We had a packed hall for this month's speaker, Ian Bull from RHS Garden Hyde Hall. He started the talk with scenes of Beth Chatto's garden at Elmstead Market, this garden pioneered the idea of ecological gardening - planting to suit the natural conditions. The most famous part of the garden is the gravel garden planted on a site that was originally the car park. This area has flourished despite the poor soil and dry conditions and without relying on being watered.

The gardeners at Hyde Hall were influenced by this approach when they chose a sunny slope to landscape. Slides showed the progress from the hard landscaping, including placing the large boulders through to the final planting with mediteranean plants mulched with stone. Although  stark at first the garden has matured into a colourful area rich with plants such as catmint (Nepeta racemosa), perennial wallflower (Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'), verbena bonariensis, Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia 'Blue Spire'), sedum, allium, cistus and stipa gigantea. All the plants were chosen for their ability to thrive in dry conditions. To see the garden for yourselves and get more inspiration for your own gardens, Hyde Hall near Rettendon is open every day from 10.00am.

Janshaven Cup

 I could not have asked for a better celebration of St Patricks Day than 10 beautiful exhibits for the Janshaven Cup competition. The winners were 1st Jean Willimot with a Fritillary, 2nd Ken Thorpe's Helleborus Orientalis hybrid Harvington Yellow, 3rd Doreen Linton's Caligalas, entries also included camellia, clematis cirrhosa, viola, daffodil Tete a Tete and Heliborus Orientalis hybrid Harvington Shades of Night. There is not a competition next month but I look forward to another great selection in May.  Margaret Hurley

Diary Dates

Thursday 9 April                    MHHS Committee Meeting,  Moot Hall, 7.45pm

Thursday 14 May                   MHHS Committee Meeting, Moot Hall, 7.45pm

April Members Meeting  – Wednesday 22 April, Purleigh

This year it is Purleigh Gardeners Society turn to host the April Meeting.  The talk is on 'Period Gardens in Essex' by garden historian, lecturer and author Caroline Holmes. Everyone welcome at Purleigh Village Hall at 7.30pm.

June outing to National Trust Garden, Nymans, W Sussex

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2009 Over half a million people took part in the 30th anniversary national bird watch back in January. the top 10 most sighted birds were: