What have plants done for us …. at Christmas

 Presentation:  The delightful Tracy Foster gave an enthralling talk on what plants have done for us …. with a Christmas twist.  She explained the importance of plants in feeding, clothing, sheltering and curing us as well as inspiring great works of art and for decorating our homes.  We learnt the history, facts and fiction about everything from holly to hemp and sage to stevia. 

Gardening Matters

If the weather keeps you from gardening, consider these:  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-7736549/Blooming-brilliant-best-gardening-reads-2019.html

Notice Board

Subscriptions for 2020 are due on first or second meetings in January and remain at £12.00.   Please make out cheque to Paxton Horticultural Society of pay by cash in named envelope.

York Gate Garden in Adel has put out a call for further volunteers, with the perk of free access.  http://perennial.org.uk/garden/york-gate-garden/

Paxton library has received a number of books from the estate of our late member Celia Latham Brown.  As most of you will know, Celia gave Friday Forum interesting lectures on many topics, all researched meticulously from books rather than using a computer.  Celia had compiled notes for two more presentations, so if anyone would like to use these for a talk, this would be a fitting memorial.  The topics are Trees and Botanical Illustrations.

Jane has some beautifully illustrated booklets of the past and present of the Valley Gardens, Harrogate.  They sell for £5.00 each with profits going to Friends of Valley Gardens.   

Next Meeting

20^th December – Friday Forum Christmas Party:  Tis the season to be jolly, so festive attire encouraged.  You are welcome to bring nibbles, board games etc.  There will be crafting for those who wish so bring any bits and pieces to create table decorations, wreaths or candleholders and amaze your guests.  There will be some seasonal foliage available.

 Some Gill made earlier

Brightens any room

3^rd January – New Year Forum

The full programme for 2020 is now available and will be on the blog’s Programme page shortly.

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

"November’s sky is chill and drear, November’s leaf is red and sear." — Sir Walter Scott

Talk:  Hedgehogs in the Garden

We were fortunate to have the opportunity to listen to the multitalented Tracy Foster at Friday Forum this week.  Tracy is a Chelsea Gold Medal Winning garden designer, teacher lecturer and writer and spoke to us about hedgehogs, their declining numbers and how we can encourage them into our gardens.

It was a fascinating and informative presentation which included the history, myths, facts and characteristics of these prickly but cute mammals.

We learnt that hedgehogs travel about a mile a night and need a small hole in garden fences to ease their foraging journey.  Also hedgehogs are lactose intolerant so, rather than bread and milk, feeding them cat or dog food is preferable.  They are a gardener’s friend as they eat caterpillars and slugs.

Further information on hedgehogs can be found at:

www.britshhedgehogs.org.uk or www.hedgehogstreet.org

Display Table

The contributions to the display table were remarkable in that most of the plants would have finished flowering or past their best at this time of year.  We can’t promise that they will give you a display next November, but there are lots of ideas to extend the season.

Ann’s pot contains Ricinus communis with its poisonous seeds, Amicia zygomeris,  Stokesia laevis, Tricyrtis, Campanula, The Mexican sunflower Tithonia,  Dahlia merckii  Flaxton, caltha palustris, Persicaria affinis, erysimum, crocus conqueror, saxifrage fortunei, Hesperantha coccinea Mrs Hegarty

Gill’s vase contains Hesperantha, Cosmos, Pelargonium Lord Bute, Yellow Poppy, Osteospermum and Michaelmas Daisies

Kate brought Grasses:  Miscanthus Fontaine, Pennisetum charmingly named fairy tails and an attractive tender one, Hesperantha, Hemerocallis, Rosa the fairy and the beautifully scented Blush Noisette, Penstemon 'Burgundy', Mallow, Astrantia Buckland

James brought the heritage plant, the Chrysanthemum Suffolk Pink

 These stunning spiky Cactus dahlias were brought in by Margaret

 Gill E’s Vine leaves are beautiful autumn hues

 

Gill E’s container with Salvias including Amistad, Abelia, Phlox, the yellow Buddleia weyeriana, an ever flowering Wallflower, a mature Ivy, Goldstrum, Geranium nodosum, Mahonia winter sun, Michaelmas daisies and Corydalis lutea

 Judith’s Oxalis vulcanicola and Alstroemeria indian summer

Notice Board

Next Meeting:  18^th November – Forum.  Please bring something Poppy related to this meeting to acknowledge Remembrance Day.