Mid April News Update
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
On Saturday 11th we made the 170 mile trip to Wimborne to give a
new talk, "Stunning Summer Perennials" to the East Dorset Plant
Heritage Group (formerly National Council for the Conservation of
Plants and Gardens). This was the second time in less than a year
that we had delieverd a talk in Wimborne, the previous one being to
The Hardy Plant Society. There was another 100 plus attendance and
the same warm welcome from extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic
gardeners and plantspeople, some of whom are National Collection
holders.
Most of the plant societies we visit have their meetings on a
Saturday afternoon which means that there is more time than an
evening meeting. The talk can therefore be in depth and there is
time to admire the plant displays mounted by members, browse the
book table and the usually exceptional members plant stall where
some real treasures can often be found. And when it comes to
plant sales we were overwhelmed when the eager hordes of members
descended on the plants we had taken and almost cleared us out!
Very many thanks members of East Dorset Plant Heritage for such
a memorable day, your kind comments about the talk and plants we
had for sale, and most of all for making us feel so much at home.
We look forward to seeing you again. Happy gardening!
Just a few pics to give a flavour of the
day
Yours truly just about to start the talk having had some
fun being fitted up with a lapel microphone
This fabulous display of camelias, some of which had
been in flower since last November
Two lachenalias from a wonderful display by a National
Collection holder
During the course of the talk it became clear to me how
different the growing conditions are in Dorset compared with our
part of Wales. Many members were growing on chalky soil with a PH
well above neutral and driving home we saw examples of this in the
fields which were white on any uncultivated parts
And the fields and landscapes are huge: this picture
taken on the Dorset/Wiltshire boundary on a road from the villages
of Toller Royal to Sixpenny Handley. What marvellous
names!
