Members Open Gardens – March 2014

16th March (2 – 5) – Little Malvern Court

10 acres attached to former Benedictine Priory, magnificent views over Severn Valley.  Gardens rooms and terrace around house designed and planted in early 1980s; chain of lakes; wide variety of spring bulbs, flowering trees and shrubs.  Notable collection of old-fashioned roses.  Topiary hedge and fine trees.  Opening for the NGS 16th March and 5th May (2-5).  Also open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 16th April to 17th July (2:15 – 5:00)

29th and 30th March – Coddington Vineyard

5 acres including 2 acre vineyard, listed farmhouse, threshing barn and cider mill.  Garden with terraces, wild flower meadow, woodland with masses of spring bulbs, pond and stream.  Unusual perennials, trees and shrubs.  Open 29th & 30th March for NGS (12:30 – 4:00)

 

Review of March Meeting – Pruning, Made Simple

A large and enthusiastic audience attended our March meeting, including some new members and visitors who were particularly welcome.

The well-stocked information table included leaflets giving details of NGS garden openings in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and a number of other publications of interest to keen gardeners.

Our speaker Geoff Hodge is a prolific garden writer and author of several books for the RHS.  He is also an extremely busy lecturer and broadcaster. His topic for the meeting was “ Pruning – Making it simple”.  His talk began with a live survey of pruning tools and timely advice on the importance of sharpening and caring for our tools.  He then went on to explain the theory and practice of good pruning. He empathised the four Ds  – that is “ cut out the dead, dying, diseased and damaged”!  The theory behind the promotion of flowering in flowering shrubs was covered, with advice on the right timing for pruning for winter, spring and summer flowers.  Geoff also advised on the perennial question of the correct pruning for the different groups of clematis.  All of this invaluable advice was peppered with jokes and informality that was much appreciated by the audience, and Geoff completed the evening by answering a good number of questions.

At our next meeting in April, the Michael Jefferson-Brown Spring Flowering Bulb Competition will take place.  Members are encouraged to bring either a pot of flowering bulbs, corms or tubers or a vase of cut flowers grown from bulbs corms or tubers.  The speaker will be Charles Dowding and his topic is “ Growing vegetables without digging”.

Our meetings start at 7pm with free coffee and biscuits.  Membership is £12 a year.  (Visitors are very welcome – there is a small charge of £4)

PLEASE NOTE:  our April meeting is on the second Monday of the month –

MONDAY 8TH APRIL. 

Meg Taylor

Dates for the Diary – March 2013

We thought members might like a reminder of local gardening events  that were announced at the meeting on 4th March

7th and 14th March – Snowdrops and Winter Garden, Ragley Hall
The gardens at Ragley Hall will be open between 10am and 3pm on the 7th and 14th March.  Visitors can explore the gardens and Head Gardener, Ross Barbour, a regular attendee of our meetings, will be on hand to answer questions.

17th March – Little Malvern Court opening for the NGS
The gardens will be open on the 17th March as part of the NGS Scheme from 2:00 to 5:00
The gardens and house are also open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from the 17th April to the 18th July 2013

21st April – Spetchley Plant Fair
A fantastic opportunity to buy from 30 specialist nurseries with Spetchley Park as the backdrop