On Tuesday 15 January the society held its first meeting of the year.  The society’s Chairman, Peter Gaywood, welcomed everyone on a wet evening to hear ‘Steve the Tree Man’ on Arboriculture.  Stephen Westover was head of the ECC team and is a consultant advising people on their trees and woodland management and he likes making things out of wood.  He amusingly recounted that as a lad of six he ring-barked a row of flowering cherries and ever since he has had an interest in trees!  Fortunately they flourished having been taped up and in due time he read Environmental Studies at university for a career with trees.  We must look after our trees which lock up the harmful carbon dioxide and are now at risk in global temperatures and extreme weather as the climate changes.  He stated the visual importance of trees in defining our landscape and providing seasonal references and that even dead trees make sculptural effects and provide nesting sites.  Rules governing Tree Preservation Orders were explained and he answered in detail the questions from the audience.  Lovely slides of mature trees were projected and we were shown the various forms of pests and diseases.  A most interesting talk and perhaps a visit to one of his woodlands can be arranged to learn more.  The entries for the Janshaven Cup were judged, the Chairman wanted more of us to enter this year and the raffle held and regular refreshments, seed swap, video hire and shop and plant sale.  Tony Froom, Publicity Officer

Janshaven Cup

We had five specimens entered for the Janshaven Cup competition at our January meeting.  The winner was E Shrimpton who exhibited Daphne Bholua, the Judges comment was, a fine specimen flowering early.  2nd L Dunkin with Cotoneaster ‘frigidus’ (tree cotoneaster) loaded with berries, 3rd G Hopkins with Garrya Eliptica. The comments of the Judge generally were very interesting, he was looking for undamaged specimens particularly representative of their species, so I hope in February we will have an even larger number of entries, particularly as we will soon have the spring flowering bulbs, shrubs and plants.   Margaret Hurley

February Members Meeting -  Tuesday 19 February

Bulk Order Delivery  Thank you to all of you who have placed an order this year, the delivery will be mid March, which is a little later than usual but will ensure that all items are in stock.  I would be very grateful if anyone is able to help with the deliveries; it will be no more than 3 or 4 drops in Maldon, and will be either on a Saturday or Sunday.  Please ring or e-mail me if you are willing to help, I will be away on holiday some of the time before then so just leave a message.    Thank you.  Liz Dunkin

Seed Potatoes, Onion Sets & Shallots Order 2008

Please see the order form attached to this newsletter to place your order for a wide variety of seed potatoes, onion sets and shallots, all at great

 prices and delivered to members homes!

Outings 2008  The booking form for our first outing of the year to Kew Gardens in April is attached to this newsletter.  Please note that the 

advertised outing to Nymans in June is unable to go ahead, but watch this space for a replacement outing which will be announced soon ……

Diary Dates

Thursday 14th February            MHHS Committee Meeting, 7.45pm, Moot Hall

Tuesday 19th February             MHHS Members Meeting, 7.30pm, URC Hall  

Thursday 13th March                 MHHS Committee Meeting, Moot Hall, 7.45pm

Tuesday 18th March                  MHHS Spring Show URC Hall, 7.30pm

Maldon District Heritage Winter Talks – Tuesday 26 February

The subject of the talk is ‘Lost Historic Gardens in the Maldon District’ by Michael Leach.  It will be held at the Council Chamber at Maldon District Council Offices, 7.30pm – 9.00pm (doors open at 7.00pm).

Danbury & Little Baddow Horticultural Society Talk – Friday 8 February

Our members are invited to attend a talk on ‘Growing & Showing Vegetables’ by Andrew Tokely, Horticultural Manager of Thompson & Morgan.  The talk is held at Danbury Village Hall at 8.00pm, entry £1.00.  Their next talk is on 7 March, ‘Herbaceous Perennials/New Wave Borders’ by Tom Cole 

Friary Walled Garden

Sunday 6th January was our usual Open day and Work Day and we had nine workers there.  It was a nice sunny day despite a slightly cold start.  The main items of work done:
1. Collected rubbish and some late windfall apples (from the Sturmer Pippin)
2. Started to plant bulbs of various types (surplus of the main Society bulb orders)
3. Moved the compost bin to start with it empty again
4. Started to clear some more ivy from the east wall
5. General weeding was done in various beds
6. Cut back the plants (honeysuckle and clematis) on the central arch
7. Cut back the Cecile Brunner roses
8. Fixed some more wire on the south wall for roses
9. Did some more light trimming of the hedges

 We saw a primrose in flower and there are definite signs of the crocuses.  There was the lovely scent from the viburnums which are in flower now.  The Clematis cirrhosa balearica on the north wall is in flower with delightful silvery-white bell-shaped flowers.  This shrub is getting rather too big and it will need trimming back once the flowers have finished.  There is scope here for anybody who wants to have some material for cuttings.  The rebuilding of the West Wall has been finished at long last and we can now start to get ahead with planting the adjacent long bed.  We had an indoor planning meeting and have listed all those jobs that still need doing plus some entirely new ones.   

I have been asked to construct a display board about the garden for Maldon Museum and I have been busy typing up the text and sorting out suitable pictures for this.  

The next Open and Work days will be on Sunday 3rd February and Sunday 2nd March at the usual times of 10.00am to 4.00pm.   We are never short of jobs so come along for a while and give a helping hand or come along just to have a look.  Arthur Cox

 

Friary Walled Garden, West Wall – Plants Wanted

In preparation for replanting the West wall bed we are compiling a list of plants donated by volunteers or available from other parts of the Friary Garden.  If any member has unwanted or surplus plants, please let one of the volunteers know or call in to the next open day (first Sunday of the month) or leave a message on my answering machine.  Thank you.  Sue Kentish, Volunteer

Wild about gardening… many of you may have taken part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch at the end of January and already put out food to attract the birds.  Having a range of food available, whether bought in or growing in the garden, will encourage a variety of birds.  green sunflower seeds are popular with all the tits, greenfinches, starlings and house sparrows.  Peanuts attract those birds along with siskins and great spotted woodpeckers.  Crushed or grated peanuts attract dunnocks, robins and wrens.  Check that the peanuts are certified free from aflatoxin, a natural toxin which can kill birds.  Tiny nyjer seeds have a high oil content and appeal to siskins and goldfinches.  Robins like grated mild cheese and suet, blackbirds and thrushes will eat those over ripe apples from your fruit bowl and fat balls are a good source of energy in cold weather for many birds.   Hang feeders from tree branches, the seeds that drop to the ground will hopefully be eaten by ground feeders such as dunnocks and collared doves before they germinate and grow.  Bird tables should be placed out of reach of cats but with some cover close by such as small shrubs and of course within view of your favourite armchair!  Leaving seed heads on plants such as golden rod and thistles will attract finches and shrubs with berries such as cotoneaster, pyracantha, holly or hawthorn are attractive in the garden and an important food.   Don’t forget clean water in a shallow container for drinking and bathing too.  Watching the birds feeding in the winter garden brings it back to life and provides interest at the dullest time of the year.  KH

2008 Year Book - Out Now!

Karen Hutchings, Editor