The end of the summer is not the end of the world. Here's to October... A.A. Milne

Presentation - The All Seasons Garden by Sarah Hopps

On a cold and rainy afternoon, who better to motivate us than the enthusiastic and knowledgeable Sarah Hopps.  With plants and slides, Sarah showed us how we should look forward to the all the seasons in the garden starting with a framework for winter, spring bulbs and how to avoid the “August gap”.  We were also treated to slides of some fabulous gardens which Sarah has visited in various seasons as her role as tour guide.

Display Table

 Judith’s Dahlia Totally Tangerine and Rudbeckia Prairie Glow

From her garden, Gill’s bouquet includes: Hydrangeas, clematis Mary Rose, Phlox, Geraniums Margaret Wilson, Kirengeshoma, Crocosmia Severn Sunrise, Abelia, Michaelmas Daisies, Eupatorium Rugosum, Garrya elliptica, Salvia Amistad and Argyranthemum Jamaica Primrose

 Ann brought an arrangement of Clematis cyrhesa Landsowne Gem, Euonymus planipes seeds and Adiamtum fern  

Notice Board

Hearty congratulation to Kate on the birth of grandson Harry.

Next Meeting

18^th October:  Harvest Forum and Bring & Buy Sale – The theme for this year’s Harvest Forum is British Fruit, which you can interpret as you wish (cooked, raw, arrangement, anecdote etc).  Please bring something fitting plus suitable items for the Bring & Buy.

"A late summer garden has a tranquility found no other time of the year." - William Longgood

Forum

Members spent an enjoyable afternoon hearing about facts and fiction related to gardening.  Perhaps we won’t recall the height of the largest tree or the circumference of the biggest mushroom grown in the UK, but will surely remember that some of the lyrics of our favourite nursery rhymes and other myths from our youth had other meanings from those learnt! 

Display Table

From her garden, Kate brought Begonia avensiana, the tall plumage from a heuchera, Hydrangeas Pink Anabelle and Limelight, Phlox Graf Zeppelin and The King, Japanese Anemones Honorine Jobert and Pretty Lady Susan, Crocosmia Emily Mackenzie, Helenium autumnale, Asters frikartii Monch and Violet Queen, Verbena bonariensis and rigida, Campanula Loddon Anna and Persicaria campanulata, Geranium Ann Folkard, Hesperantha Wilfred H Bryant, Roscoea and Knautia 

Margaret H brought Yew trees in various stages which she grew from cuttings

 Carol’s Clerodendron Bungei

Ann’s berries from Magnolia Wilsonii which she somehow acquired from a garden visit in Dumfries.

 Ann’s Beaumaris calvetii grown from berries

 Ann’s container (home made):  Desfontainia spinosa, Actea cimicifuga, Rosa Flaming Desire, Salvia Prawn Chorus and Silkie’s Dream, Aconitum carmichaeli, Scabious, Cerato stigma Desert Skies and Caryopteris ikrana

Jenny brought her new purchases

Mulberry bush and Colchium 

Notice Board

11^th October:  Hardy Plants are holding their plant auction.  It’s 7.00 for 7.30 and is free for Friday Forum members.

Jenny reported back from Paxton Committee meeting that donations of suitable tombola prizes for future plant shows would be appreciated, Paxton has a new caretaker and the front hedge which was obstructing the pavement has been cut by Sid Taggart and Graham Wheatley.

Next Meeting

4^th October:  Presentation – The All Seasons Garden by Sarah Hopps

Talk:  Peter Williams – People, Plants and Places

Once again, Peter entertained us with his garden-related stories. Amongst other interesting facts, we learnt about the origins of the Dahlia Bishop of Llandaff,

We saw slides of the gardens at the historic Mount St John estate at Felixkirk, near Thirsk. It is owned by Chris Bundell of the Morrison (supermarket) family, designed by Tom Stuart Smith and where Lizzie Balmforth is now head gardener.  The gardens are not generally open to the public, but there are tours at about £40 per person. https://www.thecarpentersarmsfelixkirk.com/mount-st-john-garden-tours-2/

The talk finished with a quiz.

Display Table 

In her shady garden, Jenny has grown what was called Rodgersia tabularis, now Astilboides tabularis, with its massive leaves for over 20 years.  This year it has flowered!

Jenny also brought Fuchsia Begonia (Begonia fuchsioides) which bears fuchsia like flowers

In Ann’s handmade pot (is there no limit to this lady’s skills?): 

Itea ilicifolia	From E. Asia/N. America
Kirengeshoma palmata with yellow bells	From Korea/Japan
Stokesia laevis	SE USA
Amicia zygomeris	Mexico/Andes
Salvia Prawn Chorus	Bolivia
Dahlia australis	Mexico/Guatemala

 

Itea ilicifolia

From E. Asia/N. America

Kirengeshoma palmata with yellow bells

From Korea/Japan

Stokesia laevis

SE USA

Amicia zygomeris

Mexico/Andes

Salvia Prawn Chorus

Bolivia

Dahlia australis

Mexico/Guatemala

 







Gill brought Kirengeshoma palmata, hydrangea, willow gentian and phlox

 Judith’s arrangement in grey and pink:  Rehmannia (Chinese foxglove), Senecio viravira, Diascia personata, Alcalthaea

Notices

Paxton’s Early Autumn Show including the National Vegetable Show is on 21^st September and help in the kitchen or donations of cakes will be much appreciated.

Next Meeting

20^th September:  This will be a members’ forum.  See email for details.

Didn’t we have a lovely time the day we went on a FF day trip – despite the rain

Heavy rain was not going to discourage a coach load of intrepid garden lovers. 

First stop was Greencroft, Sally and David’s garden in Littlethorpe, near Ripon. This is a stunning garden with a surprise round every corner.  From a blank canvas, David used his building skills and Sally with her eye for planting, to create this wonderful space.  Sally treated us to her delicious homemade cakes served by her two daughters. 

 Visiting a garden is like opening a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to find!

 

 An example of David's building and Sally's planting

 The ornamental pond 

 The wildlife pond complete with timber cabin

 An imaginative waterfall

 Walls built from cobbles from a nearby farm which was demolished 

 Interesting vistas at every turn

Being in Pottery Lane, we took the opportunity to call in to the pottery workshop where the history of clay was explained. 

Next was a visit to The Manor House, Home-on-Swale, Thirsk.  Steve showed us round his garden and served us tea and cake in his lovely house.  Judi came home to find 47 pairs of muddy shoes in her hall and visitors eating their packed lunches in every room!

 Steve explaining about the garden

 Mostly original path edging

 

 

 This tiny apple tree is bearing loads of fruit

 

With the rain falling ever heavier, we arrived at Thornycroft in Rainton, near Thirsk which is Martin and Jill Fish’s garden.  Martin is well known for his columns in magazines and broadcasts on tv and radio while Jill uses the garden produce in her cooking.  Homemade jams, pickles and her book Gardening on the Menu were on sale and we were all able to sample her delicious baking.  From an empty, lawned garden, Martin and Jill have created this wonderful garden.

 Patio for use of the holiday cottage The Bothy

 Impressive entrance

 Innovative water feature

 Circular bed

 Charming new summer house

 Martin risking electrocution as he addresses us in the pouring rain

 The prolific kitchen garden

  …… and cake 

 

Despite the dreadful weather, Janella’s excellent organisation of the day and choice of gardens, the convivial company and the scrumptious cake meant that we had a lovely day!

Next Meeting

6^th September:  Presentation – People, Plants and Places by Peter Williams