Firstly,
a big thank you to all the road stewards who have endured the cold
weather to collect the subs and deliver this years schedules - much
appreciated. On the subject of schedules, can I thank our sponsors -
Knights Garden Centres and, in particular, Evergreen Tree Services - and
ask you to mention you have seen their advertisements if you use them.
Our Lecture series
started with a terrific talk from Tom Hart Dyke at our new venue, All
Saints Church Hall. Tom was equally funny and inspiring and I am sure
many of us will have The World Garden at Lullingstone Castle at the top of
our list of must visit gardens this year.
My item
in last months newsletter about using Tagetes minuta as a way of
eradicating ground elder, resulted in a number of comments from members -
one in particular from Piers Hubbard who told me his mother had written
about it on the back of a calendar dated 1965, relating how the seed had
arrived from Australia to South Africa during the first world war, among
fodder for horses of the Australian cavalry. The Dutch had discovered that
tagetes destroyed eel worm in daffodils. An English potato grower,
Lawrence Hills, Treasurer and Head gardener of the Henry Doubleday
Research Association, obtained the seed to try on his eel worm infested
crop; not only did it clear the field of the worms but also ivy, couch
grass, convolvulus and ground elder. This all makes it sound like a
miracle plant; I will let you know how I get on.
At the
end of the month I expect many of us will be starting to sow seeds and
split established plants; do please remember our Plant Sale on
Saturday May 7th and put some plants aside for it.
I was
delighted to receive a note from long-time member Jean Withers, now living
at a retirement home in Woking, saying she is well and sending her best
wishes to her old friends in Sanderstead.
Colin Jones,
Chairman
WISLEY RHS
GARDEN FREE DAY FRIDAY 4th MARCH
Wisley opens its
doors for free to everyone for this day. If you are not already an RHS
member, this is the day to go. See how the RHS can inspire your gardening
and meet specialist plant societies. 10am - 4.30pm
COACH OUTING TO DENMANS &
HIGHDOWN GARDENS, SATURDAY 30th APRIL 2011.
In the morning we will visit
Denmans, near Fontwell in Sussex. It is a four acre, level garden
designed by John Brookes, and is full of ideas for small gardens. There
is a charming award-winning cafe/restaurant and a wide selection of plants
for sale. From there we will travel to Worthing, to Highdown Garden,
which we thought would appeal especially to those who garden on chalk.
Both gardens will be full of Spring flowers and bulbs. Next to the garden
there is a restaurant for late lunches or afternoon teas.
The cost will be £16 per
person, to include garden entry, coach and driver's gratuity. The coach
will leave Sanderstead library at 9.30 a.m. and return at about 5.30 p.m.
Please complete the form below
and send it together with your cheque for £16, payable to SHS, to Brenda
Bateman, 32 Lime Meadow Avenue, Sanderstead, Surrey. CR2 9AR. Please
tick the box if you would like a phone-call to confirm receipt (landlines
only please).
____________________________________________________________________________________
OUTING TO DENMANS & HIGHDOWN
GARDENS, SATURDAY 30 APRIL 2011
Name(s)
.Telephone Number
Address
.
No of people
. Cheque (£16 per person) £
. Telephone
Confirmation YES/NO
FEBRUARY
TALK
On 10th February at least 90 people came to hear Tom Hart Dyke give a
marvellously enthusiastic account of his plant hunting trip 11 years ago
when he visited several countries, including South East Asia and
Australia, and ending in Colombia where he and his companion were captured
by guerrillas. He gave a vivid description of their terrifying ordeal;
when expecting death soon he started planning a garden made up of the
different continents with their native plants. All of a sudden they were
set free and made their way back to England, and Tom started putting his
plans into practice. We saw slides of many of the plants in The World
Garden, and others seen on his travels, ending with a colony of amazing
Puyas in the Andes, seen quite recently, and shown to us specially! Tom
Hart Dyke is such an enthusiastic and entertaining speaker, I think we all
had a really enjoyable evening.
TALK ON 10TH MARCH
This will be on Orchids and will be given by Michael Penney. Mr.
Penney has been growing Orchids for 25 years, and has won several awards,
including from the R.H.S. and the Botanical Society. He is Chairman of
the Crawley Orchid Society. He will speak on the general care of Orchids
and show slides of the different varieties, including Orchids in
Thailand.
This talk will again be in our new venue, All Saints Church Hall,
(smaller), and will start at 8 p.m., doors open from 7 30
p.m.
Mary
Early
RHS LONDON ORCHID & BOTANICAL ART SHOW
19th-20th March 10am-5pm Lawrence and Lindley Halls, Greycoat Street,
London, SW1. RHS members £3 non RHS members £5. At 12.15 on 19th
March, Tom Hart Dyke will be giving a talk Orchids Not as
Difficult as You Think. Tickets are also needed for the talk, £4 for RHS
members and £5 for non RHS members. Tel: 0845 612 1253 to book.
RHS GREAT LONDON PLANT FAIR
29-30 March 10am-7pm (5pm on 30 March), Lawrence and Lindley Halls,
Greycoat Street, SW1.
RAINFALL
Kathleen Davis recorded 79mm of rain for the month of January. John
Morris recorded January average temperatures thus: 2011 - high 43.8F
(6.5C) and low 39.1F (3.9C). For 2010 - high 38.7F (3.7C) and low 33.9F
(1.1C)
CHELSEA
FLOWER SHOW TICKETS DRAW We have two all day tickets for Thursday 26th May (8am-8pm).
The ticket(s) will cost the winner(s) £34 each (full price £47 each), and
the draw will take place after the talk on Thursday 14th
April. If you would like to enter the draw, please complete the slip in
last months circular or email Brenda Bateman (bateman456@btinternet.com)
no later than Tuesday 12th April, please.
Charity
Registration No 221124
EXHIBITION AND
SALE OF PICTURES BY LOCAL ARTISTS
Saturday 19th March
10.00 am 4.30 pm
The Small Hall, Sanderstead
United Reformed Church Hall, Sanderstead Hill.
Entrance
50p. Talented artists from all over the Sanderstead, Purley, Croydon and
Caterham areas will again be displaying their work at this annual
exhibition held in aid of The Children's Society. It is a wonderful
opportunity to buy an original picture, framed or unframed, at an
affordable price and to see the very varied work of local artists. There
will also be a raffle and home-made cakes and preserves stall. We do hope
you can come to support this fundraising event to help the Society with
its work with those children in this country most in need.
MANURE AVAILABLE
Put real heart back into your soil! High quality rotted horse manure in
bags delivered to your door. Telephone: 020 8660 6078.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Thurs 10 March
SHS
Talk on Orchids by Michael Penney 8pm All Saints Church Hall, Onslow
Gardens
Sat 19 and Sun 20 March RHS London Orchid Show, RHS Halls,
Westminster,
SW1
Tues 29 and Wed 30 March RHS Great London Plant Fair
Sat 7 May
SHS
Plant Sale at 14 West Hill, Sanderstead
NEXT CIRCULAR:
1st April (notes
by 21st March) to Brenda Bateman (8657 5280)
32 Lime Meadow Avenue,
Sanderstead, CR2 9AR. Email bateman456@btinternet.com
