Grayshott Gardeners Newsletter
April 2022
From the Chair
Dear Members,
What a difference a month makes!
From storms and collapsing trees and fences, to hot sunshine. I was in Madeira last week admiring their early spring flowers, reflecting how slow spring seems to be this year at home. Then to our amazement on returning, find sunshine and warmth equal to Madeira with surprising growth in the garden having taken place in our absence.
This must be a good omen for our first spring show for three years on the 9th April. Pamela and her committee have been working for weeks to ensure we match previous high standards, so please give your support in entering one of the classes to make it a show to remember.
On May 7th we have our first Plant Sale for three years. Again, Jan has been working hard, but needs further support in nurturing plants which she has potted up to meet the sale.
Many hands make light work, please help if you can.
I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting on the 13th April, when our speaker will be our very own President Gordon Rae, the title of his presentation is My Corona Diary 2020-21.
Knowing Gordon it will be interesting!
Best wishes.
JOHN.
Spring Show
Counting down to 9th April…
Yes, it’s time to prepare for the Spring Show. There’s plenty of activity going on behind the scenes – thanks to all those who have volunteered to help with the cakes; there will be a plant sale and a raffle; plus a new venture of a sale of second hand gardening books. If you do have any books you would like to contribute, please contact Helen on comms@grayshottgardeners.net.
Hopefully there’s also plenty of activity in your gardens. Some rain this week and some sunshine forecast – those beautiful plants, veg and blooms should be perfect for the day! Not forgetting of course the indoor enterprises of creating craft and delectable home produce.
Entry forms are in your handbook and also on the website – please give your completed forms to Tanchoux by 5pm on Thursday 7th, or send as an attachment to shows@grayshottgardeners.net.
Any questions, please contact Pamela Wright at shows@grayshottgardeners.net and we look forward to seeing you all there!
April Meeting
Gordon Rae, our esteemed President, will be telling us all about what he got up to during those lockdown months – should be interesting!The meeting will be held in
Grayshott Village Hall
Wednesda April 13th 2022
Doors open at 7.30pm ready for the lecture to begin at 8pm.
Plant Sale
The Plant Sale this year is to be held in the Village Hall on May 7th
Jan Bebbington and her team still need PLANTS and plenty of them!
Help needed please
1. For more divided or propagated plants
2. Potting up and offering to grow on and re-pot plug plants arriving after 11th April
3. Transporting plants to the Village Hall prior to the Spring Show and Plant Sale ie evening of 8th April and 6th May – large car essential!
Jan will be on hand at the next meeting to take names and give advice.
March Meeting
Grayshott Gardeners were very pleased to welcome Matthew Wilson – Garden Designer, Writer, Television and Radio broadcaster – to give our club night lecture this month. It was his first talk IRL (in real life) since Covid restrictions eased. Naturally, no sign of first night nerves.
He was so delighted to be talking to ‘real people’ again that he asked if he could take a picture of us all and put it on his instagram page – fame at last for Grayshott Gardeners.
Plant of the Month
Erythroniums, of which there are over 20 species, are members of the Lily family and native to Europe and especially North America.
The Dog Tooth Violet is named as such on account of the ‘roots’ being long and toothlike. They are edible and eaten as a vegetable.
Erythroniums are hardy, spring flowering perennials, with both attractive leaves and flowers providing good ground cover. As shade loving natives of temperate forests and meadows they prefer a moist, well-drained soil, do not take kindly to becoming dried out and benefit from mulching.
Their distinctive pendant flowers have swept back (recurved) petals (tepals) which come in a range of colours, white, pale cream, yellow, light and dark pink to mauve.
Erythronium ’Pagoda’, ‘White Beauty’, ‘Revolutum’ and the Harrington Hybrids all do well in our Grayshott gardens.
Obituaries
We are very sad to let you know that Sybil Saunders has passed away. Sybil was a very long standing and enthusiastic member of Grayshott Gardeners and will be sorely missed by us all.
We send our sincere condolences to Roger and her family.
Jobs for April
1. Sow hardy annuals, herbs and wild flower seed outdoors
2. Protect fruit blossom from late frosts
3. Tie in climbing and rambling roses
4. Keep weeds under control
5. Start to feed citrus plants
6. Increase the water given to houseplants
7.Feed hungry shrubs and roses
8. Sow new lawns or repair bare patches
9. Prune fig trees
The above list was taken from the RHS website where you can also get more information on each topic.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/march
Garden Visits
Join us for an exclusive tour of
Millais Nursery Garden, Churt
Just a few spaces left
Tuesday 17th May 5.30pm—7pm
Cost £5 per head.
In aid of the National Garden Scheme Charity
Some ideas for Future visits
Hilliers, Romsey
Borde Hill, Haywards Heath
Houghton Lodge, Stockbridge
Arundel Castle
Coverwood Lakes, near Shere
Beechenwood Farm, Odiham
Wisley
Munstead, Godalming
More Information from Vanessa Thompson at a club night or email: events@grayshottgardeners.net