All Gardeners' Alert! Plant Sale 21st May

Come along at 7.30pm on 21st May to the Orpen Memorial Hall to bag the bargains from selections of bedding; fruit and vegetables; perennials and shrubs.  And not forgetting the bric-à-brac stall offering a host of second-hand goodies for your garden.   Entry is free and everyone’s welcome.

If you enjoy a day out visiting gardens of special renown; why not join us on our coach trip to Hatfield House, Park and Gardens on Wednesday 23 May.

We have seats still available for this visit, departing the Orpen Hall at 9.30am and leaving the venue at 4.30pm. Inclusive cost - £27 if you’re a non-member. Contact Terry 01206 242124 or Valerie 01206 855450 to book.

Flower shows and Autumn

‘Around the Flower Shows’ was this month’s speaker topic at the West Bergholt Gardeners Association meeting when Richard Ford delighted his audience with an informative account of 28 years’ experiences of both exhibiting and visiting national and county shows.

RHS Hyde Hall

‘A Taste of Autumn’ was the theme for last weekend’s coach trip to RHS Hyde Hall by thirty-five members. A celebration of everything that is autumn was on offer - wonderful colours in the garden, fresh fruit and vegetables and traditional country crafts. The sweeping panoramas beneath big open skies gave way to an eclectic range of inspirational horticultural styles from traditional to modern.

'United Women'

Visitors were delighted by a ‘mystery in stone’ sculpture exhibition. Displays punctuated the gardens, adding interest and fascination. Left - ‘United Women’ by Washington Musonza representing the importance of coming together.

The Association's next meeting will be on Monday 21 November with speaker Roger Harvey presenting on 'Hellebores in the Winter Garden'.

For further enquires on the Association please contact: valerielofthouse1@hotmail.co.uk or terryclaydon@aol.com tel 01206 242124.

Gardening - Beeleigh Update

Beeleigh Abbey Gardens

An historical and peaceful retreat of three acres of riverside gardens in a delightful setting dating from the 13th century was enjoyed by 32 members of teh west Bergholt Gardeners Association on their July evening visit to Beeleigh Abbey Gardens, Maldon.  The original abbey was founded in 1180 for white robed canons of the strict Premonstratensian order.  The energetic commitment to Beeleigh by the owners and their staff was reflected in the splendid show of English old roses; mixed borders; cottage garden; wild flower meadow; river walk; vegetable and fruit production and water features.

Interested in visiting the gardens? They are next open on 8 & 22 July; 5 & 19 August and 2 & 30 September 10.30am to 4.30pm – entry £4. Refreshments available/ free parking. Information available on http://visitmaldon.co.uk/beeleigh-abbey/ - telephone: 07779 223321.

For details on the Gardener's Association's meetings and outings contact Valerie Lofthouse, Chair: tel. 01206 855450 - valerielofthouse1@hotmail.co.uk or Terry Claydon, Treasurer: tel. 01206 242124 - terryclaydon@aol.com.

Ebullient & exuberant gardens

Ebullient and Exuberant – aptly described the Old Vicarage Gardens, East Ruston when 52 members and guests visited this week. As we left one beautiful ‘themed’ garden we were enticed into the next. We felt we had travelled many continents seeing Echium pininana from the Canary Islands; Eschonaria yuccoides from Mexico; agaves, aloes, puyas and cacti in the Arizona ‘Desert Wash’; native cordylines and phormiums in the New Zealand garden and a South African flavour in the Exotic section.

Aeoniums and succulents in
the North Garden

Feeling more at home, we ambled through areas of woodland; adored the fragrances in the rose garden; admired with envy, ʽmega’ sized lettuces in the highly productive vegetable patch. A walk into a meadow of cornflowers threw out a blue haze whilst in the wildflower meadow hardy geraniums and other herbaceous plants competed with the grass. And this is just a brief description of all we sampled and enjoyed.

Beeleigh Abbey Gardens, Maldon – will be our next outing on the evening of Tuesday 5 July. The three acres of riverside gardens are set in a picturesque and historic setting dating from the 13th century.

For details on our meetings and outings contact Valerie Lofthouse, Chair: tel. 01206 855450 - valerielofthouse1@hotmail.co.uk or Terry Claydon, Treasurer: tel. 01206 242124 - terryclaydon@aol.com.

Spring is in sight...

February is when many gardeners begin the new growing year. Sowing seeds and seeing tiny green shoots appear is a perennial thrill.

But are you considering the design or redesign of your garden?
 
Come along to the February meeting of the West Bergholt Gardeners’ Association on Monday the 21st at 7.30pm in the Orpen Hall.  Hilary Thomas, Garden Designer, Lecturer, Writer will give a digital presentation on ‘Garden and Planting Design’.  Visitors are always welcome; £3 entry.

If you love snowdrops (Galanthus) there are ample opportunities to visit magnificent displays in our region. Among some of the best are:

• Chippenham Park Gardens, Cambs (pictured above) – www.chippenhamparkgardens.info/snowdrops.htm 
• Hedingham Castle, Essex – www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk
• Marks Hall, Essex – www.markshall.org.uk
• Easton Lodge, Essex – www.eastonlodge.co.uk
• Ickworth Hall, Suffolk AND Angelsey Abbey, Cambridge – www.nationaltrust.co.uk

RHS FREE DAY – FRIDAY 4 MARCH
 
Experience any of the RHS’s four gardens for FREE. Our local Hyde Hall Garden at Rettendon opens its gates from 10am – 3pm when gardening staff will be on hand to offer advice on seasonal tasks. www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Hyde-Hall.

(Free) Trees for Years 2011...

Silver Birch flowering

... will be taking place on Saturday 22nd January.  The free trees will be given away from the Council Offices car park at Rowan House in Sheepen Road.  Over 2000 trees will be available on a first-come first- serve basis. Residents can collect up to three trees/plants per household and community/volunteer groups, Schools and parish councils can collect up to 20 trees per organisation.  Trees for Years are open to all residents, parish councils, community/volunteer/charity groups and schools in the Colchester Borough.

The trees will be available between 10am – 3pm.  Trees must be planted on private ground. Cultivation guidance will be available.  Postcode and housenumber will be recorded to monitor the distribution of the trees in Colchester.  Please bring a carrier bag or black rubbish sack with you to put your free trees in.
This year’s theme is fruit and nut and the following species will be available:

• Raspberry canes
• Blackcurrant canes
• Redcurrant
• Strawberry
• Pear communis - Pear
• Corylus avellana – Hazel cob nut
• Betula pendula – Silver Birch
• Quercus robur - Oak
• Acer campestre – Field Maple

For further information please email David Carter, Parks Development Officer, or telephone 01206 508632.