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May 2010 - April2010

Garlic Wash Recipe 

May newsletter 2010

Thursday June 10th
Elaine Horton

Elaine is well known to our members and tonight she will share with us an entertaining and forthright seasonal lecture.

Evening visit to Shirley Sills garden Thursday June 24th.

Sandy Well Gardens, Barn House, Whittington, (Andoversford) Cost including tea and cake £6.50. 2½ Acre garden. Herbaceous, roses, climbers, shrubs, trees, formal and informal structures and water features

Tickets are available from Mr Roy Tombs, 50 Stanway Road, Cheltenham GL51 6BZ. Please enclose a stamped address envelope with your application.

Directions for the evening visit to Sandy Well Gardens Thursday 24 June at 6.30pm
Leaving Cheltenham take the A40 heading towards Oxford passing through Charlton Kings and passing the Reservoir Inn (on your right). Continue up the hill, on the left at the top you will pass a lay by, and two sign posts marked for Whittington, one on the left and one on the right.
As the road bends around to the right you will see the sign post (on the right) immediately after this sign post, and taking great care position your vehicle towards the centre of the road and start indicating right, after a short distance there is a wrought iron gate entrance with small bollards linked together with chains in front of it, please take this. Approximately 300 yards and driving very slowly down the road take the entrance on your left (Barn House will be marked on the stone wall in front of you) continue all the way down to the car park.
Our hosts Shirley and Gordon Sills will be putting out boards on the side of the road for us as markers on the evening.
The purchase of plants may be available. All monies received go towards the NGS Charities.
I would like to wish you a happy garden visit and I can’t wait to see the summer garden. The transformation of this garden is wonderful and I feel has something for everybody.
Best wishes
Sarah

Holiday to Northumberland Sunday 29th August – Friday 3rd September

Visiting Cragside House, Beamish Open Air Museum, Guided tour of Holy Island and scenic drive through Northumberland National Park, Alnwick Garden. We are staying at The Holiday Inn, Seaton Burn on a half board basis, the cost of the trip includes the coach and entrance fees to all non National Trust Properties and party rates for non members.

Tour price £398.00.
For full details and brochure contact Richard

If you would like to go on the on the Northumberland Holiday please book as soon as possible as it is filling up quite quickly.

Annual buffet & lecture 16th September 2010

This year we have invited our Reg Moule. Subject to be announced.
We are using the same caterers as in previous years. Tickets are £10.00 each to include coffee and wine. You may bring a guest at the same price. Book early as we are restricted to a maximum of 75 places.

Please make cheques payable to: - Cheltenham Horticultural Society and enclose a stamped addressed envelope to
Roy Tombs. 50 Stanway Road, Benhall, Cheltenham. GL51 6BZ. Tel. No. 01242 233736

This is the menu.
Selection of well-filled sandwiches – Ham, Beef, Egg, Cheese and Prawn.
Smoked salmon triangles. Sweetcorn, bacon and red pepper frittata. Rare roast beef bruschetta with horseradish and dill pickle. Goats cheese and roast red pepper bruschetta. Spicy vegetable turnovers in filo pastry. Small vegetarian tarts. Open tarts filled with curried chicken and coriander. Open tarts filled with cream cheese and olives. Spicy meatballs with a yoghurt and mint dip. Honey and grain mustard glazed sausages. Chicken pieces with peanut sate sauce. Crudites with an avocado guacamole and herby dip with tortilla chips. Chocolate brownie triangles. Small meringues filled with cream. Strawberry and cream tarts.

Thursford Christmas Spectacular Thursday 2nd December – Saturday 4th December

A concert is held at Thursford Norfolk and we have been able to obtain best seats for the Friday evening performance. We are arranging this trip with our friends from Stokenchurch for a 3 day trip. This is a spectacular event and runs for about six weeks and a very professional concert. Wendy and I have been fortunate enough to have attended this spectacular event on four occasions and always find it extremely enjoyable

Tour Price £198.00 If you are interested please contact Richard.

The ultimate Christmas musical experience is simply one of the most exciting Christmas Spectacular shows ever. It is the most popular Christmas show of all time in England and is a blend of exciting Christmas entertainment, with Christmas songs, carols, dazzling dancers, beautiful costumes, outstanding music and singing from our cast of over one hundred.
Each show is a pageant of spectacle and colour – the music a seamless transition from an up-beat dance routine to a choral rendition of a Christmas carol, a show which would not be out of place in any London’s west end theatres.
The show takes a whole year to organize. Bookings are taken in writing from the first working day in January, and take a full twelve weeks before confirmations can be sent out to everyone. The decorations, musical instruments and stage props are packed away and the exhibition hall is transformed back into its summer museum setting.
Throughout the coming months the show needs to be written, costumes designed, auditions to take place and numerous meetings with choreographers, costume designers, writers.

Rams Plant Sale Saturday 22 May

The RAMS hold a Charity Plant Sale every Spring - all funds this year will go to Crossroads - a local charity caring for carers. The sale is held in the skittle hall at the Civil Service Sports Ground in Tewkesbury Road. This year it is on Saturday 22 May with doors open at 10.00 am. We tend to be sold out by around 1200.
We will have a wide selection of popular bedding and vegetable plants (plants all mostly at 50p or less) and various other items such as baskets, plant pots and other donated items. There is a well supported cakes and preserves stall, and tea and coffee are available.
John Shaw
RAMS Gardening Events Coordinator. 01242 572576

Words From Chris

Kick open the flood gates, the month of end to end gardening is upon us, well almost. W e must show a little care through the early days of May, but as the month draws on the confidence rises and the ground fills. Ok, we can still get some sharp nights and the marrows, tomatoes and runner beans will be better for holding back, but I really am ready to get going. It is such a relief to be clear of the mish mash of weather that was the spring. So, I am putting more carrot, beetroot and parsnip seed into the ground, I am setting out a second line of lettuce plants and ludicrous as it seems am also going to plant out my sprouts and winter greens. They do take a long time to grow, but are worth it.
I am also having a rather self indulgent play this year with a whole range of new vegetables, or at least fairly new to me. I have focused on edible colour, that is to say pretty vegetables. It is not new to use vegetables for decoration, but I am introducing a bit of modern sparkle and am growing a range of colourful oriental vegetables and salad leaves. Keep an eye open for some vey frondy mustard and some wonderful purple greens as well as the can-can skirts of Bergamo and Lollo Rossa lettuce. I am very excited. Almost as excited as I am about my Sunflowers. Last year I trialed some and was really pleased with the show and this year I am going overboard. I had no clue that there were quite so many different shades. I have a short form called Music box, that offers a joyous mixture alongside the Californian giant, that can do twenty feet (perhaps I need to alert the airfield ?). Of course all of the regular bedding will be about and there will be a few baskets to plant too. The jobs are plentiful. In the borders, I am going to continue my commitment to Geraniums, though I will find space for one or two of the new Gaillardias which look promising. And finally, I have over recent months been taking the Gardening Which and have been following the results of their plant trials. I was tickled by the recommendations on tomatoes; the best flavour was from a flecked, thin skinned variety, of average quality with an irregular shape. There is it seems hope for us all.
Happy gardening
 

April newsletter 2010

Thursday May 13th.
Adrian James
Tender Perennials
This evening Adrian will introduce us to tender perennials, how to grow them in the UK and show us some exotic garden planting ideas.

Spring show.

Thank you to all those that helped, exhibited and supplied raffle prizes and cakes. Preliminary details would appear to suggest that the sums received from both the raffle and cake stands were records, despite the modest attendance.
A thank you also to Michael Castle who has prepared a show report for us, which details some of the interesting exhibits which caught his eye.
David Richards.

Spring Show Report

The show was held in Pittville Pump Room on Saturday, 20 March 2010. This was a week earlier than usual, combined with a severe long winter meant that the number of entries in the daffodil classes was down. However it was pleasant to see some bright yellow colour. The award for the most points in this section went to Margaret Walters who also had the best Daffodil bloom in a specimen of ‘Ice Follies’. Michael Castle was awarded a Diploma for a container of Unsurpassable’ Daffodils.
In the section for ‘Plants growing in Containers’ there was a multi-coloured display from pots of Primroses, Primulas, Hyacinths and some flowering shrubs. The award for best exhibit in this section went to a group of three pot plants, two cyclamen and a Crocus, entered by David Richards. In the class for a pot of Tete-a-Tete Narcissus grown from the three bulbs provided by the Society there were six entries.
In the ‘Miscellaneous Section’, consisting mainly of cut stems, there was strong competition in the classes of foliage and for flowering shrubs. The Best in section was awarded to a vase of mixed Spring flowers which included Irises, Snowdrops, Scillas, Mahonia and Iberis entered by Pat Attwood.
The number of entries in the Floral Art Section was disappointing, due partly to the absence of some of our regular exhibitors through illness. The judge said that the standard of flower arranging was good but perhaps more thought was needed in choosing flowers to interpret the class titles. The Best in section award went to Mrs. E. Green.
The Cookery Section was very well supported, with a good number of entries in all the classes, especially those for which a recipe was supplied in the schedule. There were twelve Fruit Cakes, nine Orange Victoria Sandwiches, nine plates of Cheese Scones. Marmalade, Easter Biscuits and the two Bread classes all had more than six entries. The Best in Section award went to the Marmalade of Pat Attwood, and Margaret Walters was ‘Queen of the loaves’.
The number of entries in the Junior Exhibits was less than in some previous Shows especially in the age range from 9 to 12 years. The younger children were more enthusiastic with good entries in the classes for a Party Invitation Card, Plants or Bulbs in Pots, and a Vegetable Animal. Perhaps we can all ‘spread the word’ that this Section is open to the youngsters of our family and friends before the Summer Show.
Michael Castle

Plant for special class in Summer Show 2010

Impatiens, colour tangerine.
Available at April meeting.
15p each, one per member.

Future shows

The shows for 2011 are now being planned, and hopefully will take place at the Pump Rooms.

Proposals have been received from the local authority which, if accepted by the society, will require a certain amount of flexibility on our part. As most of you will be aware local authorities are suffering severe financial constraints and maintenance cost. The Pump Rooms are being actively marketed on the Internet as a wedding venue for which the authorities are charging £2200, which is several times the amount which we are charged.

The date for the next spring show is Saturday, March 19th (in my lifetime we have never had to consecutive bad winters like this last one). For the summer, if we are prepared to have the show on Sunday, August 21 a reduction of 50% on the charge level of higher charges for 2008 and 2009 will apply.

Your committee need to know urgently from anyone who would object to a change particularly from members who support the shows by helping on the day or exhibiting.

Day at the Houses of Parliament

Members who were at the Christmas meeting will remember that local MP, Martin Horwood, had kindly sent two offers to CHS to meet him at Westminster, and I was lucky enough to win one in the raffle.
My husband and I had a very interesting and enjoyable day. We were met by Martin Horwood’s intern in Portcullis House, the ultra-modern building opposite Big Ben that houses MPs’ offices and committee rooms. He gave us the complete tour beginning in Westminster Hall and through the Central Lobby to both Houses, giving us both the history and present-day procedure. Then Martin Horwood took us to lunch followed by coffee in the Pugin Room and we talked about his life as an MP and were impressed by his enthusiasm for the role.
Tickets had been organised for us to go into the Gallery and we watched the proceedings as questions were put to Government Ministers with MPs not missing any opportunities to put forward local issues. It was fascinating and we heard Martin Horwood speak. We were able to go into the Lords’ Gallery as well, and by the end of our visit we felt we had seen a hugely efficient operation happening in amazing Victorian Gothic surroundings.
Janet White.

Evening visit to Shirley Sills Garden Thursday June 24th.

Sandy Well Gardens, Barn House, Whittington, (Andoversford) Cost including tea and cake £6.50.
2½ Acre garden. Herbaceous, roses, climbers, shrubs, trees, formal and informal structures and water features.
Tickets will be available from Mr Roy Tombs, 50 Stanway Road, Cheltenham GL51 6BZ. Please enclose a stamped address envelope with your application.

Holiday to Northumberland Sunday 29th August – Friday 3rd September

Visiting Cragside House, Beamish Open Air Museum, Guided tour of Holy Island and scenic drive through Northhumberland National Park, Alnwick Garden.
We are staying at The Holiday Inn, Seaton Burn on a half board basis, the cost of the trip includes the coach and entrance fees to all non National Trust Properties and party rates for non members. Tour price £398.00.

For full details and brochure contact Richard Acres on 01242 241728

Thursford Christmas Spectacular Thursday 2nd December – Saturday 4th December

A concert is held at Thursford Norfolk and we have been able to obtain best seats for the Friday evening performance. We are arranging this trip with our friends from Stokenchurch for a 3 day trip. This is a spectacular event and runs for about six weeks and a very professional concert. 
Wendy and I have been fortunate enough to have attended this spectacular event on four occasions and always find it extremely enjoyable.

Tour Price £198.00

Words from Chris our vice president
Easter and hopefully the signal to announce the arrival of the new season. Tradition decrees that the potatoes get planted on Good Friday and all else follows in the wake of this momentous moment. All across the land I suspect that people have their fingers tightly crossed. Who knows, we may even have some daffodils out. It all very strange, but as has been noted by many a soothsayer, we have had a proper winter, an experience previously unknown to many. So, the spuds go in and all of them on the same day if the mood takes you. The first early, second early, main crop bit is just about the time the crop needs to spend in the ground to reach maturity and whilst some stagger the process I don’t. Whilst the vegetable sowing can continue in earnest and aside from the soft stuff like the marrow and cucumber families, seed can go straight into the ground, most garden centres will now also be offering plants. The advantage of course is that we can buy oddments and bypass the dilemma of what to do with the 1500 lettuce seedlings we hadn’t meant to sow.     

I am pleased to see that my broad beans are starting to move, but I am still going to push in a bit more seed to extend the cropping. It is going to be late. Another two weeks and I will be sowing some Runner and French beans too. I am a bean fan, they are all such great value.  French beans are really productive in a large pot too.
On the flower front, the winter pansies have done their usual and started to show some strong growth and are certainly too good to throw out. I am padding the borders with a bit of early summer bedding. I have a few bits of Dianthus and forget me not and am going to put out some snapdragons towards the end of the month. I am also intending to put over more space to Dahlias this time and have been selecting a few tubers, which I am going to get on and plant soon. It is worth putting a bit of grit around them as the young shoots are a favorite with slugs.  
And finally, the gardening industry had been advised by government to show a serious commitment to the reduction of peat useage by the end of the year, indeed we were instructed to reduce it by 80%. It wasn’t a surprise, the target and a 2010 deadline had been in place for several years. Well, we failed and this week were granted a little extra space. Well, I say little, when I mean big…we must now do something by 2020…………mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Happy gardening
 
 A public notice. The students at The Butterfly Garden have secured a waste management licence and are collecting horticultural plastic waste (pots,trays,etc) for reusing and ethical recycling. We need yours. Thank you
www.thebutterflygarden.org

The best slug and snail repellent yet
I have used and shown various barriers to keep my hostas free from holes (e.g. gravel, soot, egg shells, holly leaves, pine needles, cat litter and coffee grounds ) but I have kept the best solution up my sleeve for the past five years while it has been on trial.
Garlic Wash Recipe.
1. Crush two large garlic bulbs.

2. Add to two pints of water and boil for three minutes until blanched

3. Cool, strain and make back up to two pints with water.

4. Use one tablespoon of mixture per gallon of water in a watering can with a rose.
5. Pour over leaves in late afternoon on a dry day.

6. Repeat every fourteen days. Use other methods early in the year until shoots and leaves appear.
This recipe has also been used on sweet peas, hollyhocks, delphiniums and some leaf vegetables, e.g. lettuce. 

Una Dunnett, NCCPG National plant Collection Holder of Hostas.