Chalfont St Peter Garden Club Newsletter - August 2004

Chairman: Charles Flawn
Secretary: Linda Hills-Harrop
Garden Hut Manager: Cliff Thayer

Dear Member, summer may have come at last, as I write this the forecast is hopeful, but my garden
needs rain! Our Show is almost upon us, do put in an entry, there are classes to suit all gardeners!

Summer Show Saturday 21st August. Not long to go now. Do remember that if you haven't entered before, we include novice classes to encourage you - see the schedule. And please get children to enter our Junior classes - free - but we need an entry form as for the other classes. As your committee has planned for a lovely day on the 21st, give your flowers a good drink by picking them a day early and immersing them deeply in cold water in a bucket. Enthusiasts call this "conditioning". If you need detailed advice from the RHS handbook, or the NAFAS definitions book for Floral Art, do please phone our Show Secretary on ---------------. See you at the show!

The Garden Hut will be open on Sunday from 10.00 am to 12 noon. Very important, you must show your Membership card. The lawns will need summer feeding when suitably damp conditions prevail. ‘Lawn Feed’ and ‘Feed & Weed’ are in stock in granular and liquid form. All our usual products are in stock including the very popular genuine ‘Pine Bark’ chips, this top quality product which will last for many years. Another supply of l0 litre Harostar watering cans is available, this maybe the last delivery of this very good ‘value for money’ can. We have in stock some Special Offer garden tools; these include Wilkinson 28” bypass Loppers price £10.30 (RRP £ 19.19), Wilkinson shock-proof Border spades £8.50 (RRP £19.19) and Sandvik Secateurs, including holster, at £16.10 (RRP £30.40), these would make very acceptable presents. HELP AT THE HUT continues to be a major problem; any member not already helping and has a couple of hours to spare on the occasional Sunday morning please ring Jane Ryecart,Thank you, Cliff.

Greenhouse. An 8’x 9’6” aluminium all glass Greenhouse is available Free! Provided you can dismantle it and take it away. Anyone interested should ring

Jane’s Garden Tips
As hedges have put on most of their growth by now, they will need a good trim back. Take a look at variegated trees and shrubs for signs of new shoots that have reverted back to the plain green form, these green shoots often grow more strongly than the variety, so remove from the base of the plant before they take over. Lift and divide congested clumps of Iris, replanting healthy pieces near the top of the soil. Take cuttings from a large variety of plants including osteospermum, pelargonium, fuchsia, Margarita, pinks, penstemon and phygelius. Remove a few non-flowering side shoots from each plant, dip in hormone rooting powder and they will root quickly in small pots in warm conditions. Continue feeding pots and baskets once a week to ensure a good display into the autumn. Dead head roses cutting back to first leaf of stem, encouraging new shoots to grow from these, which will carry flowers. Gather seeds flowers that have finished flowering by cutting of complete flower head, store in paper bags labeling each variety, keep in a cool dry place until seeds have ripened and dried and fallen out. Plant out colchicums and other autumn bulbs, order bulbs for autumn planting from mail order specialists. Keep an eye on brassicas for signs of cabbage white butterfly egg, which if allowed to turn into caterpillars will completely defoliate the plants (usually when you are on holiday) protect plant with fleece or fine netting or rub away the eggs on the underneath on the leaves as you find them. Continue to harvest all vegetables regularly to ensure crops keep on producing more. Sow late salad crops Chinese cabbage, endives, spring cabbage and radish. In the greenhouse make sure plants are properly shaded with blinds or shading painted on the glass, keep well watered and damped down.

September Coach outing. To Cambridge Botanic Gardens on Wednesday 8th September. Cost £15.00 per person to include a guided tour, which is highly recommended. Coach leaves Church Lane Car park at 10.00 am. And leaving Cambridge at 5pm BOOK NOW by sending your form and cheque to Keith Gould. 01753-884012
Cut -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September Outing. I require ( ) Tickets for (name)……………………………………………………………….
Address……………………………………………………………………Phone………………..
I enclose my Cheque payable to Chalfont St. Peter Garden Club for the sum of £………………for Cambridge.
Please send to Keith Gould or hand in at the Hut on Sunday Mornings

Tips for Taking Cuttings Take cutting early in the day, spray immediately with water. To minimise water loss, insert cuttings into pots filled with 50/50 mix of multipurpose compost and perlite (or similar). Keep pots out of direct sunlight. Create a humid environment by covering with a plastic bag. Keep compost moist, but not sodden. Once cuttings are well rooted (about 5 to 8 weeks) pot them up so they don’t run short of nutrients. But if not ready by end September, then leave until spring. The use of rooting powder is not usually necessary.

Chiltern Open Air Museum – Bodgers Holiday Club for children from 5 to 10 years to experience the special formula of fun and learning. on 16th to 19th August 2004 this must be prebooked ring 01494-871117 And ‘Meet Noddy and Friends’ on 29,30,31st August, this was a very popular event last year, not one to miss if you have young children or grandchildren.

Local Events. Sat/Sun 7/8th Aug Chilli Fiesta Food, music and a collection of 250 chilli pepper plants at West Dean Gardens, near Chichester 01243-811301.
Sat. 21st Aug. Potato-family Festival Oxford Botanic Garden, Oxford 01865-286690.

Gardens Open (usually 2 to 5pm)
Mon 23rd Ascott, Wing,Leighton Buzzard.
Sun 29th Peppers, Gt.Missenden
Sun 5th Sept Clivden, Taplow.

Rofford Manor, Little Milton, Oxon. 2 acre garden ONLY open on Sun 12 Sept 2 to 6 pm
Rousham House nr Steeple Aston, Bicester. O1869-347110, a William Kent park in original condition. Follies and water features abound.
National Herb Centre, Banbury Road, Warmington, Wark. 01295-690999. A fine herb nursery with display gardens.
Coughton Court, Alcester, Wark. 01789-400777. A grand 16th cent. House with walled and Elizabethan knot garden, riverside walks and orchard.
Broughton Castle, Banbury, Oxon. 01295-276070. Medieval moated manor house. Beautiful gardens including a romantic Ladies knot garden.
Upton House, Banbury ,Oxon. 01295-670266. 17th cent mansion with extensive grounds that are full of surprises by the clever use of a ha-ha!

For Sale Unused 50 feet PVC garden hose with Automatic retractable hose complete with wall fixing £20 (half price!) Tel. ----------------.

Buyer Beware. Through the medium of this Newsletter the club is bringing to your attention, opportunities that may interest you, however, you must satisfy yourself that they meet your requirements as Chalfont St. Peter Garden Club will accept no legal, moral or financial responsibility.