Programme 2023
Meetings every third Thursday of the month at 7.30pm, St Mary's Church Centre, Nether Stowey
Tea and cake, raffle, plant table
Secretary Lucy Haswell tel 01278 671289
Thursday 19th January AGM at 7pm
followed at 7.30pm by a talk by Nick Wray, Curator of University of Bristol Botanic Gardens Gardens and Landscapes of Sicily
Thursday 16th February Gardeners Question Time
Thursday 16th March a talk by Michael Smith Hanging Baskets and Containers
Thursday 20th April a talk by Jonny Hartnell Orchids
Friday 21st April car visit to Barford Park, Spaxton TA5 1AG
Saturday 29th April 10am-1pm Plant Sale at Thomas Poole Library, Nether Stowey
Thursday 18th May a talk by Dr Gavin Haig Creating a Wildlife Garden
Tuesday 23rd May car visit to Hillcrest, Curload, Stoke St Gregory TA3 6JA
Thursday 15th June a talk by Margaret Adams Living with the Boss (Tales of a Farmer's Wife)
Thursday 22nd June car visit to Regency House, Hemyock, Cullompton EX15 3RQ
Tuesday 11th July car visit to Avalon, Higher Chillington, Ilminster TA19 0PT
Thursday 20th July a talk by Claire Hart Poultry Keeping for Beginners- you can have hens and a nice garden
Wednesday 23rd August Members Summer Garden Party
Thursday 7th September car visit to Hartwood House, Crowcombe Heathfield TA4 4BS
Thursday 21st September a talk by David Wright Letting go of Lifting the Latch and the birth of Little Latch
Tuesday 26th September car visit to Postbox Cottage, West Bagborough TA4 3EF
Thursday 19th October a talk by David Usher Care and Management of Trees and Shrubs
Thursday 16th November a talk by Micky Little (Avon Bulbs) Roses
Wednesday 13th December Members Christmas Party
January
The AGM was held on Thursday January 19th at the Church Centre. Jean Deakin left the committee after 6 years service, and was thanked for her enormous contribution. Two new committee members were welcomed, but we still have no one willing to act as Chairman.
Following this we welcomed Nick Wray, Curator of the University of Bristol Botanic Gardens, who talked enthusiastically about Gardens and Landscapes of Sicily, a pleasant escape from the dreary winter weather. He gave us an insight informed by his many visits, on some of which he led garden tours, into this fertile central Mediterranean island which is home to an enormous variety of flora due to its varied habitats, from coastal maquis to the high altitudes of Etna. We had a cultural as well as a botanic tour: highlights included the Orto Botanico of Palermo, Agrigento with its Greek temples and various villas, private and public, boasting impressive vegetable gardens, some venerable trees and hair -raising tales of mandrake poisoning! Sicily is now firmly on the bucket list!
February
On Thursday 16th February we held a Gardeners Question Time with a panel of experts and chaired by Nick Rigden.
Nick, our president, is a horticultural educationalist, sometime head of Cannington College, and an RHS judge with a broad and practical knowledge of gardening.
John Addison was a colleague of Nick's at Cannington, and is similarly experienced in horticulture and education, and an RHS judge.
Claire Greenslade is Head Gardener at Hestercombe. She has a background in fashion, design, catering as well as horticulture, and has worked at Barley Wood, Ryton Organic Garden and Barrington Court.
Annie Shoosmith is a local plantswoman who has a particular knowledge of herbs and opens her lovely cottage garden for the NGS.
Questions ranged from selecting a tree for a small front garden, how to deal with flowering rhubarb, selecting deer proof plants for clay soil, divining why a new rose plant wouldn't thrive and even identifying scale bugs on a specimen of camellia. An interesting and convivial time was had by all!
March
Michael Smith talked to us about gardening with 'Hanging baskets and Containers' on Thursday 16th March, a timely topic as we prepare for summer garden displays. He gave us advice on types of pot and liner, growing media, feeding and watering