OGC News May 2012
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Thanks To
All those who helped preparing the hall for the
Tuesday meeting andtoCathy Fewlass and Jane
Lacey for providing the refreshments for tonight.
Thanks also, to our
intrepid volunteers for braving the most appalling weather on Wednesday, 25h
April at the Red Cross Great Spring Gardening Event at Berrington Hall.
They deserve a medal for donning thick waterproofs and manning the plant crèche. Sadly, the weather was not on our side
and so plant sales were not high.
However, the Red Cross raised in excess of £20,000 which is
remarkable. 
Cancelled Outing The wet weather also caused us to cancel our coach trip on 1st May 2012 to Lydney Park Gardens – on the advice of the
staff at Lydney Park. Members who visited Lydney Park last week said it was
very soggy underfoot (a fortnight later) so it was probably the right
decision.
Those of you who paid for the trip will be reimbursed at the May
meeting. Please see the Treasurer,
Eddie Clanzy-Hodge. If you are
unable to attend the May meeting, please contact Shelley Choat (01584
831518) and we will arrange to get your money back to you.
 Our speaker last month, Neil
Cook, head gardener at Hanbury Hall, was highly entertaining and we have
decided that a September coach trip to Hanbury Hall might be a good idea (and
to make up for missing out on our Spring trip). We are currently discussing this with
Hanbury and hoping that we can persuade
Neil to give us a conducted
tour. The most likely date at
present will be Friday, 26th
September 2012. Watch this space! 
Don’t Forget…
Tonight’s speaker is John Clews from the RSPB
and his subject is Garden Birds
Orleton Village Festival, Saturday, 16th June Once again, a plea for volunteers to man
our stall (a rota will be circulating
at the meeting) and also for any excess seedlings, cuttings, house plants,
shrubs, all veg plants, that you are prepared to donate to raise money. Please
note: It is £1 entry for everyone
– please bring your plants before Noon if you are not intending to spend time at the
Festival.
Midsummer Show, Tuesday, 19th
June 2012
This
is a fun show so we hope all of you will enter something in the flower line
(weather permitting!). To keep you
all occupied while the results are being counted, we will have a “fun”
quiz. The Midsummer Show schedule is available on the website and there
will also be a few copies for you to peruse at the May meeting for those
you who are not on the internet.
AUGUST SHOW New Floral Art classes In keeping with the
Olympic and Jubilee themes the classes this year are: 75 Royal Jubilee - with accessories 76 Going for Gold 77 Olympic Flame - with accessories 78 In the Pink - Garden Flowers only 79 Flowers in a shell - no measurement to exceed 6 inches in any
direction Further details are
available on the show schedule and the Gardening Club website. So, start practising
your cooking and floral art arrangements in readiness for entering the
show! 
Brimfield Club Outing
Brimfield Garden Club is having an outing on the 28th of June to the Dorothy Clive Garden. If anyone would like to join them (as they have just a few
seats left) please ring Carole on 01584 711743.
They are leaving from the Roebuck at about 9ish and return for 5pm. The tickets are £17 for travel and
admittance to the garden.
Things to do, Places to Visit 
Secret Gardens of Ludlow, Time:17 June 2012: - 12
noon to 6pm, tickets from Ludlow Assembly Rooms,
This year there is an eclectic selection of some wonderful gardens hidden
away in Ludlow's Victorian heartland, most of which have never been open to
the public before. Splendid mature rambling roses; French-chateau-inspired
intriguing ivy-festooned chains are some of the delights on offer.
Afternoon teas, ice cream, books, sculpture and plants will all be
available.
Ticket & map available from Box Office and Visitor Information Centre
from mid May £6, 01584 878141
NGS Shuttifield Cottage, Birchwood, Storridge,
Worcestershire, WR13 5HA
Superb position and views. Unexpected 3-acre plantsman's garden, extensive
herbaceous borders, primula and stump bed, many unusual trees, shrubs,
perennials, colour-themed for all-year interest. Walks in 20-acre wood with
ponds, natural wild areas, anemones, bluebells, rhododendrons, azaleas are
a particular spring feature. Large old rose garden with many spectacular
mature climbers. Good garden colour throughout the year. Small deer park, vegetable garden
Distance: 18.18 miles
Open: Sats; 2 June; 14
July; 25 Aug (1.30-5). Visitors & groups also welcome by appt
 Staunton Park, Staunton-on-Arrow, Leominster,
Herefordshire, HR6 9LE
NGS: 10-acre garden and grounds incl drive with stately wellingtonias,
informal box and lavender knot garden, separate kitchen garden, large, very
colourful mixed borders and Victorian rock garden, lake and lakeside walk
with views. Specimen trees incl mature monkey puzzle, gigantic
liriodendron, Davidia involucrata, Ginkgo bilobas and several ancient oaks Open: For
NGS: Every Thur 17 May to 13 Sept (11-5)
The Walled Garden, Knill, nr Presteigne, Powys,
LD8 2PR
NGS: 4 acres: walled garden; river, bog garden and small grotto; primulas;
over 100 varieties of roses, shrub, modern and climbing; peonies; mixed and
herbaceous borders; many varieties of shrubs and mature trees; lovely
spring garden. Nr C13 church in beautiful valley
Open: Mons 9
Apr, 4 June (2-5). Visitors & groups also welcome by appt
The Bannut, Bringsty, Bromyard, Herefordshire,
WR6 5TA
NGS: 3 acres of enchanting gardens with much to enjoy throughout the
seasons – colourful herbaceous plants, heather gardens, interesting trees
and shrubs. Garden rooms, unusual knot garden, ‘secret’ garden, water
features, views to the Malvern
Hills. Many seats around the
garden. Award winning home-made lunches and teas. Open: For NGS: Suns 10 June, 15 July,
19 Aug (12.30-5)
Seasonal tips ·
With
this unusual hot weather it is essential to water, water, water -
especially containers. ·
Mulch
round your sweet peas ·
Also
sow sweetcorn if you haven’t already done so. ·
Apply
liquid feeds every couple of weeks – especially containers ·
Lay
straw under fruiting strawberries and protect them from birds and slugs
with netting ·
Now
is a good time to introduce new plants into your pond ·
Put
out hanging baskets and keep well watered
Next Meeting June 19th - The Midsummer Show
takes place. Please bring as many exhibits as you can to make it a
colourful evening. Remember, you, the members, are the judges
tonight. NOTE: This is the 3rd
Tuesday of the month– not the last Tuesday |