Our winter program was kick started by Ray Broughton with a talk on Plants for Year-Round Interest. We had a very enjoyable evening amongst friends as Ray has been a judge for our Show every year and we were joined by a former student of his and members of Herriad Gardening Club.
He was a little bemused on arrival having experienced the joys of Alton’s Bridgeworks detours on his way here from Wisley but in retribution he told us of the reclassification and hence new names of many of the familiar plants in our gardens.
Our talk was full of lovely slides of plants many of which were new hybrids eliminating problems encountered with the parent plant. As well as various little gems of knowledge Ray told us a company had identified and was developing a new product based on a compound found in the Hosta Big Daddy which made it unpalatable to slugs, as yet nothing similar had been found for deer!
The Christmas Party at the beginning of December was on the theme of Jingle Bells, there were plenty of jingles, John Young managed to get all lit up as well and won the fancy dress. The traditional quiz was won by Imogen and our game of naming Christmas carols and songs was won by Sheila. It was a bit early in the festive season so the collective amnesia experienced by many in bringing titles to mind was rewarded by incessant playlists on media for the next three weeks.
February brings a demonstration of Winter Flowering Clematis. Marcus Dancer, nurseryman and exhibitor at rare plant sales around the country is bringing the many varieties in bloom at this time of year and will have plants for sale.
Patricia Elkington will give a talk Humour in the Garden in March.
Visitors and new members are always welcome, please contact Kathy (549401) or Sheila (88924)