"Where flowers bloom so does hope." - Lady Bird Johnson

Talk:  Wild India 

 

Barbara and Peter Murphy returned to Friday Forum to entertain us with a presentation on India, based on several visits they have made.

It was just what was needed to cheer us up on a grey day, as Peter told us about the wildlife, culture and horticulture beautifully illustrated by Barbara’s photography.  Amongst other things we learnt that all hens originated from the Red Jungle Fowl from thousands of years ago and Assam tea has been grown there since 1834 and comes from the Camellia family.

Barbara brought with her some greeting cards in aid of the Rodley Nature Reserve with her photographs of local birds and scenery.

Display Table

As the season continues, there is currently plenty of interest and colour in the gardens of our members as illustrated by today’s table.

 Kate’s arrangement of Hellebores, Pulmonaria including the Blue Ensign, Viburnum Dawn, Ribes White Icicle, Jetfire and Jumbly daffodils, Anisodontea and the stunning Camellia Simply Rouge

 

Gill brought Allium Normale, Pachyfragma, Epimedium, which gives good ground cover in shade, Corydaylis Beth Evans, Pulmonaria and the fragrant winter honeysuckle

 James brought a Snowflake (Leucojum vernum), which is much larger and longer stemmed than the more popular snowdrop.  As usual, James regaled us with its history

Judith showed us her book The Gardener’s Companion edited by Vicky Bamforth

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gardeners-Companion-Vicky-Bamforth/dp/1861057717

She says she likes to dip into it when she has time, which probably isn’t very often!  The article A Gardener’s Raincheck looks helpful.

 From Ann’s garden came Group 10 Narcissi originating from Spain and Portugal: Narcissus cyclamineus and Narcissus Spoirot, Pulsatilla rubra, Ipheon uniflorum album and Ipheon uniflorum Charlotte Bishop

Notice Board

There are still a few places available on our garden trip to Lincolnshire.

Mini Show:  Next meeting is Friday Forum’s Spring Show.  I’m sure everyone has something to enter.  It’s the taking part that matters!

Unfortunately Wakefield Paxton Society established in 1877 is closing.

 http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/sadness-as-horticultural-society-folds-1-946224

Next Meeting

April 7^th:    Spring Mini Show – Judge and speaker – John Freer

  

Indoors or out, no one relaxes in March, that month of wind and taxes. The wind will presently disappear, the taxes last us all the year.” – Ogden .

Talk:  York Gate Garden by Stephen Carr

Stephen is a volunteer at the garden and his enthusiasm shone through as he told us about the history of the garden right up to the present day.  A former farm which was bought by the Spencer family in 1950, much is known about the garden as Sybil Spencer wrote copious notes and made scrap books and her son, Robin Spencer, kept diaries which were later published in the gardening journal Hortus.  Sybil was the plantswoman, her husband, Fred, was a surveyor and he produced the designs and Robin decorated the garden with artefacts from old buildings.

The garden was first opened to the public in 1968.  There is a lovely film of Sybil talking about her garden here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKlARGC_6MQ

When Sybil, the last surviving member of the Spencer family, passed away in 1994, she bequeathed the house, garden and funds to the Gardeners' Benevolent Institution, now Perennial. 

Stephen showed us pictures of some of the 14 gardens which make up York Gate and explained how these had changed over time and are still changing.  

Display Table

Carl brought in this shrub.  He was unsure whether it was a Viburnum or a Ribes but it was identified as Ribes laurifolium

 This is Jenny’s dark purple Iris Pixie

Many of us can’t get our Irises to flower in the garden.  Ann plants hers at the base of a shrub and Norma puts gravel at the bottom of planting hole.

 

Gill’s iris es, crocuses, polyanthus and daffodils

 Gill’s floating hellebore flowers include Tutu and Patty Pink

 

 Gill’s pot includes Snowdrops, Pulmonaria, Chrysosplenium macrophyllum, Polyanthus, Allium paradoxum normale, Snowflake, Corydalis Beth Evans, primrose, wallflower and Omphalodes verna

 Ann was thrilled to show us that her Mandragora (Mandrake) had flowered

 

 

The Mandrake is an interesting plant with a flowering period from Autumn to Spring which has much folklore attached to it.   It’s worth looking it up!

 

Ann's vibrant crocus:  Orange Monarch, Judith’s hellebores and Peter’s Cyclamen coum

Judith warned us about the latest garden pests from New Zealand 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/25/new-zealand-mealybugs-invading-britain-destroying-gardens/

Notices

There are still places available on the Friday Forum Garden visit, so if you or your friends are interested, Janella has all the details.

Paxton committee’s next meeting is on 21^st March (we are looking for a new representative for Friday Forum) and Paxton AGM is on 25^th April at 8:00 pm.

Paxton Plant and Bric a Brac sale is on Saturday 18^th March, so any items you could bring to the next meeting will be appreciated.

Next Meeting

17^th March:  We welcome back Peter and Barbara Murphy who are giving a presentation entitled Wild India.

Don’t forget your plants and bric a brac for the Paxton Sale on 18^th March.

The show must go on

Talk:  Behind the scenes at the Chelsea Flower Show

Tracy Foster gave us a fascinating presentation about her 2012 exhibit which she based on Yorkshire and the Brontes. 

Applications for the show are made in August for the garden to be completed the following May.  Tracy began by thoroughly researching the Bronte family and where they lived, made a preliminary drawing and a rough 3D model from plasticine.  She then had to source the plants, the stone and even trees with a windswept look.  It takes a lot of hard work, especially in the time allotted to build the garden in the week before the show.  Her efforts earned her a gold medal.

Tracy is exhibiting again at Chelsea this year inspired by the Yorkshire coastline.  We shall be interested to see the finished garden, especially now we know the background and the work that goes into it.

Display Table

On the left Janella’s snowdrops S.Arnott, which came from Derek’s garden with Margaret H’s on the left which she double pots to frost proof the containers.  In the pot on the right of the frame are Margaret’s Cyclamen Coum

One of the stalks of Carol's Tasmanian Tiger Euphorbia broke off and she pushed it into a plant pot.  It threw up new shoots and it will soon be coming off Death Row! 
(This is not the specimen that Carol brought in)

Gill bought the attractive Primula and Hellebore at High Trees Nursery, which now has a good cafe as well as offering good plants http://www.hightrees.co.uk/

Carol’s container includes the unusual Grevillea rosmarinifolia jenkensii, Daphne intermedia Jacqueline Postill, Hamamelis Arnold Promise, Viburnum Dawn, Hellebores and Heathers

Ann’s jug contains Hamamelis Aphrodite, Iris unguicularis, Iris Harmony, Iris Kathryn Hodgkin, Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite), various snowdrops, Crocus tommasinianus, Scilla Tubergeniana, Hellebores tibetana, Cyclamen coum, Arum italicum Marmoratum leaf. Osteospermum Orange and Narcissus Tête-à-tête

Gill brought Cornus mas, Mahonia, Corydalis, Snowdrops, double and single, Snowflakes, Primrose vulagaris and the white form.

Notices

Dorothy advised us of the dates of the Paxton sales (see below) when we will be selling plants and bric a brac.  Members are asked to bring any items they have for the first sale to the Friday Forum on the day before the sale; March 17^th.

Margaret D was thanked for the wonderful way she has organised the kitchen on Show days over many years.  Margaret is now standing down and we are looking for someone to take over this task.

Graham reminded us of the Paxton AGM which will be on Tuesday 25^th April at 8:00 pm and urged members to attend.

Janella is taking bookings for our day trip (see the page Garden Visits 2017for details) and has informed us that non-members are welcome to join us.

Next Meeting

3^rd March – Forum, York Gate, our local treasure

February is the border between winter and spring. ~Terri Guillemets, "Years," 2002

Annual Review

We were reminded of last year’s activities and events and the accounts were made available to us.  Judith and the committee were thanked on behalf of the members for organising these, as was Janella, who is standing down after her years as Treasurer.  Caroline has offered to take this role.

Display Table

Gill’s vase contains Snowdrops, Pulmonaria, Chrysosplenium macrophyllum and Hepatica nobilis

Carol brought a plant which is ready to flower from the Aloe family.  When she last split the plant, there were few takers but I think they will be snapped up next time

 Ann’s pot of Iris Painted Lady

Ann’s container contains Iris Kathryn Hodgkin, Iris Unguicularis, Hamamelis mollis (Yellow)(orange) and the orange Aphrodite

 Ann also brought examples of shrubs bearing berries:  the climber Bomarea Caldasii, Pernettya mucronata (now Gaultheria), Gaultheria Procumbens and Ruscus Aculeatus  known as Butcher’s Broom which is traditionally used to improve blood circulation with varicose veins and piles (not to be tried at home)

 Jenny’s Snowdrops: Brenda Troyle and Gordon Cooper, named after the head gardener at The Hollies

Notice Board

Janella has booked another wonderful day trip for 16^th June.  For more details see the Visits page or request a booking form.  Information on our local garden trips will be available soon.

Peter asked us to select which of his art pieces should be printed as a card for Paxton.  Difficult choice!

 

 Each starling in the murmuration was painted separately

The company The Dalesman is offering trips to various gardens. http://www.dalesmancoaches.co.uk/day-excursions/ 

RHS Harlow Carr is currently holding an exhibition in the Bath House and library showing how gardening helped prisoners endure internment at the Ruhlebeb camp during WWI, when the internees grew fruit and vegetables and held flower shows.

http://press.rhs.org.uk/RHS-Gardens/Press-releases/Harlow-Carr-Tells-Story-of-British-Prisoners-Who-G.aspx

Here are the details for the Paxton Spring Show.  For full programme see https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/

SPRING SHOW - SATURDAY 1 APRIL 2017
 STAGING SATURDAY 1 April 8.30am - 11.45am.  JUDGING AT 12 noon

CUT DAFFODILS AND TULIPS

All daffodil classes come under the Daffodil Classification

CLASS

1                     12 blooms, 1 bloom per vase, any cultivar or cultivars from at least 3 divisions.

2                     6 blooms, 1 bloom per vase, from at least 3 divisions

3                     One vase, three blooms from separate divisions

4                     One bloom, division 1 (trumpet)

5                     One vase, three blooms, division 1

6                     One bloom, division 2 (large cupped)

7                     One vase, three blooms, division 2

8                     One bloom, division 3 (small cupped)

9                     One vase, three blooms, division 3

10                  One bloom, division 4 (double)

11                  One vase, three blooms, division 4

12                  One stem, division 5 (Triandrus)

13                  One vase, three stems, division 5

14                  One stem, division 6 (Cyclamineus)

15                  One vase, three stems, division 6

16                  One stem, division 7 (Jonquilla and Apodanthus)

17                  One vase, three stems, division 7

18                  One stem, division 8 (Tazetta)

19                  One vase, three stems, division 8

20                  One stem, division 9 (Poeticus)

21                  One vase, three stems, division 9

22                  One bloom, division 11 (split corona

23                  One vase, three blooms, division 11

24                  One stem, division 12 (other daffodil cultivars)

25                  One stem, division 13 (daffodils distinguished solely by botanical name)

26                  One vase of three miniatures (must be on Daffodil Society's current list of approved miniatures    sections A & B)

27         One vase of three cut tulips, any variety or varieties

LEEDS PAXTON MEMBERS ONLY (CLASSES 28 – 33)

CLASS

28           One bloom, division 1

29           One bloom, division 2       

30           One bloom, division 3

31           One bloom, division 4

32           One bloom/stem, any other division not specified in classes 28 – 31

33           One vase 3 blooms/stems any variety or varieties

PRIZES

Class 1                   1st:  £10.00           2nd:  £5.00            3rd:  £3.00

Class 2                   1st:  £ 5.00            2nd:  £3.00            3rd:  £2.00

Class 3 - 33           1st:  £ 3.00            2nd:  £2.00            3rd:  £1.00

POTS, BOWLS & STEMS

CLASS

34           One pot Primrose or Polyanthus

35           One pot or bowl of Hyacinths         

36           One pot plant, foliage

37           One pot or bowl of Tulips, as grown

38           One pot Orchid   

39           One pot Cacti

40           One pot or bowl of Daffodils – one variety

41           One pot or bowl of Daffodils – more than one variety

42           One pot Succulent

43           One pot Auricula

44           One pot/ bowl of flowering bulbs/corms, not already specified

45           Flowering plant not already specified

PRIZES

Classes 34 - 45     1st:  £3.00             2nd:  £2.00            3rd:  £1.00

COOKERY AND CRAFTS

CLASS  

46            One Savoury Quiche

47            One Savoury Pasty

48            Baking with Chocolate (exhibitor’s own choice)

49            One Simnel cake

50            One Fruit Pie

51            3 Fruit Scones

52            One photograph “Spring Flowers”

PRIZES

Classes 46 - 52        1st:  £3.00          2nd:  £2.00            3rd:  £1.00

JUDGES                                                        

DAFFODILS AND CUT FLOWERS:               STEVE RYAN

POTS, BOWLS:                               STEVE RYAN / TONY BOOTH                    

COOKERY & CRAFTS:                                  ROSEMARY CURRY

Show Secretary:  Graham Wheatley, 7 Ganners Close, Bramley, Leeds LS13 2NL

Telephone No:  0113 2563055  

Next Meeting

17^th February – We welcome back Tracey Foster who is giving a presentation entitled

Taking a bit of Yorkshire to Chelsea Flower Show