No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow

 

Planting up Dutch Iris

This week, after discussing garden related issues including the weather and putting the world to rights, we plant up some bulbs.  It will be interesting to see whether the blooms are as bright as in the picture.

Display Table

Gill brought two pots of Iris Katharine Hodgkin purchased at the same time but flowers are of different shades

Gill’s Hyacinth has a fantastic fragrance

This interesting variety of greenery was Gill’s surplus from a manipulating foliage session at Pudsey Flower Club

Margaret H’s attractive Cyclamen Coum came from Otley market

 

 James’s informed us that all parts of Arum italicum 'Marmoratum' are poisonous when raw and that the Elizabethans would boil the leaves to make starch for their ruffs

Judith’s Helleborus lividus Silver Dollar is a lovely colour and has silver leaves

There are always plants for sale at our meetings, but we are starting a wish list for those hard-to-find ones.  A small, voluntary donation to Friday Forum to show your appreciation would be welcome

Notice Board

Jenny informed us that currently Paxton has no caretaker and asked if members could offer an hour or two on a Tuesday morning 10 – 12 to undertake tasks which are found on a list on the notice board.  Please tick off when complete.  If anyone has woodworking or electrical skills, these would be extremely welcome.

Paxton is looking for people to ‘adopt’ the garden, perhaps as allotments.

Important Dates

Spring Show and Plant Sale:  Full details can be seen here https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home/people/room-hire/show-dates

Friday Forum members can bring any plants for the sale on the day before.

Friday Forum Mini Spring Show:  This will take place on 1^st April and be judged by John Freer, who will also give a talk.

September Show:  Graham has advised in good time that there will be an Olympic Challenge of plants of the colours of the five Olympic rings.

Paxton AGM:  This will take place on Wednesday 13^th April at 8 pm and all members are encouraged to attend.

Next Meeting

18^th March – “Plants to die for” by Alan Wilson

Gardening is good for you

We always knew it but here is the evidence:

Proof: gardening is healthy

by GEORGE GORDON, Daily Mail

Those with green fingers have long known that gardening is good for you, physically and mentally.

And now it has been proven scientifically. Researchers have found that smelling roses and pulling up weeds can lower blood pressure, increase brain activity and produce a general upbeat feeling.

Even just looking at a garden can give you a positive boost. The evidence is so compelling that the health factor has been given its own name - horticultural therapy - and is being used to treat hospital patients, plan cities and even to calm prisoners in jails.

Horticultural therapists say gardens produce the most positive effects on mental health.

They do this by providing a sense of control - the psychological counter to stress and anxiety. Gardens are also beneficial for stroke patients, those recovering from physical trauma or people with disabilities.

The science is now being used in hospitals and rehabilitation centres in the U.S., where "healing gardens" have been created for patients to look at and walk through.

Doctors and nurses are also using the leafy retreats to cope with daily life-and-death crises.

"For patients who find themselves restricted by a disability, even the simplest gardening experience - such as growing a potted plant from a cutting - gives them a feeling of control," said Teresia Hazen, who oversees horticultural therapy programmes in Oregon.

"Gardening, more than most rehab activities, has the ability to be very distracting. Simply by taking people's minds off their problems can alleviate pain and depression."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-193859/Proof-gardening-healthy.html#ixzz414r4NdXR

 So, here’s a garden to look at although I suspect we will be looking at our own this week

 Entrance to Felley Priory

Next Meeting:

4^th March:  Forum.  Discuss your problems, successes,  hopes and dreams; preferably garden-related.

Good garden plants

Talk:  Good Garden Plants by Pat Inman

This week, Friday Forum welcomed back Pat Inman of the Hardy Plant Society  http://www.wyhps.co.uk  who spoke to us this time about good doers for our gardens accompanied by descriptions and slides of over 40 plants.  Pat gave us a handout giving the names of the plants she discussed and I am sure this will serve as a shopping list for many of us.   

Pat ended her presentation with this witty poem:

The Computer Swallowed Grandma

The computer swallowed grandma,
Yes, honestly it's true.
She pressed "control" and "enter"
And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely,
The thought just makes me squirm.
She must have caught a virus
Or been eaten by a worm.

I've searched through the recycle bin
and files of every kind:
I've even used the Internet,
but nothing did I find.

In desperation, I asked Jeeves
My searches to refine.
The reply from him was negative,
Not a thing was found "online".

So, if inside your "Inbox",
My Grandma you should see,
Please "Copy", "Scan" and "Paste" her
And send her back to me!

Author: unknown

Display Table

 Dorothy brought a pot of Iris Harmony and Crocus named, of course, Dorothy

 

 Carol’s Daphne Jacqueline Postill has been in flower since the end of December and has a gorgeous fragrance

This is the result of propagation by Gerry who took the plantlets from under the leaves of Celia’s ailing fern

 

 Pat’s Helleborus Penny’s Pink

This attractive little tableau is made up of Janella’s Snowdrops S. Arnott which were originally from Derek’s garden plus a porcelain mug, a pretty watercolour and a picture painted and sewn on silk all decorated with snowdrops.

Ann’s jug contains Hamamelis mollis and Aphrodite, Sarcococca hookeriana Purple Stem,

Iris Katharine Hodgin, Gordon and George, Crocus tomassiniansus,

Cyclamen coum, Narcissus Tête à tête, Hesperantha coccinea and Mrs Hegarty (pink),

 Galanthus S.Arnott and flore pleno, Helleborus atropurpurea,

Pulmonaria, Eranthis hyemalis.

Notice Board

 

 

Janella took a straw poll to see who had taken part in the Big Bird Survey and whether the general feeling was that the count in our gardens was lower which we attributed to the windy and wet weather.

The new programme is out for Dalesman tours and excursions, some of which are to gardens.  See www.dalesmanholidays.co.uk

Members were reminded that fees for 2016 are due. 

Jenny brought us up to date on matters arising from the Paxton meeting.  The Autumn show went well, although the numbers of exhibitors were down.  Paxton are looking to construct a permanent ramp to the front door and there is a leak which will be fixed when the weather improves.

The AGM for Paxton is in April and the committee would like more people to attend.  If you can suggest how to increase attendance or would prefer a different day or time of day, please let Graham or Jenny know.

Ann recommends a visit to Harlow Carr where the Winter Walk is currently a stunning sight.

Next Meeting

19^th February:  Friday Forum AGM, free raffle followed by a forum so bring your questions, gardening tips and interesting/problem plants.