Grayshott Gardeners Newsletter
June 2022
From the Chair
Dear Members
Congratulations to everyone involved in the Plant Sale, Jan took on a difficult task and all who helped by either donating plants or buying them should be congratulated on raising £3,000 for our funds.
We have always relied on a good plant sale to strengthen our finances which enables us to keep our subscriptions low as well as attracting great speakers.
We now look forward to our next big event The Summer Show, please support Pamela and her team by entering the various competitions on the 9th July.
By the way look out for us on PiG day, we will have a stall in the car park promoting the club.
JOHN
May Meeting
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
This month we welcomed back Pamela Holt, a judge at our Spring Show, to hear her insights into the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.
Pamela was a student at Kew in the 1970’s. She also went on several plant hunting trips for the gardens.
Pamela started by explaining the derivation of the name Kew – originally Cayo – which describes a dock (Cay or Quay) on a spur of land (Ho – like in Westward Ho!) on the River Thames in West London. The Royal connection comes from its founder Princess Augusta, mother of George III. And the Gardens (note the plural) comes from the fact that it is actually an amalgamation of several gardens.
It was a really interesting evening and Pamela gave us lots of reasons to go and visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew very soon.
June Meeting
We are delighted to welcome back Dave Goulson to speak at our meeting this month.
Dave, Author of Sting in a Tale, first came to Grayshott in 2016 when he gave us a fascinating talk on Bumblebees.
This time his lecture is entitled ‘My Jungle Garden – gardening to save the planet’ and will be all about making our green spaces more insect and wildlife friendly.
There are already a myriad of small creatures that live in our gardens but with a few minor changes we can encourage even more and Dave will tell us how and also explain just why this is so important.
The meeting will be held in Grayshott Village Hall , on Wednesday June 8th 2022
Light refreshments will be served and there will be a secondhand book sale
Doors open at 7.30pm ready for the lecture to begin at 8pm.
Summer Show
We’re looking forward very much to our Summer Show, and I’m sure there will be some great exhibits in all classes.
As a trial to make things easier for everyone involved , we’re changing the arrangements slightly. Please can entrants come along to the hall with their exhibits from 8.40 until 10am (rather than from 9 until 10.20am).
If you are intending to enter a lot of classes – firstly a big thank you, secondly, we can accommodate you coming along to the hall earlier than 8.40am, which we hope will make things a bit less frenetic!
Please do contact Pamela at shows@grayshottgardeners.net if you have any questions.
Enjoying the rain…
Pamela
Grayshott Gardeners Outings
A great time was had by all when we visited Millais Nurseries last month.
All aboard our coach to Woolbeding Gardens
Door to door service on our private coach
Exclusive welcome presentation on arrival with refreshments
New for 2022 – the Silk Route garden (plants from the ancient trade route designed by Fergus Garret from Great Dixter)
Cost £25 per head. £10 per head deposit required.
Info from Vanessa Thompson at a club night or email events@grayshottgardeners.net to reserve your place(s)
Calibrachoa
An article on this plant featured in Grayshott Today earlier this year. There is no apology for including it in our newsletter. Calibrachoa is an outstanding summer plant for a Grayshott gardener, especially for a container or a hanging basket.
‘Miniature Petunias on speed’ is the nearest description I can dream up for Calibrachoa.
The plants are full of multicoloured flowers from late April until autumn, growing best in a sunny position. It does not need any deadheading.
Calibrachoa is a plant that is well visited by both bees and butterflies.
Intensive hybridisation in recent years has led to a wide variety of colours being available
Having a a trailing habit Calibarchoa is ideal for pots, hanging baskets or cascading over a wall.
As it was so successful last year in our garden, fresh plants have already been bought for 2022. Calibrachoa plants are inexpensive and reliable in a sunny position.
If you have not grown it before it is suggested that you might like to give it a go.
Jobs for the month
1. Position summer hanging baskets and containers outside
Choose vibrant bedding plants for a short-term show or herbs, shrubs and evergreens for a long-lasting display.
2. Be water-wise, especially in drought-affected areas
Watering is key to growing plants well, so here we look at how to get it just right. This not only means providing the water our gardens need, but using it wisely.
3. Pinch out sideshoots on tomatoes
Removing the side-shoots is simple – every time you water, check the plant for any shoots sprouting just above each leaf, from the joint between the leaf and the stem.
4. Harvest lettuce, radish, other salads and early potatoes
5. Hoe borders regularly to keep down weeds
6. Mow lawns at least once a week – but consider leaving some areas uncut for wildlife
7.Plant out summer bedding
8. Stake tall or floppy plants
9. Prune many spring-flowering shrubs
10. Shade greenhouses to keep them cool and prevent scorch
Looks like quite a busy month in the garden!
More details on all of these jobs can be found on the RHS website