Signs of Spring

AGM: 

Last year’s minutes and an outline of the past year’s activities were read out and adopted.  The committee was thanked on behalf of all members for the hard work and for the enjoyable and successful programme of activities.

Friday Forum helping to cover the country in yellow for le tour Yorkshire
As previously mentioned, RHS and Welcome to Yorkshire are encouraging people to grow   yellow plants to celebrate the Tour de France in July.   At the Friday Forum meeting this week, seeds were distributed for members to sow and grow in order to create our own yellow display for the event.  For more ideas of yellow flowers see http://letour.yorkshire.com/documents/tdf/rhs/RHSTurningYorkshireYellow.pdf

Plants for shade in every season

Gill told us how she manages a shady area in her own garden, which is really useful to keep interest throughout the year in our own difficult patches.  Gill’s area is shaded by two large cherry trees.

January: Interest comes from the foliage of the fern, Polystichum 'Bevis', hellebores and epimedium plus the primroses which are dotted about. 

February:  The snowdrops, hellebores (stripped of their leaves), epimediums and aconites are now in flower plus Pachyphragma, Tellima  and Early Sensation a daffodil which opens earlier than the others.

March:  The snowdrops and hellebores are still in flower and are joined by the rest of the daffodils.  Other plants featuring at this time are Omphalodes verna 'Alba', primula, azalea, pulmonaria, Bowles golden grass and the Spring Snowflake (Leucojum vernum).

Gill reminded us that small plants can be planted at the back of the border in Spring as they have little competition.

April: The  daffodils, Pachyphragma and primroses are still performing and are then joined by geranium  nodosum 'Whiteleaf', geranium Spring Fling, corydalis and tellima.

May:  Now the cherry trees are in blossom, the azalea is in flower as well as corydalis, digitalis, orange and yellow epimediums and astrantia sunningdale variegated.

June:  The geraniums continue to flower and the philadelphus.

July/August:  Stylophorum (like a yellow poppy) and clematis Mary Rose

September/October:  The Autumn colour is showing on the cherry trees and other foliage plus Lamium galeobdolon.

Leeds Flower Show is 150 years old

Elizabeth told us how there will be a marquee set out with a miniature replica of the first ever Leeds Flower Show which was held in 1864.   The Leeds Mercury reported that it was held in the Leeds Volunteer Rifles' Army drill hall in Oxford Place and attracted huge pubic interest.  The project will be based on reports which exist from that time which state  ‘ incorporating attractions including groups of flags and shields, tastefully selected and arranged …….. and devices in artificial flowers depending from the girders of the roof’ .

It is hoped to reproduce some of the varieties of plants, flowers, vegetables and fruits which were on display at that time. Pansies, verbenas, fuchsias and 24 varieties of roses feature in the reports but it is debatable whether they will they look the same as they did then.

 

Entries of the various classes back in the day were from such well-known people as Lord Londesborough of Grimston Park , Mr. John Hope Shaw, Mr. J G Marshall and Mr. F W Tetley who were, of course, assisted by their gentlemen’s gardeners.

This year’s Leeds Flower Show is being held atThe Grammar School At Leeds,  Alwoodley Gates, Harrogate Rd, Leeds,LS17 8GS on August 2^nd and 3rd.

Display Table

There were certainly signs of spring of the display table.

 A beautiful assortment of spring plants from Ann's garden and a pot of  S. Arnott snowdrops

An arrangement of floating hellebores. In the centre is Penny's Pink which has marbled leaves in the Summer.

 Dorothy brought in her Orchid Dendrobium Berry Oda.  The irises give a splendid splash of colour.

Notice Board

Advance warning:
For the Good Friday meeting on 18^th April, members are asked to bring something in the shape of a flower for the “Flower in any form” contest; arts, crafts, baking etc all acceptable.  Also,  you are asked to grow some cress in an eggshell and paint it up.  Should be interesting!

 

Paxton Plant Market is on Saturday 31^st May.   Please consider planting up and growing on for the sales table and, if you can help on the day from 10 am, this would be appreciated.

Dates for your diary
Next Friday Forum Meeting:  Please note The meeting scheduled for 21^st February has now been changed to a talk on The Sex Life of Plants by Ben Emmett.

Friends of Paxton are meeting Monday   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.
In June, there will be a Dig In at Paxton Garden; date TBA.
The Friday Forum meets on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1.30pm at the Paxton Hall.  Paxton Horticultural Society is located at 186, Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 2AB.   The meetings are split between hands-on sessions, guest speakers and garden visits. A regular feature is the "Plant Table" where members are invited to bring their plants for discussion and advice.  Another feature is the "Sales Table where members bring plants and cuttings and produce they have grown to sell at a small cost to help the club funds.  For further information, please use the comments box or log on to https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home

Beating the Winter Blues

Talk by Brian Denison:  My Garden; its history and plants

We were indeed fortunate to welcome Brian to our Friday Forum.  His illustrated talk on his own, stunning garden left us both awed and inspired.  Featured on the Anglian TV series Britain’s Best Back Gardens and winner of Yorkshire Life Magazine’s Garden of the Year 2009, Brian told us he thinks about his garden all the time and the slide show displayed his skilful use of plant combinations and colour association.  Brian is proficient in Niwaki, a Japanese term for style shaping of trees, including cloud pruning.  A useful list of recommended plants was distributed.

Forum and Display Table

 Judith's Amaryllis

 Early Spring flowers

 

Norma sent in a photo of her lovely, resilient miniature bedding cyclamen which were bedded out in late October and  are still looking fabulous. 

She says that they probably wouldn't have lasted as long if we had suffered heavy frost but they have certainly been value for money over the last two or three months and brighten up the garden during this dark wet windy spell we are going through.

Just to update you on the squirrel prevention debate, applying Vicks to Janella’s Camellia didn’t work.  She may try TCP next time!   All tips welcome.

Jill narrated the classic poem Spring is Sprung, of which there are many versions, in NewYorkese.  Some say it dates from 1940, attribute it to Ogden Nash, Spike Milligan or the the Marx Brothers. 

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz,
I wonder where the flowers is,
The boid is on the wing, but that's absoid,
Because everybody knows that the wing is on the boid!

Margaret told us of a cyclist she had encountered with a container of large, early snowdrops attached to his bike.  While waiting for the traffic lights to change, as you do, the cyclist told Margaret that the snowdrops were Mrs Macnamara, named after Dylan Thomas’ mother-in-law, Yvonne Macnamara.  

It’s amazing what we learn!

Has anyone you know paid loads of money for a snowdrop bulb?

Notice Board

We have the opportunity to visit Pat Clarke’s garden on 15^th August, not Littlethorpe on that date as previously mentioned.  

Paxton Committee:  As Jenny is not currently able to attend (we wish her a speedy recovery), if anyone else is able to stand in for her, this would be appreciated.

Dates for your diary

Next Friday Forum Meeting:  7^th February – AGM and Tour de France yellow bedding scheme

Please note The meeting scheduled for 21^st February has now been changed to a talk on The Sex Life of Plants by Ben Emmett

Friends of Paxton are meeting Monday 3^rd February 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.

Advance warning of Paxton Plant Market to be held on Saturday 31^st May:    Please be considering planting and growing on for the sales table and if you can help on the day from 10 am.

The Friday Forum meets on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1.30pm at the Paxton Hall.  Paxton Horticultural Society is located at 186, Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 2AB.   The meetings are split between hands-on sessions, guest speakers and garden visits. A regular feature is the "Plant Table" where members are invited to bring their plants for discussion and advice.  Another feature is the "Sales Table where members bring plants and cuttings and produce they have grown to sell at a small cost to help the club funds.  For further information, please use the comments box or log on to https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home

 

 

First footing

At this meeting of the Friday Forum, members discussed a range of topics:

·         What’s in the garden on New Year’s day – a surprising  number of plants.

·         Plants received as Christmas presents and what to do with them plus whether or not to cut off the leaves of hellebores.

·         Jill showed us that Summer and Winter clematis were flowering together in her garden

·         Ann had spotted lily beetle and a green caterpillar had been found curled in a leaf on an upstairs balcony.  We all agreed that squirrels were a nuisance and we were told of an Australian gardener who used TCP on branches to deter possums and  considered if this could work on squirrels.

Gardening resolutions for 2014

Members were asked about their New Year gardening resolutions and it was felt that they could apply to the majority of us:

Plant to attract more bees and butterflies, find a better species of aster, remember to feed, plant out from pots more quickly, continue to eradicate convolvulus, label plants, stake plants before they topple over, Chelsea chop and above all BE MORE RUTHLESS and Pat Clarke was cited as being ruthless to create her wonderful garden at Mews Cottage, Harrogate.

What items have put on your list for 2014?

 Quiz

Here is a link for a Quiz on well–known Gardens from the Telegraph, on which I scored only 50%.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardenstovisit/10544248/Quiz-can-you-identify-these-famous-gardens.html

Cover the country in yellow

RHS and Welcome to Yorkshire are going to encourage people to grow sunflowers and other yellow plants to celebrate the Tour de France next July.   Friday Forum is addressing this in the7th February meeting but you can get some ideas from this link http://letour.yorkshire.com/documents/tdf/rhs/RHSTurningYorkshireYellow.pdf

Notice Board

Sadly Doreen Brown passed away in December.  Doreen was a founder member of the group and a keen photographer.

Clare Beard who spoke to the Forum in December on Lineham Farm thanked us for the donations received from her visit.

Margaret sold off some lovely pieces of costume jewellery, the proceeds from which were donated to Friday Forum funds.

 Dates for your diary

Friends of Paxton are meeting Monday 6^th January from Midday.  An hour or two or your time to help maintain the premises are always welcome.

Next Friday Forum Meeting:  A talk by Brian Denison entitled My Garden; its history and plants

We have an exciting programme of garden visits for this year; more details will follow.

16 May:  Beacon Hill House at Langbar near Ilkley

20 June:   Horticap  nr Harlow Carr with its garden, nursery and tea room

18 July:  Day trip to Rewela Cottage, Skewsby YO61 4SG, lunch at Helmsley then Terrington House with its famous summerhouse decorated with shells.

15 August :  Greencroft, Littlethorpe , near Ripon.

Annual Membership Fees for 2014 of £11.00 are now due

The Friday Forum meets on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1.30pm at the Paxton Hall.  Paxton Horticultural Society is located at 186, Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 2AB.   The meetings are split between hands-on sessions, guest speakers and garden visits. A regular feature is the "Plant Table" where members are invited to bring their plants for discussion and advice.  Another feature is the "Sales Table where members bring plants and cuttings and produce they have grown to sell at a small cost to help the club funds.  For further information, please use the comments box or log on to https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home

 

 

The Christmas “Do”

Quiz

Everyone enjoyed trying to name the everyday articles photographed from different angles (if you call a porcupine quill an everyday item).  Prizes were awarded for the four teams with the highest scores.

The quiz was followed by the drawing of the raffle and afternoon tea with mince pies.

The Holly and the Ivy ....

Attractive festive displays were produced from a range of flowers, foliage and accessories.

 

 This was a new idea for most of us; a festive hanging basket for outside.  A tripod was used for the construction process.

 

 

 

Dates for your Diary

There is an exciting programme of activities for 2014 on the main Paxton website

Next meeting is on 3 January 2014

Friends of Paxton is meeting on 6 January at midday and would welcome any contributions of time and effort to help maintain the Paxton site.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

 Leeds Market

 

Annual Membership Fees for 2014 of £11.00 are now due

The Friday Forum meets on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1.30pm at the Paxton Hall.  Paxton Horticultural Society is located at 186, Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 2AB.   The meetings are split between hands-on sessions, guest speakers and garden visits. A regular feature is the "Plant Table" where members are invited to bring their plants for discussion and advice.  Another feature is the "Sales Table where members bring plants and cuttings and produce they have grown to sell at a small cost to help the club funds.  For further information, please use the comments box or log on to https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home

 

 

Champions; winning is only half of it. Having fun is the other half. (Bum Phillips, American Soccer Coach)

Lineham Farm

Clare Beard told us about this residential facility which gives the opportunity to schoolchildren from inner city schools or with physical or learning disabilities to enjoy a wide range of activities in a rural setting.

 

The farm was set up as the charity of a former Lord Mayor of Leeds, Denise Atkinson, and relies on council and Lottery grants and donations from various businesses.  The farm currently hosts 24 children each week during term time and in the holidays other groups visit, such as children from Chernobyl.  It was evident from the video that the children benefited from their stay and enjoyed the activities on offer which include art, crafts, animal care, orienteering, mountain biking, archery and climbing.  The staff are real champions.  Click on to www.linehamfarm.co.uk if you want to know more or adopt an animal on the farm.   

Table Display

Forum members never fail to provide interesting examples of the pride or the problems of their gardens.  Here are some from this week’s meeting.

 Fragrant, winter blossom

 Eye-catching wreaths made by Gill

 Margaret brought along this stunning Christmas cactus, which gained her 2nd prize in the Late Autumn Show

 

Champion flower arrangers

At the final flower arranging class of 2013, trophies were presented for two categories:

Congratulations  to Avril  for scoring the highest number of points overall and ...

 Avril is holding the rose bowl she was awarded, now filled with her festive display 

Catherine was awarded the beginner’s cup

If you are interested in joining a class next year, including absolute beginners, please contact Kath (details on the Paxton website at the end of the post).

The Paxton Late Autumn Show

The November show proved successful and profitable.  Exhibitors came from as far as Hull, Scarborough and even Wendover in Hampshire, as this was the last flower show of the year.  Full details will be posted on the Paxton website.

Dates for your diary

December 20th:         At the next and final meeting for 2013 of Friday Forum there will be a Christmas Quiz, hands on festive flower arranging (please bring some materials) and, of course, mince pies.  

January 6th                Friends of Paxton meet at Midday

  

Annual Membership Fees for 2014 of £11.00 can now be paid

The Friday Forum meets on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1.30pm at the Paxton Hall.  Paxton Horticultural Society is located at 186, Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 2AB.   The meetings are split between hands-on sessions, guest speakers and garden visits. A regular feature is the "Plant Table" where members are invited to bring their plants for discussion and advice.  Another feature is the "Sales Table where members bring plants and cuttings and produce they have grown to sell at a small cost to help the club funds.  For further information, please use the comments box or log on to https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home

 

 

 

 

 

A fruitful Friday

  Autumn at Harlow Carr

Bulbs

The growing season may be coming to a close, but Friday Forum is still going strong.  Last Friday Judith led a useful and interactive discussion on the A-Z of bulbs, where members added their tips and favourites. 

The Tulip Purissima was recommended as a good doer and, for permanent planting in the ground, they should be planted 8” deep.

A range of bulbs were described and discussed, some of which were new to me.

 

 A display of bulbs from our mini-show last Spring

Hardwood cuttings

Norma gave us a tutorial on hardwood cuttings of roses, hydrangea and other suitable candidates.  Before putting them into a deep container of sand, she dipped them in hormonal rooting powder which sparked a lively debate on to use or not to use which was inconclusive; only time will tell. 

Late Bloomers

Although we are in mid-November, the display table was laden with examples of flowers and foliage still on show in members’ gardens.

Graham brought a pot of Chrysanthemum “Boulou White” which he recommended as a good dwarf plant.  He also told us about Markham Grange Nursery and Steam Museum in Doncaster, which hosts the Northern Chrysanthemum Show.  Have a look at the site which looks interesting at  http://www.markhamgrangenursery.com/

Another member brought in a pot of beautiful autumn-flowering saffron crocuses (crocus sativus) whose red stigmas give us the saffron which flavours our food. 

Flower Arrangements

Judith explained how to make a festive Pot et Fleurs  display and Gill exhibited her  Continental display of a variety of foliage from her garden set on a flat container . 

Fungi

Joyce brought us a sample of fungi from her tree stump, which she had spoken about in an earlier meeting.  After consulting with the RHS, it was confirmed that it was Dead Man’s Finger( Xylaria polymorpha), a very fitting name for it!

Unfortunately there are no photos to show you.

Dates for your diary

November
23rd          Late Autumn Show at Paxton (see last post for full details)
December
2^nd             Friends of Paxton meet at Midday
6^th             Next meeting of Friday Forum with guest speaker Clare Beard of Lineham Farm www.linehamfarm.co.uk

Annual Membership Fees for 2014 of £11.00 can now be paid

The Friday Forum meets on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1.30pm at the Paxton Hall.  Paxton Horticultural Society is located at 186, Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 2AB.   The meetings are split between hands-on sessions, guest speakers and garden visits. A regular feature is the "Plant Table" where members are invited to bring their plants for discussion and advice.  Another feature is the "Sales Table where members bring plants and cuttings and produce they havegrown to sell at a small cost to help the club funds.  For further information, please use the comments box or log on to https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home

 

 

 

Now it's November

Gardens of Yorkshire

Tony Cleaver:  Popular speaker and talented flower arranger

There could be nothing better on a damp, grey afternoon than a talk by Tony Cleaver on a selection of large and small gardens from all over the Yorkshire region.  The presentation was illustrated by stunning photos which took us through the year; some shots of the flowers entailed Tony lying full length on the ground on a duvet!  That’s dedication.  We learnt about the history of the gardens and heard many anecdotes.  Tony even told us who provides the best afternoon tea!  I have a list of gardens I aim to visit next year at the time they are in their prime.  Maybe we can even go on a Friday Forum trip.

Get gardening to live longer!

Jill brought to our attention a recent article in the Guardian.  Read it here, and let us know your thoughts.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/oct/28/gardening-exercise-cutting-heart-attack-risk-diy-60-plus

Display Table

Considering that we are now in November, there was a colourful display on the table from the gardens of various members.  Plenty of ideas for Autumn interest in our gardens next year.

Reminder for the Late Autumn Show of the Paxton Horticultural Society

Going by the last show which was a very lively and successful event, we are anticipating great things at the Autumn Show.

This will take place on 23^rd November with the judging of the Chrysanthemums, Fruit and Vegetables, Flower Arranging, Pot Plants and Cookery and Crafts classes at 12 noon.  The show will then be open to the public from 2.00 – 4.30 pm when there are refreshments and a tombola.  Contact Graham Wheatley on 0113 2563055 for further details.

Update

·         The Bring and Buy sale proved profitable and we are grateful for Margaret and Carl for the jam and cream they provided for the celebration cream tea.

·         Membership numbers are being maintained.

·         Friends of Paxton are meeting at midday on 4 November, but if anyone can’t make it but is willing to offer their DIY or caretaking skills at another time, please let us know.

 

Next Meeting

 

We will discuss bulbs of all kinds; not just tulips and daffodils.  Contributions of tips and advice from members will be invaluable.  We are also going to cover hardwood cuttings and perhaps flower arrangements for the Christmas season.  There will be something for everyone!

The annual  Membership Fee for 2014 of £11.00 can be paid from now until end December

 

The Friday Forum meets on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1.30pm at the Paxton Hall.  Paxton Horticultural Society is located at 186, Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 2AB.   The meetings are split between hands-on sessions, guest speakers and garden visits. A regular feature is the "Plant Table" where members are invited to bring their plants for discussion and advice.  Another feature is the "Sales Table where members bring plants and cuttings and produce they have
grown to sell at a small cost to help the club funds.  For further information, please use the comments box or log on to https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home