Sunday 5 January 2014

First footing


At this meeting of the Friday Forum, members discussed a range of topics:

·         What’s in the garden on New Year’s day – a surprising  number of plants.

·         Plants received as Christmas presents and what to do with them plus whether or not to cut off the leaves of hellebores.

·         Jill showed us that Summer and Winter clematis were flowering together in her garden

·         Ann had spotted lily beetle and a green caterpillar had been found curled in a leaf on an upstairs balcony.  We all agreed that squirrels were a nuisance and we were told of an Australian gardener who used TCP on branches to deter possums and  considered if this could work on squirrels.

Gardening resolutions for 2014
Members were asked about their New Year gardening resolutions and it was felt that they could apply to the majority of us:
Plant to attract more bees and butterflies, find a better species of aster, remember to feed, plant out from pots more quickly, continue to eradicate convolvulus, label plants, stake plants before they topple over, Chelsea chop and above all BE MORE RUTHLESS and Pat Clarke was cited as being ruthless to create her wonderful garden at Mews Cottage, Harrogate.
What items have put on your list for 2014?

 Quiz
Here is a link for a Quiz on well–known Gardens from the Telegraph, on which I scored only 50%.

Cover the country in yellow
RHS and Welcome to Yorkshire are going to encourage people to grow sunflowers and other yellow plants to celebrate the Tour de France next July.   Friday Forum is addressing this in the7th February meeting but you can get some ideas from this link http://letour.yorkshire.com/documents/tdf/rhs/RHSTurningYorkshireYellow.pdf

Notice Board
Sadly Doreen Brown passed away in December.  Doreen was a founder member of the group and a keen photographer.
Clare Beard who spoke to the Forum in December on Lineham Farm thanked us for the donations received from her visit.
Margaret sold off some lovely pieces of costume jewellery, the proceeds from which were donated to Friday Forum funds.

 Dates for your diary
Friends of Paxton are meeting Monday 6th January from Midday.  An hour or two or your time to help maintain the premises are always welcome.
Next Friday Forum Meeting:  A talk by Brian Denison entitled My Garden; its history and plants
We have an exciting programme of garden visits for this year; more details will follow.
16 May:  Beacon Hill House at Langbar near Ilkley
20 June:   Horticap  nr Harlow Carr with its garden, nursery and tea room
18 July:  Day trip to Rewela Cottage, Skewsby YO61 4SG, lunch at Helmsley then Terrington House with its famous summerhouse decorated with shells.
15 August :  Greencroft, Littlethorpe , near Ripon.

Annual Membership Fees for 2014 of £11.00 are now due
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

 

 

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