Author: Bill Hodgson

HPS 60th Jubilee Garden Openings in June

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Hello all,

We came into possession of the HPS 60th Anniversary Open Gardens booklet, and realised some of our members are opening their gardens for everyone to visit. Full details on each garden can be found by following the links below:

There are two more in July which we’ll mention near the time. And an apology to Elworthy Cottage who opened on May 24th, we missed that sorry.

All the gardens in the country which are opening can be found on the national HPS site here.

HPS on TV

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Via Jane Hunt:

RHS Chelsea and the HPS

I am sure that some of you will have heard by now that the Worcester Group were awarded a Silver-Gilt medal for their display at Chelsea today, It was a lovely stand and congratulations to them all.
The team were filmed during the planning and make up of the stand, and we are told that there is a strong possibility that the HPS will be on television this Thursday evening BBC2 as part of the 8.00pm Chelsea coverage.

Cerne Abbas Open Gardens Coach Trip – 18th of June

There is something to  suit everyone in this selection of around 30 gardens opening over the weekend for charity.  Highlights include the garden at Cerne River Cottage, designed and planted by Chelsea gold medallist Nick Williams-Ellis.  His designs characterise many of the Cerne Abbas gardens.  This natural garden is bordered by trees and shrubs with a beautiful and colourful bog garden running along the south side. Don’t miss the lilies, persicaria, filipendula and the statuesque Gunnera manicata alongside the river. Two white bridges link the separate parts of the garden providing a Monet feel to the overall.

Lunchtime meals may be obtained in the local pubs or teashop. The Squibb Garden next to the church is open all day and is a good place to picnic. Plant stalls in the village square.

Please contact Janet Murley for tickets (or make contact via the website, or reply to this email if necessary)

http://www.cerneabbasopengardens.org.uk

cerne abbas A4 Poster

Hardy Plant Society 60th Anniversary Open Gardens

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As many of you may know, members were invited to open their gardens to the public this year in celebration of the Society’s 60th anniversary. Booklets describing the gardens were available at our spring lecture meetings and plant fairs. Here in Somerset there are six members’ gardens open this summer – the first coming up at the end of this month. We would urge you to visit as many as you can to show your support. Proceeds from the garden openings may go to the HPS entirely or may be shared with the garden owners’ chosen charity.

The Somerset gardens opening for the HPS are as follows:

  • Wednesday 24th May, 11.00am to 5.00pm – Elworthy Cottage (Mike and Jenny Spiller)
  • Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th June, 2.00pm to 5.30pm – Hooper’s Holding (Ken and Lyn Spencer-Mills)
  • Thursday 22nd June, 11.00am to 5.00pm – Vellacott (Kevin and Pat Chittenden)
  • Sunday 25th June, 11.00am to 5.30pm – Lower Severalls Farmhouse (Mary Pring and Catherine Bond)
  • Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July, 10.00am to 4.00pm – The George House (Dr Robin Goodfellow)
  • Tuesday 18 July, 2.00pm to 6.00pm – Braglands Barn (Simon and Sue Youell)

Full details about these gardens and their location, and others open outside of Somerset, may be found on the main HPS website. We wish them fine weather and crowds of visitors on their chosen day or days!

Jane Hunt

Somerset Group on Tour

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Many, many thanks to everyone who has responded to our requests for help manning the plant stall, the entrance gate or providing refreshments as required at one of the public events so far this year – East Lambrook Manor Plant Fair, our own Group Plant Sale and, most recently, Milverton Street Fair. The Committee couldn’t hope to do it all without help from the rest of the membership  so we are most grateful to everyone who has volunteered. We really feel that the HPS Somerset Group name is becoming very well known and respected as a result.

BUT, we are not done yet!! Coming up we have our stall at the Bishop’s Palace Garden Festival in Wells from 9 to 11 June and the Toby Buckland Garden Festival at Forde Abbey in September. We will be seeking help with the September event later in the year but we still have some spaces to fill on our volunteers rota for June. Most spaces are during the afternoon so if you could spare us a couple of hours of your time on one of those three days please get in touch with Jane as soon as possible, stating which day you would prefer. Volunteering has the benefit of free entry to the event for the day for two members per slot so the remaining places are certain to be taken up quickly.

Jane Hunt

 

Burrow Farm Gardens Spring Plant Fair

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Via Janet Murrow:

A Plant Fair on Sunday the 16th run by the Plant Heritage Charity

Our annual spring plant fair in aid of Plant Heritage. Up to 12 selected nurseries from throughout the South West of England bringing their best plants for spring to sell! £1 entrance to plant fair which is taken off your entrance to the garden if you do go around the garden.

PH fair Burrow Farm 16.4.17 email

Annual Plant Sale 2017

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Come along to our ANNUAL PLANT SALE at West Monkton Village Hall, Monkton Heathfield, Taunton, TA2 8NE on Saturday 22 April 2017 from 10.00am to 12.30am

A Large Selection of Quality Locally Grown Hardy Plants, including some Unusual Varieties at Reasonable Prices, plus Specialist Nursery Stalls.

 All Welcome * Free Parking on Site * Entry £1 * Refreshments on Sale

(From Jane Hunt)

Meeting Reminder for April 8th

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Aster expert Helen Picton will be giving the lecture at our next group meeting this Saturday.  Helen is the third generation of her family to be involved in running Old Court Nurseries and The Picton Garden in Malvern, Worcestershire, which houses the Plant Heritage National Collection of autumn-flowering asters, encompassing over 400 varieties.  Helen’s lecture will be all about rethinking autumn in the English garden, extending colour in our borders using a range of late season perennials and shrubs including, of course, asters.  Although you may be busy enjoying your spring garden, now is the time to start planning and planting for good autumn colour so don’t miss the opportunity to get advice from one who knows.

Plants for sale
http://www.autumnasters.co.uk

Discovering Peonies with the Peony Group of the HPS

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One of the strengths of the Hardy Plant Society is the prospect of meeting with like-minded people, to share a passion for plants and gardens.  Specialist groups offer the opportunity to learn and share information about specific groups of plants in more detail.

With this in mind, the Peony Group of the HPS would like to encourage other HPS members to join us in learning about peonies.

Subscription prices to the group are as follows:

  • £5 single member
  • £6 two members at the same address
  • £6.50 overseas membership (payable with the HPS subscription)

Further information and an application form can be downloaded at: www.hardy-plant.org.uk/index.php?_route_=meet-us-at/specialist-groups/peony

Alternatively, the Peony Group Secretary, Kath Carey, may be contacted direct on 01925 267 633, john.carey516@btinternet.com  if there are further questions.

Thank you for helping us to share the wonderful world of peonies as hardy plants.

The Peony Group Committee