Pot-et-Fleur

The pot-et-fleur is a Victorian idea which combines potted plants and cut flowers which gives a lasting and colourful impact.  The pots and cut flowers can be replaced according to the season to give the design many weeks of beauty.

Kate demonstrated this idea using a wooden crate in which she arranged pots of evergreens with differing forms and colour: Libertine with its sword shaped leaves, the black grass Ophiopogon, Hebe ‘Red Edge’, Pittisporum, Heuchera ‘Caramel’, Pachysandra and Polyanthus.

Other ideas were using tubes, tiny jars or oasis to add cut flowers to the arrangements and using shower caps to line small baskets.

Other arrangements created by Friday Forum members:

Norma's charming arrangement finished off with moss from the garden

Linda's container includes silver Artemisia, black grass

Christine's sunny arrangement includes the tree sapling grown by Eric

Peter's dwarf conifers of various shades with a succulent in flower

Ann's arrangement with Hellebores, double Primulas and Solenum

Liz's arrangement includes Hellebores, yellow and white giant pansies and muscari

Judith's gold and yellow theme includes Euonymus Emerald 'n Gold

Margaret M's pot with Bellis, Ivy and Thyme

Janet's arrangement with blue grass, ivy and thyme

Sug G's Snowdrops and muscari

Display Table

Sue G’s vase contains the fragrant Daphnes Jacqueline Postill, Brouillard, Viburnum Dawn, Lonicera – Winter Honeysuckle.

Maggie brought Sarcococca hookeriana ‘Purple Stem’, and low growing Viburnum tinus ‘Gwenllian’ and bodnantense ‘Charles Lamont’

 

Kate brought a spring of  Edgeworthia chrysantha

Caroline brought some books on container gardening

Marjorie’s bright Jasmine nudiflorum

Next Meeting

16th February: Presentation - Building a Chelsea Garden. Martin Wright

January brings the snow, makes our feet and fingers glow - Sara Coleridge

Presentation

There is no better way to kick of the new year than with a presentation by Brian Denison.

Brian’s talked about creating an inspirational garden over 25 years and we learnt tips for choosing, growing and pruning plants with illustrations from his own garden. The garden is sited near an old quarry and it was a herculean task to improve the poor soil. His garden has featured on Anglian TV and it was awarded The Yorkshire Life Garden of the Year. Some of his ideas were from the Heath Robinson school of thought and we were given a plant list of what he includes in his garden, which has weakened one of my new year resolutions by increasing my “plants to buy” list by 500%!

Display Table

The snow and ice prevented members from bringing in items for the table, except for Judith who brought in three Coleus plants from her house. She raised these colourful plants, which root easily in water, from Coleus entered in the last Paxton show.

Next Meeting

2^nd February: Winter containers. Bring plants in pots to create a personal display.

“Let the nature embrace each and every day of your life with warmth and love…. Happy Winter Solstice.” (Anon)

For our last Friday Forum meeting of the year we decked out a table with natural matter to acknowledge the forthcoming Winter Solstice.

Flowers, bark, twigs, seashells, pebbles, moss and lichen were included on the nature table and candles were lit in the traditional manner

Members produced their own seasonal arrangements, sharing ideas and materials. Sandra introduced us to Agra Foam, an all-natural product which can be used wet or dry as an alternative to Oasis.

Peter taught us how to make paper angels

Suzanne attended a weaving workshop and made this amazing deer

Liz provided delicious mince pies and ginger Christmas trees

Some of our members attended the funeral of the multi-talented Dr Carl Denton who passed away peacefully at age 95. A beautiful tribute was given by grandson, Ross, and we passed on our condolences to Carl’s family.

Trillium expert.  Some of our members have plants donated by Carl

Marquetry of his home

Spinning wheel

Carl, together with Margaret, founded Friday Forum in 1993 and made a significant contribution over many years. At today’s meeting, the original document of his idea was read out.

Next Meeting:

Our first meeting of 2024 will be 19^th January when Brian Denison will present “Creating an Inspirational Garden over 25 years”

"At the darkest time of year, Lord Yule laid down his beard of snow and cloak of frost and ice to illuminate the gloom.”—Stewart Stafford

Presentation

As ever, Peter Williams gave us an interesting, illustrated talk entitled In the not so bleak mid-winter. Although the coldest meeting (so far), we were cheered by the scenes of colourful plants and lights from various winter gardens. This gave us ideas for our own gardens as well as places to visit.

Display Table

A posy created by Judith for the Welcome Table

Ann's cheerful pot of tête-à-tête daffs, Pittosporum Tom Thumb and Arum leaves

Suzanne brought these which are still flowering in her garden:  Skimmia japonica rubella, Salvia pink lips, Nandina Fire power, Gaura linclheimeri Rosyjane, Erigeron karvin skiarius, Rosa Gabriel oak, Polypodium vulgare, Geranium phaeum Margaret Wilson which has yellow variegated leaves and purple flowers

Kate brought Edgeworthia chrysantha, the scented Japanese paperbush known for its bark and a seed head of Clematis Helios

Judith brought a branch of variegated  prunus laurocerasus Marbled White, useful in flower arrangements

Next Meeting

Friday 15th December.  This is our Christmas "do" so dress accordingly.  We will be creating a communal Winter Solstice table from natural materials plus festive table decorations.  

“November comes, and November goes. With the last red berries and the first white snows.” Clyde Watson

Presentation: Suzanne White allowed us to look around Beth Chatto’s garden in her interesting and informative illustrated presentation. 

Beth Chatto OBE, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 94, won many awards for her garden which she developed from nothing into beautiful gardens that provide a demonstration of her mantra 'Right plant; right place' showing how plants thrive when they’re grown in the conditions that suit them best. Suzanne’s photos, taken on her visit in summer, showed us the various parts of the garden and the choice of plants for damp, shade and dry conditions in the renown gravel garden developed on the former car park.

Display Table

Proving that there is still colour and interest to be had in our gardens:

Ann’s display contains Fatsia japonica, Fuchsia Genii, the winter flowering Iris unguicularis, Hypercium with its black berries, Nerine Bowdenii, Persicaria J S Caliante and Golden Arrow and Amicia zygomeris which she rings with copper to stop it being eaten by pests

Carol brought Hesperantha coccinea major Pink Princess plus another pink one, Fuchsia, Jamaican Primrose, Viburnum Tinus and white Chrysanthemum

Carol’s Christmas (or Thanksgiving) Cactus in full bloom

Peter brought a variety of plants including Mahonia Charity, Liriope, Salvias and Hesperantha, Mallow, Passion Flower, Alpine Anchusa and Cyclamen

Suzanne brought Choisya ternata “Sundance”, Carex morowii “Ice Dance”, Salvia “Pink Lips”, Sedum “Autumn Joy”, Potentilla “Miss Willmott”, Salvia Amistad, Erysimum Bowles Mauve, Anemone “Splendens” and an unidentified white flower.

Still out in Kate’s garden: Asplenium scolopendrium “Golden Queen”, Hydrangea macrophylla “Tricolor”, Alchemilla mollis, Salvia “Nachtvlinder”, Fatsia Japonica, Astrantia “Buckland”,Blechnum spricant, Polystichum setiferumpolystichum setiferum “Pulcherrimum Bevis” and Panicum “Purple Haze”

Next Meeting: December 1st Presentation – In the not so Bleak Midwinter – Peter Williams

“Fallen leaves lying on the grass in the November sun bring more happiness than the daffodils.” Cyril Connolly

 

Presentation: Steve Halliwell – Logan Botanic Gardens

Steve with his newly published book "The Snowdrop"

Steve walked and talked us through Logan Botanic Garden with illustrations from his visit to the gardens which were established in 1869 at the south-western tip of Scotland.

Voted 'Best Garden in the UK' 2021, Logan enjoys an almost subtropical climate and its walled garden includes one of the remaining walls of Logan Castle. We thanked Steve for what was a most interesting and comprehensive talk.

Display Table

There is still a lot of interest in our gardens at the beginning of November, with some plants even flowering again.

Judith’s Miscanthus malepartus is from one of two clumps in her garden and stands well over 6 ft. (How did it fit in the car?) Judith said anyone who wants some is welcome to dig some up.

John F brought a pot of Oxalis Youval which he grew from three bulbs

Ann brought Venus Fly Trap, Dionaea muscipula, which grows in the bogs of North and South Carolina and the carnivorous Butterwort Pinguicula Grandiflora which grows in W. Europe and S. America

Dorothy grew this wonky carrot

Dorothy’s Echeveria in flower

Kate brought Aralia ‘Sun King’, Pittosporum ‘Tom Thumb’, Salvia, Melianthus major ‘Purple Leaf’ and a selection of Persicarias

Linda brought Persicaria, Gaura ‘Freefolk Rosy’, Salvia ‘Hot Lips’, Abelia, Artemisia ‘Powys Castle’, Cosmos ‘Gazebo Mixed’, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and Spirea

Next meeting: 17^th November – Suzanne will talk about her visit to Beth Chatto’s garden