It was to be an unusual day - wet and very windy. It was dry first thing when we left Notcutts (Norwich) but then started to rain again on the way down.
Damp at first in Columbia Road but it was raining fairly steadily by the time we were waiting for the coach to take us to Capel Manor.
Sunshine today, compared with the snowy conditions this time last year. Our winter event was based on the autumn garden and members were greeted with tea and coffee on arrival. Members were able to buy plants from our own stall or Plantsman's Preference, plus a selection of jams and chutneys and pickles.
We were treated to a fun event of ‘Call my Bluff’ organised by Megan Dennis, the Curator of Gressenhall Museum. We had to guess the correct definition of a weird and wonderful garden tool that Megan showed us and our panelists were John Foster, Nick Hales and John Metcalf. This proved to be very amusing. Megan then gave a talk about gardening at Gressenhall. She also had strange tools on display, one a three-bladed pair of shears!
A delicious lunch of a selection of autumnal soups and crumbles/pies had been prepared by our committee. In the afternoon John Metcalf gave a talk entitled "Autumn in my Garden".
We had a competition entitled "Autumn Bounty" which members voted on by placing a coin by the entry they most liked.
I would just like to thank members for providing raffle prizes, which were most appreciated, and all helped to make the event a most convivial day.
May I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
photographs by Linda Hall
Don't forget, our next meeting will be on Saturday 28th January 2012
commencing at 2pm at Hethersett Village Hall
our speaker will be Tony Goode with a talk entitled
Small is Beautiful - Alpines and Dwarf Bulbs.