May Newsletter

 To see previous Newsletters please click the link below

April_2013

March_2013

February_2013

January_2013

To see a guide to Exhibiting at a Show please click link below

Guide_to_Exhibiting_at_a_Show

May Meeting

Thursday 9 May at 7.30pm in the Century Hall, Shurdington 

Duncan Coombs, a well known local speaker and lecturer from Pershore Horticultural College, will engage the audience tonight in one of his favourite subjects: the challenge of growing plants in the shade.

June Meeting

Thursday 13 June at 7.30pm in the Century Hall, Shurdington 

Dr John Page, a retired former secretary of the Alpine Garden Society (Birmingham group), will share some of his most popular gardens with us tonight during his talk: ‘Choice Gardens of the Midlands’.
 
Rota for tea-making at meetings

The following have kindly agreed to make tea after the forthcoming meetings:

May 9         Pam Whatley                         Jan Moore               Alan Harvey

June 13     Elizabeth  Macnamara                   Sylvia Breddy          Sheila Hallaway

July 11      Mary Rabbetts                       Rosie Bainbridge              Eileen Sacker

Volunteers for future meetings would be much appreciated.

SOCIAL EVENING

The annual social evening will take place on June 27th starting at 7.30 pm. in the Century Hall.    The speaker will be Chris Evans who will be telling us about the latest developments at the Butterfly Garden and will no doubt entertain us in his own inimitable way.  His talk will be followed by a buffet with wine and soft drinks included in the price.  Tickets will be on sale at the May meeting at £10 each.    

Forthcoming Trips

Tuesday 28th May

Full details regarding this visit were provided in the last newsletter, and a booking form is attached at the back of this newsletter also.  The visit will include the Dorothy Clive gardens in Shropshire and Wollerton Old Hall.  Please remember to bring a packed lunch with you. We will be leaving at 4.30pm to make our way back to Cheltenham.

If you should have any queries, please telephone Caroline Mobley on 01242 574319.  Please note Caroline will be on holiday from 18th May to the 25th May, so please try and book sooner rather than later!!

Completed booking forms  should be posted to Mrs C Mobley, 21 Vineries Close, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 0NU, or given to her at the next meetings.

Forms can be obtained by email from dotward99@yahoo.co.uk

Saturday 6th July – Hestercombe gardens

This visit is for all members and non-members who wish to go.  We will arrive at approximately 11am, having had a comfort stop of 20 minutes en route.  Hestercombe gardens encompass over three centuries of garden history in fifty acres of gardens and parkland.  The famous Edwardian Gardens, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and planted by Gertrude Jekyll, were created between 1904 and 1906.  There are forty acres of lakes, temples and delightful woodland walks. Leaving at 4pm, the whole day is free for you to explore around these extensive gardens.  Morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon teas are served in the Courtyard Cafe, along with Gift Shop and Nursery selling a wide range of herbaceous plants, herbs, alpines and shrubs.  If you require any further information, please telephone Christina Higgs on 01242 230265.  

Forms can be obtained from dotward99@yahoo.co.uk

Thursday 19th September 

A visit to Lady Farm in Somerset is planned.  This garden was featured on Gardener's World and has a large collection of grasses.  After visiting Lady Farm we will be going to Kilver Court gardens in Somerset; more details about this will follow.

GARDENERS’  QUESTION  TIME

The Rotary Club of Cheltenham North is running a Gardeners’ Question Time event in the Century Hall, Shurdington on Friday May 10^th.   In aid of charity, the cost will be £10 to include a welcome drink.  

The panel of experts will be -

Glyn Jones            Head Gardener at Hidcote Manor Garden

Sarah Malleson     Gardener in charge of the kitchen garden at Hidcote

Duncan Coombs   Lecturer at Pershore College, specialising in trees

                                and shrubs    

Jon Mason             Director of Highfield Garden World

There will be plants for sale and a demonstration by Jon Mason of planting a hanging basket.   There will be a display of botanical art by Beth Phillip and her botanical greetings cards will also be on sale. The doors will open at 6.30pm.   Tickets will be available at our April meeting from Helen Purdon.

British Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Show

Saturday 18 May – 11.00am to 4.00pm

The Gloucester branch of this Society are holding their Annual Show at the Village Hall, Green Lane, Hardwicke and all are welcome.  Admission £1.00.

To reach the village, turn off the M5 at junction 12 onto the A38 (N), then take the B4008 into Hardwicke.  It is only a few miles from Blooms and Highfield, so you can make a pleasant afternoon out by combining the visits.  It is an interesting little show and offers an opportunity to see well grown cacti and succulents.  Reasonably priced succulents will be available to buy for your patio containers.  Please do your best to support us.  Thank you.

Alan Harvey

Maggie’s Centre Plant Sale, College Baths Road, Cheltenham – Saturday 18 May

Help is needed please to man the plant sale and to supply a good selection of plants for this worthy cause (either labelled and priced or donated).

David Richards Open Garden – Sunday 19 May 2.00-5.00pm

David and Jackie are opening their garden in aid of the Cobalt Unit.  Help for the plant stall and donations of cakes would be much appreciated.  Tea and cake will be available (if sufficient are supplied(!)).  Modest admission charge.  All welcome.

Prestbury Open Gardens

Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 June  2.00-5.00pm

Celebrate summer exploring the gardens of Prestbury.  Tickets £5 (accompanied children free), with all profits to the funds of St Mary's Church, where delicious cream teas will be on sale from 3 - 5 p.m.
Enquiries to Janet White (01242 523942, janet@jwhites.freeserve.co.uk)

We have an additional attraction this year in the grounds of Prestbury Library in The Burgage.  We are very pleased that CHS members are growing plants for sale, with the usual double labelling system, and hope there will be a good selection available.  Two local nurseries will also attend, and there will be plants grown by students of The Butterfly Garden, a project for people of all ages dealing with disablement of any kind.

Janet White

Stanton village gardens NGS Open day – Sunday 16 June

 Over 20 gardens will be open, including the smallest, charming cottage gardens to spacious, landscaped gardens.  Homemade teas will be available and there will be a plant stall.

The gardens are open from 2.00pm until 6.00pm and the entry fee this year will be £5, the proceeds going to the National Gardens Scheme and other charities. Car parking is close to the gardens and toilets are provided in the village. Further details available from Stephen Rear (tel no 01242 621202).

Gardens open at Gretton – Saturday/Sunday 22/23 June

This event will take place from 11.00am to 5.00pm, at Gretton, near Winchcombe, including also floral decorations at Christ Church with the theme of ‘Let’s face the music and dance’.  Admission £5.00; accompanied children free of charge.  WI teas will be served in a marquee at a nearby farm.

Eightieth Birthday Exhibition and ‘Party’ – Message from Michael Castle

I am preparing for the above event to which friends and acquaintances will be invited.  The exhibition will include pictures, drawings, photographs and some craft items which I have produced in the past 65 years.  The ‘Party’ is for my 80^th birthday, and since I am not keen on a large gathering of people at one time I am opting for a long party and starting on 13 May and lasting into June.  On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays friends will be able to visit me at home to see the Exhibition and to enjoy some refreshments.  There will be sessions from 12.30-2.30pm, 3.00-5.00pm and 6.30-8.00pm with only 6 visitors at a session.  The event will be by invitation only and you can request your invitation in advance by telephone (01285 654139) on these same three days between 8.30 and 9.30am.  More details and a sketch map to my home at Daglingworth near Cirencester will be available at the May and June meetings of the Society.  I look forward to welcoming you to my exhibition and a chat over a ‘cup of tea’.

Michael

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April Newsletter

April Meeting

Thursday 11 April at 7.30pm in the Century Hall, Shurdington

The speaker this evening, Gail Plant, will introduce us to lots of plants from her own scented garden, and bring examples to pass round, in this practical demonstration of A Scented Garden’s Year.

May Meeting

Thursday 9 May at 7.30pm in the Century Hall, Shurdington 

Duncan Coombs, a well known local speaker and lecturer from Pershore Horticultural College, will engage the audience tonight in one of his favourite subjects: the challenge of growing plants in the shade.

Forthcoming Trips

On Tuesday 28th May we will be leaving Cheltenham for Dorothy Clive gardens in Shropshire.  After having a 20 minute comfort stop we will arrive around 11am.  The gardens have all facilities, including refreshments, toilets and gift shop.  There is wheelchair access, with a designed route around the garden.  Wheelchairs are available at the garden, but need to be booked.  We will leave these gardens at 1.30pm and make our way to Wollerton Old Hall.  This journey will take approximately 30 minutes.

A packed lunch can be eaten on the coach if desired (picnics are not permitted in Wollerton grounds).  On arriving at Wollerton at 2pm there will be a talk from the Head Gardener for about 10-15mins.  The rest of the time is free for you to wander around the grounds.  There are refreshment facilities, toilets and gift shop.  We will be leaving at 4.30pm to make our way back to Cheltenham.

If you should have any queries, please telephone Caroline Mobley on 01242 574319.  Please note Caroline will be on holiday from 18th May to the 25th May, so please try and book sooner rather than later!!

Completed booking forms should be posted to Mrs C Mobley, 21 Vineries Close, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, GL53 0NU, or given to her at the next meetings.

Saturday 6th July

The Society is planning a trip to Hestercombe in Taunton, Somerset.  This garden is a unique combination of three period gardens.  The stunning Edwardian gardens were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll, all once abandoned, now faithfully restored to their former glory.

Thursday 19th September 

A visit to Lady Farm in Somerset is planned.  This garden was featured on Gardener's World and has a large collection of grasses.  After visiting Lady Farm we will be going to Kilver Court gardens in Somerset; more details about this will follow.

We hope these gardens are of interest to you.  Further details and booking forms will appear in future Newsletters.

Thank you for all your suggestions for future trips; these will be considered for 2014.

Christina Higgs and Caroline Mobley

Spring Flower and Craft Show

A big thank you to all members who supported the Show by exhibiting, making cakes for sale, supplying raffle prizes and to all of you who helped on the day.

I think it was in 1979 that I first entered a CHS Spring Show and I cannot recall any show being held in such unfavourable conditions  I suspect that for many it was well into the evening before you thawed out.

Not unexpectedly, despite all efforts the attendance was poor, but the efforts you all made to find entries were remarkable, given the adverse conditions.

The date for next year’s Show has been provisionally fixed for 6 April.

Awards

Daffodil Society Bronze Medal               Mrs Pat Attwood

Best bloom and the Morgan Cup           Mrs V Guy

Containers – Ivelaw Chapman Cup       Mr R and Mrs W Acres

Miscellaneous – the Phillips Cup           Mrs V Guy

Floral Art – George Morley Cup              Mr M Castle

 Juniors:

CHS Junior Shield                                    Ruby Goymer-Brown

CHS Junior Cup                                       Eloise Kightley

Cookery:

Turner Breadboard                                  Mrs M Walters

G H Purvis Cup                                        Mrs V Guy

Handicrafts  

David Richards Salver                              Mrs C Kightley

David Richards

Plants (and help) required please!

A reminder of the three forthcoming events for which your help is required:

18 May – Maggie’s Centre, College Baths Road, Cheltenham – plants and help required

19 May – David Richards will be opening his garden in Harrington Drive in aid of the Cobalt Unit – help and cakes required please

8 and 9 June – Prestbury Open Garden Event – plants required for this event please.

Please start preparing your plants in advance; more details of these events will follow.  Thank you!

Rota for tea-making at meetings

The following have kindly agreed to make tea after the forthcoming meetings:

April 11     Margaret Pointing        Sally Cowie            Hilary Harvey

May 9         Pam Whatley               Jan Moore             Alan Harvey

June 13     Liz Macnamara            Sylvia Breddy        Sheila Hallaway

July 11      Mary Rabbetts             Rosie Bainbridge            Eileen Sacker

Volunteers for future meetings would be much appreciated.

GARDENERS’  QUESTION  TIME

The Rotary Club of Cheltenham North is running a Gardeners’ Question Time event in the Century Hall, Shurdington on Friday May 10^th.   In aid of charity, the cost will be £10 to include a welcome drink.  

The panel of experts will be -

Glyn Jones            Head Gardener at Hidcote Manor Garden

Sarah Malleson     Gardener in charge of the kitchen garden at Hidcote

Duncan Coombs   Lecturer at Pershore College, specialising in trees

                                And shrubs    

Jon Mason             Director of Highfield Garden World

There will be plants for sale and a demonstration by Jon Mason of planting a hanging basket.   There will be a display of botanical art by Beth Phillip and her botanical greetings cards will also be on sale.

The doors will open at 6.30pm.   Tickets will be available at our April meeting from Helen Purdon.

Stanton village gardens NGS Open day

Sunday 16^th June 2013

Over 20 gardens will be open, including the smallest, charming cottage gardens to spacious, landscaped gardens.  Homemade teas will be available and there will be a plant stall.

The gardens are open from 2.00pm until 6.00pm and the entry fee this year will be £5, the proceeds going to the National Gardens Scheme and other charities. Car parking is close to the gardens and toilets are provided in the village. Further details available from Stephen Rear (tel no 01242 621202)

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      Back to Current_Newsletter                                                  Guide To Exhibiting at a Show

 ADVICE  FOR  EXHIBITORS  AT  CHS  SHOWS

.

Below is a list of hints and tips aimed at assisting exhibitors.  If you require further advice regarding staging exhibits or have a question on any class in the show, please contact a show  official who will be happy to help.

GENERAL

Read the show rules and schedule carefully.  Ensure that all sizes, colours, quantities etc. for each class are complied with, as the judge will disqualify exhibits deemed to be “not according to schedule” (NAS)

On the show day, allow plenty of time to stage your exhibits.  Collect class cards from the show secretary, ensure they are correct and place a class card with each exhibit, name side down in the area set aside for that class.   Name varieties of fruit, vegetables and flowers where known.

Do not move or alter in any way, other exhibitors’ entries.   If you feel you do not have enough space for your exhibit or experience any other problems please speak a show official.

CUT  FLOWERS  AND  STEMS (excluding floral art) 

Cut stems in flower the evening before the show.   Cut stems as long as possible.  Remove undeveloped side shoots, unopened buds, seed pods and some of the lower leaves and plunge cut stems up to their necks in a deep container of clean water in a cool dark place overnight.  Some flowers in bud, eg daffodils, may be cut 4 or 5 days in advance and brought into the warmth and will open in time for the show day. 

When staging your exhibit, remove any damaged, discoloured or broken leaves and trim the stem, making sure the stem retained is appropriate for the size of the flowers and the container used.  Produce exhibits with flowers of equal size and quality in containers of suitable proportions.   Arrange blooms so that each flower is facing the front.  Oasis, crumpled wire or paper may be used to help to hold stems in place in the vase, but make sure that the supporting material is below the top of the vase. 

Judges look for flowers and foliage that are fresh, free from diseases and blemishes and at the optimum point in their life cycle, fully developed but not yet fading.   

POT  PLANTS

Pots should be clean and plant supports can be included but should be as unobtrusive as possible.  Pot size is the outside measurement taken at the pot rim.   The plants should be free of pests and diseases.   Damaged  leaves should be removed together with spent flowers or seed pods and any debris on top of the compost.

FRUIT CLASSES

Pick as near to show time as possible.  Fruit should be picked with the stalk attached.  Handle fruit as gently and as little as possible, so as not to spoil the natural bloom.   For this reason it is best to use scissors  to pick the fruit .   Do not polish the fruit as this destroys the natural bloom.

Fruits should be fresh, uniform , free from blemish and disease and characteristic of the variety in shape, size and colour.  When staging at the show, arrange the fruits on a plate in a neat and symmetrical way.  Rhubarb should have the leaves trimmed to about 3”

 VEGETABLES

Vegetables should be staged on plates or directly on the show table in a wheel formation or in rows.  Root vegetables should have their leaves cut to approximately 3” of leaf stalk, which should be neatly tied.  They should be carefully washed with a soft cloth and plenty of water to remove soil.  Do not scrub.  Do not apply oils in an effort to improve appearance. 

 When exhibiting  vegetables,  aim for  freshness, with exhibits  free from blemishes and disease and  of uniform colour and size appropriate to the variety.   All exhibits in a class should be of the same variety or cultivar unless otherwise stated.   Remember that oversized  and coarse specimens do not usually win prizes.

Beans – Broad, French and runner.  Try wrapping them overnight in a damp tea cloth to keep them straight and fresh.  Arrange on the show table with stalks at one end, tails at the other.

Beetroot.  Size ideally between a tennis ball and a golf ball.  Colour throughout should be dark with no whitening around the root area.

Carrots.  Avoid broken tips or greening around the shoulders.  Hairs on the root can be snipped off.

Cabbages.  Choose solid heads with a waxy bloom.  Remove only outer  damaged leaves.  Leave 3” of stalk.

Cauliflowers.  Reject specimens that are damaged or have discoloured, loose or uneven heads.  When staging, cut off the leaves to the level of the outside of the curd.   Leave 3” stalk at the base.

Celery.  Reject specimens with flower heads forming.

Courgettes.  Select young, tender and uniform fruits between 4” and 8 “long.

Cucumber.  Fruits should be a fresh green colour with a waxy bloom and the flower end fully developed.

Onions.   Should be chosen for evenness of size.   Remove the extreme outer skin but do not peel too much.   Cut off the tops to 2” and bind with uncoloured raffia.  The roots should be neatly trimmed to the basal plate.   They can be staged on rings or bedded in sand on a plate so that they stay upright.

Peas.  Take care not to remove the bloom.  Snip each pod off the vine with scissors leaving some stalk.

Potatoes.   Choose medium sized, equally matched, tubers,  free from skin blemishes caused by pests and diseases.   Stage on a plate with the rose end outwards.

Tomatoes.  Choose specimens of the right size and colour for the cultivar.  The fruit should be firm but with no “greenback”.  Aim for a uniform set of fruit with fresh calyces.  Stage on a plate with the calyces upwards.

PRESERVES

Jars and bottles should be made of clear glass and be free of any commercial advertising.  Jars should be full and have an airtight seal, preferably a transparent plastic film with a waxed paper disc next to the product.  They should be labelled stating the contents and date made.

Jam.  The fruit should be evenly distributed and tender.  There should be no scum, mould, sugar crystals or air bubbles.  Consistency should be jellified with no loose liquid or syrup and not runny, too firm or sticky.

Marmalade.  Peel should be tender, uniformly cut and evenly distributed.   Otherwise, as for jam.

Chutney.  Colour should be even throughout with no air bubbles or free vinegar.  Mature flavour, which will only be achieved  about 3 months after making.