Maldon & Heybridge Horticultural Society News page

Newsletter

April 2009

March Members Meeting

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

Wednesday 22 April MHHS Members Meeting, joint with Purleigh, 7.30 Town Hall

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

Wednesday 19 May MHHS Members Meeting, URC Hall, 7.30pm

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

Our first trip this year is on Saturday 13 June. This is one of the great 20th century gardens set around a romantic house and ruins in a beautiful wooded estate. As well as viewing the renowned summer borders, rose and walled gardens you can explore Nymans woods where the seasonal wild flowers bloom and a wild garden where many plants have been growing for over a century. The Pavilion Tea-room is licensed and offers teas and snacks, hot and cold lunches are served between 12.00 noon and 2.30pm. There are picnic areas in the pinetum and arboretum. The shop offers quality National Trust goods and a wide range of plants and garden related items.

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:

1. House sparrow

2. Starling

3. Blackbird

4. Blue tit

5. Chaffinch

6. Wood pigeon

7. Collared dove

8. Great tit

9. Robin

10. Long tailed tit

More details are on the website www.rspb.org.uk

Visit to Hazeleigh Hall Wood - Friday 24 April, 6.30pm

It was unfortunate that last years visit to Hazeleigh Hall Wood had to be cancelled, however this year we are planning a visit again on Friday 24 April. We shall have a guided walk through the ancient 60 acre site where we will see a working charcoal kiln, on site saw-milling, and you could try your hand on a traditional pole lathe. Also, we shall learn the local woodland's history and management techniques such as coppicing. There is a varied and rich flora and fauna - choosing this date should coincide with the arrival of the nightingale and hopefully we'll see some bluebells out.

Outing to Harry Brickwood's Garden on Saturday 30 May

If you came to February's meeting you would have seen slides of Harry's lovely garden, 'Orchard Cottage at Rayleigh. I visited the garden last year with the Cottage Garden Society and was so impressed with the planting and Harry's enthusiasm that I thought that maybe you, the members, would like to visit it too.

The visit by car, will be on Saturday 30 May at 2.30pm. At that time Harry's collection of Aquilegias, the State series - an introduction from North America, should be in bloom. Lillies and roses will also be flowering then. The entry fee plus tea and cake is £4.00 (please bring correct money) and directions will be in the May newsletter. Please let me know if you would like to go and whether you would like a lift. Rita Davis

Annual Purleigh Plant Sale - Sunday 3 May

This plant sale is held at Purleigh Playing Field starting at 10.00am, and you need to be there when it opens! Free admission, free parking, refreshments available, in aid of The Friends of Purleigh Church.

John Trim Talk - 'Growing for the Show Bench & Kitchen Garden'

The National Vegetable Society are having a talk by John Trim, a Horticultural Lecturer and Show Judge, to be held at Hatfield Peverel Village Hall, Maldon Road, Hatfield Peverel on Sunday 26 April, 2.30pm. National Vegetable members free, non members £2.00.

Farleigh Hospice Open Gardens

Every year local people open their gardens to raise funds for Farleigh Hospice. If you would like to open your garden to the public they would love to hear from you. It can be a low key event such as a coffee morning in your garden or on a larger scale, even linking with other open gardens in the area to make a day out for visitors. Support is available in the way of posters, programmes, tickets and advice. The aim is to produce an Open Gardens Booklet next year.

The first open garden this year will be Wickham Place Farm Garden, Station Road, Wickham Bishops on Fridays between 24 April and 31 July, Sunday 17 May and 3 to 25 September between 2.00pm and 5.00pm. Admission £3, Children free. www.wickhamplacefarm.co.uk

If you are interested in opening your garden please contact Christine Hogben, Community Fundraising Manager, Farleigh Hospice, North Court Road, Chelmsford CM1 7FH Tel: (01245) 457346 or email: info@farleighhospice.org

Alpine Garden Society Annual Show

On Saturday 28 February Gillian, Liz and I made a visit to Mark Hall School, Harlow to see the Spring Show of the Alpine Garden Society.

We found stunning exhibits in many classes with springtime alpine bulbs such as narcissi, snowdrops and iris and flowering plants. There was even a class for alpine flower arranging. Exhibitors had come from all over the country to compete for the hallowed trophies. The Alpine Garden Society had their own trading stall with many miniature treasures that we could not resist buying. Several nurseries were also doing a fair trade. New and second hand books could be bought, packets of seeds from members, and sundries too. Several containers with alpines were raffled as well. Staff from RHS Wisley were showing their collection of beautiful Hepaticas whilst offering advice on their cultivation and care. We all enjoyed the afternoon very much. Thank you to Michael for reminding us of the event and Liz who took us. Rita Davis

Any items for the newsletter, comments or requests please contact me on 07872 444369, write to 1d Wantz Road, Maldon, CM9 5DB or email karenhutchings@hotmail.com

Karen Hutchings, Editor