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

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

Saturday 22nd April – Group Plant Sale 

A large selection of good quality, locally-grown hardy plants – including some unusual varieties – at reasonable prices, plus specialist nursery stalls.

10am – 12.30pm        West Monkton Village Hall        Admission:  £1

Free parking       Refreshments on Sale

A diverse range of hardy perennials will be on offer at our annual Plant Sale, as well as shrubs, annuals and vegetable plants.  Come early to grab a bargain.  Everyone is welcome, so bring your friends and relations!

Any plants you may be able to donate to the Group table would be gratefully received; just bring them along on the day.  Please note this is not a 50:50 sale.

Cakes Wanted

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.

• The event page is here
• Directions to Burrow Farm Gardens are here

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)

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

One of the HPS Somerset Group’s biggest events is coming up this Saturday, so don’t miss the chance to get your hands on some choice plants for the season ahead.  At time of writing, the forecast is looking good, so it promises to be a good turn-out.  Come and join the throng!

When: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Where: East Lambrook Manor Gardens, Silver Street, East Lambrook, South Petherton,
Somerset, TA13 5HH