Prize Janella Cranswick, Container of spring flowering bulbs

Category 5: 

1^st prize Carl Denton, Trillium

Category 6: 

 

1^st prize Margaret Denton

Category 7:

 1^st prize Janella Cranswick, dish of floating Camellias

Presentation

We know John Freer as a judge of our flower show and for his prize winning blooms.  He surprised us today when he told us that his main hobby is knitting.  He learnt to knit as a young boy and started to enter competitions.  He brought along samples of his work and it wasn’t just your basic stitches.  He uses intricate patterns and produces beautiful shawls and scarves, ganzies, hats and other useful items.

Display Table

Margaret H brought a lovely pot of tulips, the leaves of which were unfortunately suffering from what she suspected was Tulip fire.  Our bulb expert and show judge, John, advised her to better be safe than sorry and discard the tulips.  In the discussion that followed, Judith said many of her bulbs had been unsuccessful this year and Ann and John both peeled back the outer scales of their bulbs to check for mould.

Judith’s stunning Tulip Red Apeldoorn

 

 Graham’s purple Primula pubescens and Linden Lancelot, which took a lot of patience to raise

Ann’s Crown Imperial 

Ann’s Fritillaria Impperialis, meleagris and Uva- vulpis, Erythronium revolutum, pagoda, white beauty and tuolmnense, Scilla liliohyacinthus

Ann’s Rhododendron Bluetit and Chaenomeles Geisha Girl

 Can anyone make Sue and Jenny's wishes come true?

Notice Board

Jenny reported back from the Paxton meeting:

·              The drive at Paxton Hall is very worn and will be very expensive to replace.  Can anyone help financially or with a fundraiser?

·               Paxton is holding its AGM at Paxton Hall on Tuesday 25 April at 8 pm.  Please show your support by attending, in view of local societies having to close, and if anyone can help out by joining the committee, it would be appreciated.

We wish Elizabeth good health and happiness in her new home in Otley.

Graham told us how well the recent Paxton Spring Show went.

There are still a few places for our day trip in June.

National Gardening Week is 10 – 16 April.  Send in a photo of something you did this week!

Next Meeting

April 21^st:  Forum – Practical Gardening, propagation and plug plants to grow on