14th October 2017

This talk, held on a most summery day, concerned as you might guess all things autumn. It was billed as being a talk by John but after his introduction Gail took over the reins to guide us through their ideas on how to get the best in terms of structure and colour in the autumn garden.

John’s introduction gave a few words on their horticultural history. The arrival of a B and Q store close to their bedding plant nursery put an end to that business and in 1984 they turned their talents to establishing Westshores Nursery in N. Lincolnshire specialising in  ornamental grasses and scented pelargoniums. He went on to explain that he was the builder cum maintenance person while Gail was the plant expert and botany teacher.

Gail started by talking about first flowering dates and the effects of climate change on these. She went on to give us illustrated examples of what she considered to be the “Skeleton” of an autumn garden, i.e. trees and shrubs. Amongst others she recommended  species we all know such as the Japanese acers and prunus for leaf colour; spindleberry, pyracanthus, sorbus, berberis and cotoneaster for their berries. Less common (to me anyway) were eleutherococcus sieboldianus with its large black fruits resembling giant blackberries and decaisnea fargesii bearing fat blue finger-like fruits also known as Dead Man’s fingers. Her top recommendation was Abelia x grandiflora with its small glossy oval leaves and clusters of pale pink, slightly fragrant flowers lasting well into autumn.

The next selection of plants Gail called “Long term stayers” and these included grasses, verbena and asters. John interrupted the talk here to tell us about a remedy for mildew on asters meant to be a trade secret. It involved mixing up a spray solution of 1 part milk to 10 parts water. Casein, found in milk is the active ingredient for inhibiting the formation of mildew apparently. Gail added that some of the newer varieties of aster were more resistant to mildew. Other plants recommended were rudbeckias, heleniums, kniphofias, euphorbias and some of the ferns.

The third selection consisted of the plants Gail called “visitors”.  These included half- hardy perennials such as fuschias and dahlias and especially salvia “Amistad” with its display of unusually deep purple flowers with almost-black calyces and stems lasting from summer through to autumn. This salvia is also extremely popular with bees and makes an excellent cut flower.  Late flowering hanging baskets were easy way to add some interest and colour in the autumn.

Finally we were given advice on extending the season : making sure plants were healthy, dead heading except where seed and flower heads were to be kept for interest, and mulching were all top tips. The “Chelsea chop” was mentioned as a way of extending the season, late flowering plants also being beneficial to insects. Use of evergreens/conifers and autumn bulbs were seen as useful additions to the autumn garden.

By Janet Stevens.

9th September 2017

16 members, including 3 new ones, met for Simon White’s talk, on a sunny September afternoon.

Simon showed us numerous roses, some with hips, eg.  R.pimpinellafolia, with black, marble-sized hips, near the beginning, and R.moyesii,  with orange, bottle-shaped hips, nearer the end.

In addition, many roses were in flower. Simon described the monthly feeding regime, took us up the spiral stairs to see the garden from above, then down ago, to see R. ‘Pippin’, named for Peter Beales, after his death. This was his nickname at school.

We were also shown the ‘ladder arch’ and walked through the ‘wild garden’ to the children’s play area, tantalisingly close to the back of the adjacent pub.

Simon took us back, a slightly longer-than-usual way, around Peter Beales’ bungalow, toward the garden centre, where he completed his talk, and we disbanded into small groups to examine nearbyitens of interest, either in the garden or garden centre.

At this point, no doubt carefully planned by Simon, the heavens opened, and everyone dashed fir cover, either to the main building or to the Clematis tunnel. By the time Simon had kindly sent a’lad’ with umbrellas, the whole area was awash, resulting in wet feet for the unsuspecting.

A dramatic end to an interesting and informative talk.

Chris Davies 

12th August 2017

Following an alarming start, - when Barbra’s reminder to the prospective host, Dr. Russell, was answered by his daughter, Penelope, saying that he had died before Christmas, that she had only recently moved in, but would be happy to have us, and generous enough to provide refreshments as well, - preparations went smoothly.

Members were asked to make donations for the refreshments.

This was a very established garden, one of it’s features being the range of huge specimen trees, Pawlonia, Davidia, Catalpa etc. There was an array of box topiary ranging from animals to abstracts and a number of old stone contrasts to the foliage and mixed flower borders. There were also a couple of Peter Rabbits in the border. ( not live ones).

The front boundary was contained within a flowing ditch, also used to make points of interest, and Penelope opened a gate so that we could go through to the village hall, where the local flowers and produce show was in full swing. Another gate took members around the house past an old mulberry tree and to the very pretty church.

When Penelope has had time to impose her own personality on the garden, it would be good to visit again.

*See poster advertising talk on ‘ Buckingham Palace Garden’ by Head Gardener, Mark Lane, on 16th September at 2.30pm. etc. £6.

Chris Davies 

15th July 2017

Colin arrived early and put out HPS signs - always a comforting sight when travelling in a strange area.

Immediate excitement was raised by the plant sales area, with a good range of plants at ‘cup of coffee’ prices. This took many members’ attention for some time, before proceeding.

 The huge walled vegetable garden was most impressive with quantities of immaculately grown vegetables, including rows of contrasting coloured cabbages, cold frames, glasshouse and netted fruit areas.

Beyond the wall a little doorway led past a Judas tree ( Cercis siliquastrum ) quantities of purple seed pods, crowded onto branches and the main stem. Past the shrubbery, with the house to our left, where there were areas of formal garden, including a formal pond with large Koi carp, whilst to our right was a large lawn and further across, another pond, much larger, ( and a little boat), crossed by a bridge and fairly newly planted on the surrounding sloping banks.

Drifting further across the expanse of lawn there were tables and chairs set out and a little summer-house with more seats and a table supporting an excellent range of cakes and tea and coffee to complete our visit.

(One member expressed the opinion that at £7, this was not best value for money.)

There will be a longer review in the next Newsletter.

Chris Davies

10th June 2017

On a glorious summer’s day a small, but eager party met at High House Gardens at Shipdham. The bees easily outnumbered us, but they did not in any way distract us from the plethora of flowers, shrubs and trees that greeted us. Entry was by the small nursery and for a while I wondered if we would get beyond there, as plant buying was already in progress when we arrived.

It is hard to describe this garden as formal, despite the undoubted formal layout, because it had such a cottage garden feel about it, from the border near the nursery to the blossoming beds that followed.

Campanulas, peonies, geums and hardy geraniums , fought for our attention as they battled with pink deutzia and deep red potentillas. Just like the bees and butterflies we each pointed out a favourite plant or an attention seeking display.

As we wandered through a small arboretum of assorted trees we came upon a shepherd’s hut it  just needed a good book to provide the perfect hide away. In the long grass, a perfect oasis for insects, nestled rusting farm tools, somehow they looked as though they should be there. The pond was alive with bright blue dragonflies, but sadly the water lilies had yet to show us their splendour.

The garden was divided by hedges of various types and each room had borders to delight everyone. A stand of deep blue delphiniums immediately demanded our attention, amazingly still upright after the strong winds of the preceding week. Foxgloves were busy providing nectar for the bees and two brilliant gold grasses glowed in the afternoon sun. Yet again we were greeted by plants vying for our attention a crazy mix of colour and perfume.

A well ordered fruit and vegetable garden left us in awe, as our own were no near the same stage as these, nor had we any sweet peas in flower, so we three sweet pea lovers savoured their sweet perfume. The cutting garden and greenhouse did not fail to impress and everywhere you wandered in this garden there were roses delighting the eye and nose. The chickens at the rear of the garden were relaxing in the warm sunshine enjoying a dust bath and clucking with contentment, it was a pleasure to stand and watch them.

Our final foray was into the front garden, a large curving bed with a profusion of colour especially the spectacular deep red lupins, and various campanulas with their globe like flowers showing off in the bright sunlight.  A seat, at the end of the bed provide a much welcome sit down allowing us to enjoy the scene before us.

It was with equal delight we were told that tea and a choice of homemade cake was ready, which turned out to be as big a treat as the garden had been. A plant lover made this garden and plant lovers enjoyed it.

Aileen Butler