The Speaker this month:

Our speaker for the February meeting is Will Scott on the subject “Tool Sharpening For The Terrified”. Will has said that members are welcome to bring along their tools (secateurs/loppers/spades etc.) but not TOO many please!

Club Dinner:

Our Annual Club Dinner at The Riverside Inn, Aymestrey is on 20^th March 2013 (7.00pm for 7.30pm). Booking forms and menus available tonight from Jennifer Kelley or click here  to print a copy. The last date for applications is Monday, March 11^th 2013. Places are limited and it is filling up fast. Do not delay!

Seed Swap:

During the winter months, when we do not have many plants on our plant stall, we would be pleased to have any spare unwanted seeds that you may have. You can swap them with others or give a small donation to the club funds if you have nothing to swap.

Refreshments Rota:

Again, this will be doing the rounds during the meeting. Please remember we really need THREE people. We ask you to provide milk and biscuits but the Club will refund you for any money spent. It is a good way to get to know other members over a cup or tea towel!

Club Outing:

Our first trip this year is to Hanbury Hall on Thursday, 11^th April. We are also including a visit (and tea and coffee in the morning) to the Jinney Ring Craft Centre in Hanbury where there are lots of glorious craft studios to visit before we go on to Hanbury Hall. Don't forget, guests and family are also welcome as we would like a full coach. Forms for this visit available to download from the website and also on the table in the hall.

Forms must be returned by the March meeting (26^th March) as we need to inform the National Trust of numbers in sufficient time,

Compost:

33^rd August Show : Saturday 17^th August 2013:

Now is the time to start planning your entries for the show. We have already published the Floral Art and Craft classes in last month's newsletter. Other classes will be similar to last year's.

So, get started on your craft entries and decide what to grow for your Floral Art displays.

Also, don't forget to take your camera with you on our forthcoming outings. Last year's winning photo was taken on one of the visits.

We have finalised the schedule with the local school and some of the children will be making lemon curd using eggs from their own school chickens

Things to do, places to visit:

Shropshire Seed Potato Day, Sunday 3^rd March. This will be held at Harper Adams University in Edgmond near Newport from 12pm -3pm, entrance £1.00. However, early bird pre-registered access is available from 10 am - click here.  Over 100 different varieties of potatoes available in small quantities or even single tubers. There will also be 20+ varieties of peas and beans and various onions and shallots. You can also get growing advice from an RHS Gold Medal winner of over 380 varieties. The Harper Adams Farmers Market is alongside with over 60 food and craft stalls that day. As it is the weekend before Mothering Sunday, it is the perfect time to pick up a little something for one's mother (or oneself!) and for the garden at the same time. A good Sunday trip!

Seasonal Tips:

• Finish pruning your roses to encourage strong and healthy growth.
• Prune Hydrangeas now, cutting back to just above a healthy pair of buds. On established
• plants you can cut one or two of the oldest stems to the base to encourage new and floriferous growth.
• Now is your last chance to cut back autumn-fruiting raspberry canes to the ground to encourage new fruiting canes for this year. Make sure you feed them with a general purpose fertiliser to help boost new growth.
• Mulch all your plants including trees, shrubs, perennials, rhubarb and asparagus with well-rotted manure or compost. This helps the soil to retain moisture in dry weather (?!) and improves soil fertility.
• Top-dress all your permanent container displays by clearing the top 2.5cm (1 inch) of compost and replacing it with fresh. You can also mix in a slow-release fertiliser whilst you are doing this.

Next Month's Speaker:

On March, 26^th, our speaker will be Nick Dunn from Frank P Matthew's talking about “Small Ornamental Trees”.