First meeting of 2016 for Friday Forum

This is an excerpt from a poem by a late Paxton member, B H Woodhouse-Carr.  Although written some years ago, our weather is not that different today.

The Changing Weather

Thank goodness the winter has been and nearly gone,

But of snow there has been virtually none.

Instead high winds have come and taken their place,

Gales from the west we now have to face.

Danger lurks for everyone as they move around,

With trees and debris falling to the ground

An early spring is now on its way,

Rain and more rain being the order of the day.

With water from the hills filling reservoirs to the brink

Valley farms and homes in flood waters appear to sink

Gardeners, there is much earlier growth than in a bygone day,

Protection from a frost will always repay.

Temperatures are rising without more light,

Extra care must be taken to get it right.

Talk: Quetzals, Hoatzins and Incas by Peter and Barbara Murphy

Peter and Barbara gave Friday Forum the first talk of year last year on Brazil and this presentation on Peru at our first meeting of 2016 didn’t disappoint.  Peter fascinated us with the history, culture, architecture and wildlife of the area to the stunning photographs taken by Barbara. 

For those of us who may not get the opportunity to visit these sites, this was the next best thing.  The colourful birds and butterflies certainly made an impression.

Display Table

This cyclamen brought by Dorothy is 25 years old.  It thrives on neglect, not watered in the summer and gets some fresh compost when showing signs of growth

 Mary took these rose cuttings in September and although kept in the porch at night, she wonders if it can stay outside in the day

Phyllis takes the New Year challenge to find 20 flowers in the garden.  Here is the evidence which includes sweet rocket and pansy

Gill was amazed to see early flowering witch hazel along with tender salvia Amistad which continues to flower

 Gill also brought geranium nudosum, Bowles mauve, snowdrops and winter irises

 Eileen brought jasmine nudiflorum forestii, euonymus and Azalea Danfordii.  The latter has moved gardens a few times and originally came from her great grandmother who worked on the barges in the North East which brought in wood from Scandinavia and returned with coal

These are the seed heads of the cotton plant which were raised from seed

Ann’s basket contains Ipheon uniflorum; Froyle Mill, Charlotte Bishop and Alberto Castillo

 

 

A gift from Ann’s granddaughter; very appropriate

 Judith brought the attractive golden leaf salvia with a red flower which is still flowering

Notice Board

If any member has any ideas for garden visits, please let the committee know

Friday Forum annual membership now due

Next Meeting

February 5^th:  Good Garden Plants - a presentation by Pat Inman

Christmas Celebrations

Party Time

Friday Forum started celebrations with a Christmas Quiz with a seasonal theme set by Maggie and Kate.  There were mince pies plus a Christmas flower arrangement workshop; a selection of the finished products are shown below.

 

Display Table

Ann shared a Christmas card she had received from Doug Simpson, who introduced Red Kites into Yorkshire showing some of the items which have been found in their nests.  Read the back of the card for other extraordinary finds.  Incredible!

Gill brought a sprig of lonicera fragrantissima (winter-flowering honeysuckle) in flower

Gill also reminded us about the daffodil 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation which offers cheerful colour at this time of year. In milder winters, or in particularly sheltered gardens, this trumpet daffodil can be in bloom in late December or early January.  I have put a note in my diary for next year but some like the daffodil to herald the spring.  Any thoughts or personal preferences?

Next Meeting

Jan 15th       Presentation – Quetzals, Hoatzins and Incas by Peter and Barbara Murphy  
Please note that this is the only Friday Forum meeting in January.  For the full programme for 2016, please see the tab at the top of the blog.       

Winter Warmer

Speaker:  Susie Hart MBE, Craft Aid International 

Susie began her presentation by singing a Tanzanian song in her amazing voice while signing in deaf language.  Susie told us how the whole family moved to Iringa, where she set up workshops to give sustainable skills to the disabled who were stigmatised and lived in undignified conditions.  Along with her husband, a vet, they set up social enterprises making paper from elephant dung and various handicrafts along with a cafe and guest house, providing employment and training opportunities for local people with disabilities.  A facility providing physiotherapy and disability aids was also set up.

This model has been adopted in Peru and Craft Aid International also runs craft sessions for adults with disabilities in the UK.

We were all touched by the difference Susie made to the lives of so many people across the globe. 

www.craftaidinternational.org

Display Table

Examples of flower arrangements were brought in to give ideas for next meeting

Gill’s wreaths

 

Judith’s arrangements in flower pots and Norma’s pink arrangement in a teacup

 

Also on the table:

Jenny’s creeping wire vine Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Australian Ivy) and Barbed wire plant Calocephalus brownii

 

 

Ann’s Miscanthus sinensis Cosmoplitan, Actea Cimicifuga , Restio quadrates and Restio Cannomois grandis (Bell Reed) which grow to over 7ft. 

Gill’s iris lazica and Iphion

 

Notice Board

Margaret D thanked those who provided refreshments and helped in the kitchen at what was the last Paxton Show for this year.  Despite the bad weather, the sales table was successful.

Next Meeting

18^th December:  Quiz, festive flower arrangements and mince pies.  Members are requested to wear red and/or green!

Please keep your eyes open for the page giving the new programme for 2016 as the dates in January may be subject to change.