Wednesday, 24 February 2016

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."

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.

Saturday, 6 February 2016

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.

Saturday, 16 January 2016

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