February Meeting – Hepaticas

Our next meeting is on Monday 3rd February 2020 and our speaker is Samantha Hopes.

Samantha who is a trained geologist, has studied at Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Pershore College. She has trained at RHS Wisley specialising in Rock and Alpine plants as well as working for short periods at Kew and Great Dixter. Her interest in Hepaticas developed whilst working at Ashwood Nursery looking after John Massey’s Hepatica Collection. Samantha and her husband Nigel open their garden where people can explore a National Collection of Border Primula auriculas. Samantha propagates and grows unusual plants to sell at her talks.

Samantha’s talk on Hepaticas will look at different species and cultivars with lots of advice on cultivation, both in the garden and under glass.

As always the the venue for the evening is Colwall Village Hall and complimentary refreshments will be available from 7:00pm.

The evening is free to members or £5 per visitor. Annual membership (which runs from January to December) is £15.

Remember that memberships can still be renewed at the February meeting so please think about arriving a few minutes early to allow time for the committee to process the paperwork.

January Meeting – A Plantaholic’s Paradise

Our next meeting is on Monday 6th January and our speaker is Helen Picton.

You will probably know Helen as a member of the WCHS. as well as an ex chairman and Vice President. Helen runs the Old Court Nursery and Picton Gardens  in Colwall.

Helen’s talk will take us on a personal journey to remind us of the simple pleasure of plants and hopes to inspire us to try some of the more challenging aspects of horticulture.

As always the the venue for the evening is Colwall Village Hall and complimentary refreshments will be available from 7:00pm.

The evening is free to members or £5 per visitor. Annual membership (which runs from January to December) is £15.

Remember that memberships can be renewed at the January meeting so please think about arriving a few minutes early to allow time for the committee to process the paperwork.

December Meeting – Foxgloves: The Great Survivors

 

Our next meeting is on Monday 2nd December.

The meeting will commence at 7pm with the Society’s AGM.  Please arrive early so that the AGM can start promptly.

The AGM will be followed by a talk by Terry and Mary Baker entitled Foxgloves: The Great Survivors.  Terry and Mary are holders of the National Plant Heritage collection of foxgloves and keen to share their passion for traditional foxglove species and their more modern hybrids.

Terry and Mary run The Botanic Nursery at Atworth in Wiltshire.  As well as foxgloves they are growers of rare and unusual garden worthy plants. They are often to be found at plant fairs and garden shows, including RHS Malvern. They will be bringing plants and seeds to sell.

Also this evening there will be a pop-up shop selling seasonal gift items, such as cyclamen and stocking fillers, with all monies raised going to the raffle prizes fund for the summer show.

As always the the venue for the evening is Colwall Village Hall and complimentary refreshments will be available from 6:30pm.

The evening is free to members or £5 per visitor. Annual membership (which runs from January to December) is £15.

November Meeting – Beat the Drum!

 

Our next meeting is on Monday 4th November and our speaker is Christine Skelmersdale. 

Christine has been an enthusiastic gardener since childhood and has been the Managing Director of Broadleigh Gardens, a nursery which specialises in smaller bulbs, woodland and foliage plants for 40 years. The 5 acre garden is open every weekday for a charitable donation.

Author of ‘Creative Gardening with Bulbs’ (1989), Christine writes articles and reviews for, amongst others, The Garden, The Daily Telegraph, Gardeners’ World Magazine and published “Gardeners Guide to Bulbs” in July 2012.

Christine was a member of the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society for 11 years. She was a member of the Gardens Committee, with special responsibility of Rosemoor, for 12 years and is Vice Chairman of the Bulb Committee and a member of the Daffodil and Tulip Year Book Committee.

Tonight’s talk concentrates on the story of the drumstick allium and introduces some exciting new cultivars as well as offering advice on cultivation and planting combinations.

As usual the the venue for the evening is Colwall Village Hall and complimentary refreshments will be available from 7:00pm. Talk starts at 7.30.

The evening is free to members or £5 per visitor. Annual membership (which runs from January to December) is £15.

 

 

 

September Meeting – Gardening with Grasses

Our next meeting is on Monday 2nd September and our speakers are Jack and Laura Wilgoss. It is a welcome return for Jack and Laura who spoke to us so brilliantly just a few years ago about all things Viola.

Jack and Laura run Wildgoose Nursery located in a beautifully restored walled garden at Millichope Park in Shropshire. As well as specialising in violas, Jack and Laura also sell an interesting range of herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses. You may have seen them featured in the Garden magazine when Roy Lancaster visited them at the nursery.

Tonight’s talk concentrates on the beauty and variety of ornamental grasses and how to combine them with other plants and use them to their best in a garden setting.

As usual the the venue for the evening is Colwall Village Hall and complimentary refreshments will be available from 7:00pm, along with plant sales. Talk starts at 7.30.

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Percy Picton Memorial Lecture. This year the lecture is being given by Carol Klein on the subject of Making a Garden. Tickets for the evening cost £12 and include complimentary drinks and canapes.

Plants will be on sale before the meeting.  This will be the last plant sale of the year. Anyone wishing to contribute plants to the plant stall (all proceeds going to the Percy Picton Memorial Fund) is most welcome to. Thank-you to everyone who helped ensure the hall was left spotless after the meeting.

The evening is free to members or £5 per visitor. Annual membership (which runs from January to December) is £15.

 

 

 

Summer Show – Saturday 10th August

 

 

This Saturday is our annual Summer Show. The show is held at the Village Hall in Mill Lane and opens at 2pm and entry is £2.

As well as all the marvellous exhibits of flowers, fruit and vegetables to see, there are also entries for photography, handicrafts and cakes and cookery.  Lots to look at and enjoy.

There will will be plants on sale, a tombola and raffle, ice-cream and tea and cakes and for the first time this year a display of owls!

It is not too late to enter the show as an exhibitor! Entries close at 5pm on Thursday 8th and forms can be found at Old Court Nursery or John Goodwin in the centre of the village. If you have not entered before but fancy having a go this year, then jump in – the water’s lovely. If you enter 5 or more classes then entry to the show is free on the day.

Also on sale at the show are tickets to the annual Percy Picton Memorial Lecture to be given this year by none other than Carol Klein. The talk is held on Monday 7th October at The Elms school. Tickets cost £12 including a reception at the start of the evening.

The Summer Show is organised by the Wyche and Colwall Horticultural Society. Annual membership (which runs from January to December) is £15. If you join the society at the show you get the remainder of 2019 and the whole of 2020 as well. Bargain.

 

 

 

August Meeting – Bugs & Garden Plagues

 

 

Our next meeting is on Monday 5th August and our speaker is Geoff Hodge.

Geoff is a freelance gardening and horticultural writer, author, editor and radio and TV broadcaster living in the UK. His stated aim is to help gardeners get the best from their plants and garden and somewhere be someone you can go to ask plant and gardening questions, solve your problems and get help, hints, tips and advice.

Geoff last spoke to us back in March 2013 on the vital subject of pruning. On this occasion Geoff will be talking about pests and diseases of the garden, who they are and what to do about them. Always an informative and humorous speaker, Geoff’s talk will no doubt make for an entertaining evening.

This meeting is the last one before the Annual Flower and Produce Show to be held on Saturday 10th August in the village hall. There is still plenty of time to consider your entries as the closing date for all categories is Thursday 8th. If you are able to donate something for the Tombola or a raffle prize then please bring contributions along on Monday evening.

As usual the the venue for the evening is Colwall Village Hall and complimentary refreshments will be available from 7:00pm, along with plant sales. Talk starts at 7.30.

Plants will be on sale before the meeting.  Anyone wishing to contribute plants to the plant stall (all proceeds going to the Percy Picton Memorial Fund) is most welcome to. Thank-you to everyone who helped ensure the hall was left spotless after the meeting.

The evening is free to members or £5 per visitor. Annual membership (which runs from January to December) is £15.

 

 

 

July Meeting -Morton Hall Gardens

Our next meeting is on Monday 1st July. Our speaker for the evening is Harry Green.

Harry is head gardener at Morton Hall Gardens in Holberrow Green near Redditch. A relatively young garden, Morton Hall consists of eight acres of gardens and park encircling the house. They were designed by landscape architect Charles Chesshire  as a succession of distinct ‘garden rooms’. While each of these rooms has its individual character, defined by landscape, planting style and colour scheme, there is a strong sense of continuity. Harry’s talk will take us through the garden and hopefully reveal some of the secrets behind the upkeep of such a lovely place.

There are some places still available for the Grand Day Out on Tuesday July 16th to Llanover House Garden and High Glanau Manor. As this is the last meeting before the trip the full balance should be paid this evening.

As usual the the venue for the evening is Colwall Village Hall and complimentary refreshments will be available from 7:00pm, along with plant sales. Talk starts at 7.30.

Plants will be on sale before the meeting.  Anyone wishing to contribute plants to the plant stall (all proceeds going to the Percy Picton Memorial Fund) is most welcome to. Thank-you to everyone who helped ensure the hall was left spotless after the meeting.

The evening is free to members or £5 per visitor. Annual membership (which runs from January to December) is £15.

 

 

 

Evening Visit – Little Malvern Court

 

 

A quick reminder for those coming along on Monday evening to Little Malvern Court.

The garden is open from 6pm. Car parking will be in the field below the garden, NOT in the priory car park across the road. Entry to the garden will be directly from the field.

Upon arrival please enjoy a complimentary glass of wine or apple juice before exploring the garden.

Due to the recent heavy rain the garden is a bit damp so please wear sensible footwear.

Entry to the garden for the evening is £5. The visit is restricted to those who have paid in advance. All proceeds from the evening are going to the Little Malvern Priory organ restoration fund. The priory will be open so that you can go and see (but not hear) the recently re-installed organ.

 

June Meeting – Gardens and Plants of Norway

 

Our next meeting is on Monday 3rd June. Our speaker for the evening is Tommy Tonsberg. Tommy is a gardener, nurseryman and writer who lives north of Oslo, where he grows everything from alpines and vegetables to tender plants, as well as running a nursery for herbaceous perennials. Tommy has a growing media profile, is a keen Tweeter (@TommyTonsberg) and has just been involved with the build of a garden at RHS Chelsea. Tommy will be talking about gardening in a very different part of Europe which should make for a fascinating evening.

The June meeting is also the last chance to book a place on 17th June for the evening visit to Little Malvern Court (www.littlemalverncourt.co.uk). There is no restriction on numbers but we do need to know in advance how many are coming along, for car park and refreshment calculations, so pre-payment is essential please.

There are also some places still available for the Grand Day Out on Tuesday July 16th to Llanover House Garden and High Glanau Manor. A small deposit will secure a place on the coach.

As usual the the venue for the evening is Colwall Village Hall and complimentary refreshments will be available from 7:00pm, along with plant sales. Talk starts at 7.30.

Plants will be on sale before the meeting.  Anyone wishing to contribute plants to the plant stall (all proceeds going to the Percy Picton Memorial Fund) is most welcome to. Thank-you to everyone who helped ensure the hall was left spotless after the meeting.

The evening is free to members or £5 per visitor. Annual membership (which runs from January to December) is £15.