Beating the Winter Blues

Talk by Brian Denison:  My Garden; its history and plants

We were indeed fortunate to welcome Brian to our Friday Forum.  His illustrated talk on his own, stunning garden left us both awed and inspired.  Featured on the Anglian TV series Britain’s Best Back Gardens and winner of Yorkshire Life Magazine’s Garden of the Year 2009, Brian told us he thinks about his garden all the time and the slide show displayed his skilful use of plant combinations and colour association.  Brian is proficient in Niwaki, a Japanese term for style shaping of trees, including cloud pruning.  A useful list of recommended plants was distributed.

Forum and Display Table

 Judith's Amaryllis

 Early Spring flowers

 

Norma sent in a photo of her lovely, resilient miniature bedding cyclamen which were bedded out in late October and  are still looking fabulous. 

She says that they probably wouldn't have lasted as long if we had suffered heavy frost but they have certainly been value for money over the last two or three months and brighten up the garden during this dark wet windy spell we are going through.

Just to update you on the squirrel prevention debate, applying Vicks to Janella’s Camellia didn’t work.  She may try TCP next time!   All tips welcome.

Jill narrated the classic poem Spring is Sprung, of which there are many versions, in NewYorkese.  Some say it dates from 1940, attribute it to Ogden Nash, Spike Milligan or the the Marx Brothers. 

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz,
I wonder where the flowers is,
The boid is on the wing, but that's absoid,
Because everybody knows that the wing is on the boid!

Margaret told us of a cyclist she had encountered with a container of large, early snowdrops attached to his bike.  While waiting for the traffic lights to change, as you do, the cyclist told Margaret that the snowdrops were Mrs Macnamara, named after Dylan Thomas’ mother-in-law, Yvonne Macnamara.  

It’s amazing what we learn!

Has anyone you know paid loads of money for a snowdrop bulb?

Notice Board

We have the opportunity to visit Pat Clarke’s garden on 15^th August, not Littlethorpe on that date as previously mentioned.  

Paxton Committee:  As Jenny is not currently able to attend (we wish her a speedy recovery), if anyone else is able to stand in for her, this would be appreciated.

Dates for your diary

Next Friday Forum Meeting:  7^th February – AGM and Tour de France yellow bedding scheme

Please note The meeting scheduled for 21^st February has now been changed to a talk on The Sex Life of Plants by Ben Emmett

Friends of Paxton are meeting Monday 3^rd February from Midday.  An hour or two or your time to help maintain the premises are always welcome.  If another date is more suitable for you, please let us know.

Advance warning of Paxton Plant Market to be held on Saturday 31^st May:    Please be considering planting and growing on for the sales table and if you can help on the day from 10 am.

The Friday Forum meets on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 1.30pm at the Paxton Hall.  Paxton Horticultural Society is located at 186, Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 2AB.   The meetings are split between hands-on sessions, guest speakers and garden visits. A regular feature is the "Plant Table" where members are invited to bring their plants for discussion and advice.  Another feature is the "Sales Table where members bring plants and cuttings and produce they have grown to sell at a small cost to help the club funds.  For further information, please use the comments box or log on to https://sites.google.com/site/paxtonhorticulturalsocietycouk/Home