March

For the second year running it won't be possible to hold indoor events such as the Spaxton Spring Flower Show. But you can celebrate things horticultural by joining in the Colour for Spring event - find details at https://spaxtonflowershow.co.uk/colour-for-spring/

this is a collection of activities including colouring spring flower pictures, displaying pots of flowers and contributing photos to an on-line gallery

April

During those wet, cold days when you can't get into the garden, a good site on which to read interesting articles on Somerset garden topics is that of the Somerset Gardens Trust : https://somersetgardenstrust.org.uk

May

Stowey Gardeners 2021 AGM has taken place!!

On Thursday 20th May more than 20 members gathered and were welcomed by the chair, Juliet , who gave her report 2020, 'a year like no other'. Nick Rigden, our President gave his response, and officers of the club were reappointed.

Following the AGM we heard a talk by Pat and Bill Wilson from Venn Cross (where Stowey Gardeners visited the gardens of Station and Engine Houses about 4 years ago). Pat talked about 'Creating a Show Garden for Taunton Flower Show as Amateurs'. She recounted how she'd won 'Ready, Steady Garden' with her daughter, making a 2.5m square garden in 2 hours. Their appetites for such competitions whetted, the pair of them, supported by Bill, then entered a 'Designer Garden' in Taunton Flower Show. Their initial design having been approved, they found a sponsor to supply plants, though they grew some too, sought out hardware such as pots, paving and a trellis, and finally constructed the 4x5m show garden over 4 punishing wet days (it was August after all) . The garden was called 'At the End of a Busy Day'. Exuberant planting at the front gave way, along a twisty path, to calmer cooler colours on the patio, where a table and chairs offered a place to sit and enjoy some peace. Some of the featured plants included hydrangea Annabelle, verbena Bampton, and a prunus 'frilly frock'. Pat spoke engagingly, and was most interesting and entertaining about the practicalities, successes and near disasters along the way to a well deserved Silver Gilt medal.

Greencombe, Porlock, Tuesday 25th May

Rain didn't prevent a hardy group of Stowey Gardeners from exploring the lovely Greencombe gardens. The garden was cared for and made into it's current form by Joan Lorraine between 1966 and 2016, and is now looked after by her nephew, who grew up with the garden and has moved from the USA to take it on. He welcomed us and explained it's history. Near the house terraces and lawns are surrounded by shrubs and trees and lush full borders, and there are winding steps up towards the ancient holly tree, the oldest in England, where camellias overhang trilliums and tree peonies. Beyond this one walks by mossy paths along the hillside under mature beech and chestnut trees, among giant rhododendrons, clumps of vibrant red, pink or purple azaleas, numerous ferns and carpets of lilies of the valley or groups of erythroniums (a national collection, a few remaining in bloom - April is the time to catch them). The higher paths offer views of the colours below, and the lower paths allow the practicalities of the garden to be appreciated: everything is done organically, leaf mould being produced by collecting fallen leaves into giant bins at the lower edge of the garden. We finished our visit with an excellent cream tea under a dripping oak, beside the pond, looking out over Porlock bay.

Plant Swap/ Sale, Saturday 22nd May

Two tables of plants were assembled outside the Thomas Poole Library, Nether Stowey. Some were swapped, more arrived, many were sold, but not all the tomatoes found new homes! An enjoyable time was had by the Stowey Gardeners who dropped by to be tempted and who generously gave all sorts of well-nurtured offerings, and by library users attracted by the activity. Perhaps some of them will join us in future!

The Courthouse, East Quantoxhead, Tuesday 18th May

Hugh Luttrell welcomed the group and told us how it had been created by his aunt and uncle, who'd collected plants or been inspired to grow them by their travels round the world. It was they who first made the Church Path garden, a sheltered terraced area absolutely filled with interesting and often rare plants which thrive in this microclimate. They had also created the pond garden, where a beautiful handkerchief tree was in full flower, and a rare metasequoia could be seen. More recently a grove of poplar trees, originally grown for providing wood from which matches were made, has been turned into a wonderful spring woodland garden, full of azaleas, rhododendrons, primulas, wild garlic and much more. Many of us hadn't seen this area on previous visits, and were most impressed. There were Camassias naturalised in a meadow, and an enviable vegetable garden also benefiting from sheltering walls, overshadowed by a large and beautiful fragrant white malus. Definitely a garden to revisit !

Burrow Farm Gardens, Tuesday 11th May

A group of about 15 Stowey Gardeners and friends met at Burrow Farm Gardens, near Axminster, Devon and were welcomed by Mary Benger, the creator of the gardens. She briefly explained that she'd developed the 13acres of gardens bit by bit, when she was 'allowed' land from her husband's farm, since they moved there in1959. A Roman clay quarry was an early area to be developed, and features mature rhododendrons, azaleas and trees. Terraces around the house were laid out early on, but later a Millenium garden, Anniversary garden, which has a lovely display of grasses in autumn, azalea glade and wildflower meadows all followed. Rather than talk formally, Mary was happy to answer individual's questions and many of us took the opportunity to chat as we met her gardening alongside her volunteers, when we explored the garden. A notable feature of the garden is the wonderful views of the green Devon countryside : full advantage has been made of these borrowed landscapes. Colour was abundant, with numerous different species of acer, including A. palmatum Shin-deshojo which has amazing pink young foliage, mounds of rhododendrons in full flower ,lovely white cornus kousa, and wonderfully scented azaleas. Some of us took advantage of the tasty refreshments in the cafe, others picnicked, or were inspired to buy plants for their own gardens, and most successfully dodged the rain which eventually set in. Those of us who'd visited this impressive garden last autumn found it, if anything, even better in spring.

St Margaret's Hospice

St Margaret's Hospice Care's Glorious Somerset Gardens scheme is restarting from 17th May until the end of July. The brochure can be found in hospice shops, garden centres or at their website https://www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/glorious-gardens.

One such garden is Westleigh Farm, Lydeard St Lawrence which is open Sat 29th, Sun 30th and Mon 31st May. Great care has been taken to make these garden visits Covid safe and you need to book a time by e mail/phone.

June

On Thursday 24th June, Paul Green, from Greens Leaves Nursery, Newent, Glos gave a talk on 'Unusual Plants'. Paul runs a specialist plant nursery which grows and supplies a wide selection of choice, rare and unusual plants. His talks are practical, and "hands-on" showing his diverse range of plants and he also attends a number of specialist fairs and shows throughout the UK. His plants are only available through these talks and events, and Stowey Gardeners enjoyed Paul's entertaining and informative presentation of his impressively thriving plants. There were many grasses, some rare shrub honeysuckles, spiky succulents, salvias, Rosa glauca and improved varieties of brunnera, to name but a few. Many members bought plants and will look out for Paul at plant fairs in future.

July

The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum was at it's summer best on Tuesday 20th July when a select Stowey Gardeners group visited. We arrived feeling comfortably cool after our drive in the air conditioned coach, to find the garden basking in nearly 30C heat. Beyond the lawn, which is surrounded by many interesting and some unfamiliar plants, the summer garden, full of many varieties of grasses and perennials, was particularly impressive, with inspirational combinations of colour and texture. We enjoyed the shade of the acer glades and ten trees walk, where many blue Hydrangeas thrive on the acid soil, and were charmed by the bright red and occasionally yellow Tropaeolum speciosum climbing through everything. The walled garden was splendid. Here finely clipped (5 times a year!) hedges divide beds of perennials - masses of bright magenta bergamot, phlox, orange day lilies and numerous others. Eucryphia lucida shrubs looked striking beside purple Cotinus in one corner. Terraces and a small lake were explored and some of us picnicked in shady spots, or revived ourselves with drinks and snacks from the cafe. Covid restrictions meant that shopping was limited, but a few plants came home with us. The garden would repay further visits in spring - there's a large bulb field- or autumn when there should be plenty of colour.

On Thursday 15th July, James Cross gave a talk on The Bishop's Palace, Wells. Since James became head gardener at Wells 17 years ago, after previous experience at Sissinghurst, Sheffield Park and the Courts Garden, he has achieved an amazing amount. Illustrating his talk with excellent photographs and many interesting historical prints, he took us on a virtual tour of the garden. Every year, it seems, new beds have been dug and areas of the garden developed, largely designed by James, though historically some bishops were active influences, and changes in horticultural fashion played their part in forming the 14 acre site; the well pools remain the heart of the garden. Now in every season there is much to see, with formal gardens full of interesting planting, an arboretum, a quiet garden, children's play area and community gardens. This garden is now firmly on many members lists of gardens to (re)visit.

A group of 8 Stowey Gardeners had the rather sad distinction of being the last group to visit Sally Gregson and her husband at Henley Mill, Wookey on Tuesday July 6th. After over 30 years running the nursery and nurturing the garden, the Gregsons are retiring. Sally explained how the garden had evolved and showed us many of her unusual and interesting plants. Hydrangeas are plentiful, but so too are roses, though these had taken a battering by the recent rain. There were impressive troughs of succulents, lots of clever use of shade, quirky sculptures and borders full of good combinations of perennials. Water is an important feature too. Sally guided us round, gave us tips on taking cuttings from roses, sold us some of the remaining nursery stock and revived us with tea before the rain set in.

August

Summer Flower Shows are one of August's delights... but in 2021 alternatives were on offer as we continued to keep a social distance from each other. On August 7th, Spaxton was adorned with scarecrows and displays of produce, and the popular open days at the allotments were enjoyed by many. On 21st August, Nether Stowey Village Hall was filled with stalls showing the activities of numerous local groups and individuals. Stowey Gardeners won the cup for the best display!

The Summer Garden Party on Thursday 5th August was a happy event involving cream teas and cakes in the marquee beside Fiddington Village Hall, dodging the rain, and visiting Jenny and Robin's lovely garden round the corner. The garden was immaculate and beautiful, with striking dahlias, all sorts of thriving plants, a wild rose hedge, pond, productive veg plot, shady sitting areas and more. Very many thanks for inviting us!

September

Adam Alexander, vegetable enthusiast, returned on 16th September and gave an interesting and practical talk on seed saving. He is a seed guardian, and grows numerous vegetables, many of rare or heritage varieties or sourced on his worldwide travels, and collects seed from them. We learnt about 'passionate threshing' (embracing bags of dried brassicas to loosen the seed!), saw pictures of 8 ft beetroot plants, received recommendations on what varieties of pea, bean, chilli to try, and were able to buy envelopes of seed which will keep members busy growing vegetables in the coming year(s) and hopefully exchanging and passing on seeds to others.

October

Minterne Gardens was the destination of the last visit of the year on Tuesday 26th October, and was well worth the journey. A group of 10 Stowey Gardeners and friends was welcomed with hot drinks on the terrace, and given an introduction by Head Gardener, Mark Bobin, who explained the history of the gardens. The Digby family acquired the valley with its greensand soil in the mid 17th century and planted shelter belts of trees. Later, taking notes from Capability Brown's work at another family seat at Sherborne, a landscape garden was developed by damming the stream into a series of lakes and ponds. An early interest in trees and sponsorship of now renowned plant hunters resulted in a well stocked Himalayan garden. Today the strategy is to replicate Himalayan conditions as far as possible, and this has enabled impressive rhododendrons, azaleas and acers and much else to be grown. This year's wind and rain and warmth may have delayed the development of autumnal colour to some extent, but there was still plenty to admire. We explored the mile or more of paths, discovering much of interest, and finished with warming soup back on the terrace. Many of us will be drawn back in spring to discover the no doubt glorious flowering shrubs.

Ian Anderson, from Bicknoller gave us a photographic tour of gardens of Great Britain, and Keukenhof in the Netherlands at our meeting on 18th October. His beautiful images will have inspired many of us to ( re) visit gardens such as Bodnant in N Wales, or Weacombe somewhat nearer home.

November

the chair's letter to members this month :

'It is with much regret that the Committee has decided to cancel the Christmas party for a second year. I’m afraid the lack of take-up from Members ( understandable in these difficult times) and a much diminished Committee made it unviable.

And what about Stowey Gardeners in 2022? We have reached a ‘crunch’ time. Your Committee is now down to 5 and at the AGM it will be down to 2! A small committee has to work so much harder than a committee of 7 or 8 who can share the tasks and make the job much more fun. We realise that many of you have served on the committee in the past and may not want to again. Many of us are getting older too; we certainly need new and younger members to join us if we want the club to continue. However, we also need those who haven’t served and would be prepared to join the Committee, to do so by writing or speaking to us.

For this reason we thought you should have some time to think about what you would like to happen to Stowey Gardeners and put the AGM forward by a month to February to give you time to respond. (This means no meeting in January)

I will also be writing to the Messenger and other village magazines making an appeal on your behalf to all those enthusiastic experienced and new gardeners out there who don’t know what they are missing!

It may be that the club will have to change but we all hope that by the Spring the sap will be ready to rise and we are filled with the energy of young plants again!

No-one is sadder than me and the Committee that we couldn’t gather this Christmas but let’s hope for a reinvigorated, successful Stowey Gardeners in 2022.

PLEASE get in touch by email or phone if you can help in any small way to keep this worthwhile village club going for another ( perhaps 31) years ?!

With Very Best Wishes

Juliet'

Thursday 18th November saw the final meeting of 2021 for Stowey Gardeners. Jan Johnston gave a demonstration of wreath making, both for Christmas and for other decorative purposes. She emphasised the use of sustainable, recyclable materials - hay or woven twigs of hazel or willow, for the basic wreath, raffia for tying on greenery and embellishments. Members learnt new tricks and were inspired to get creative with autumnal materials such as hydrangea and honesty. One lucky member won a Christmas wreath generously donated to the raffle, and we enjoyed hot punch and mince pies to round off the evening.