Chalfont St Peter Garden Club Newsletter - April 2007

Chairman: Charles Flawn
Secretary: Linda Hills-Harrop
Treasurer: Robert Bastin
Garden Hut Manager: Cliff Thayer
http://www.gardenclub.org.uk

Dear Member

Seventy members attended the AGM on 21 March 2007. The Officers and Committee were elected and the Chairman and Treasurer gave their reports. The club has over 550 members but we would like to reach 600 this year. A full colour flyer giving information about the club and an application form is being distributed to the local area and we hope to recruit new members and introduce our club through this medium.

Julian Hunt (author and historian) gave a talk on the History and architecture of Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter. Aided by slides he covered in detail the development of the Latchmoor Field area. An informative and exceptional talk to round off the AGM.

The Garden Hut will be open every Sunday from 10.00am to 12 noon.
It is very important you remember to bring your membership card and show it when you make a purchase.

The 10% discount offer has now expired for this year. Once stocks of ERIN multipurpose compost have been sold it cannot be replaced, however LEVINGTON multipurpose compost will be available as the alternative; this will be sold at £4.50 per bag or 3 for £12.00 and is a higher grade of compost. All other composts are readily available. Seed and potting compost is now available in 35 ltr bags. New stocks of SHL PROFFESIIONAL POTTING compost have arrived. Note that this compost may not always be available so buy while you can. It is especially recommended for hanging baskets.
From April growbags should be delivered priced at £1.45. Please purchase early to make room for the second delivery.

THE HUT WILL BE OPEN ON EASTER SUNDAY. Cliff Thayer

Meetings - Spring Show on Wednesday 18th April at 8 pm in the Parish Church Hall.
Wine and cheese followed by the photographic competition. Entry £1. Our judges this year will be Pat Taylor, Florence Hallam, Marina Long and Ken Hall.

Spring Show Schedule for April 18th

Class 1 Polyanthus bowl of 6 cut stems own Foliage

Class 2 Daffodils vase of 3 blooms own Foliage

Class 3 Tulips vase of 3 blooms own foliage

Class 4 Pot Plant in Flower pot not to exceed 6” in diameter

Class 5 Pot Plant Foliage pot not to exceed 6” in diameter

Class 6 5 stems of different Evergreen Foliage in a vase

Class 7 A Floral Arrangement not to exceed 9” overall

Class 8 Any Other Flower, one kind only, 3 or more blooms

Class 9 3 Sticks of Rhubarb may be forced

Class 10 Any Other Vegetable

Photographic Competition
Once again during the Spring Show we are running a photographic competition, similar to last years event. This year we are having 3 classes (slightly different from last year)
Photos may be in colour or black and white. Each class you enter should be mounted separately on paper or card no bigger than A4. Mark the class on the back. You will be asked to judge the entries.

Class 1 - A Garden
Class 2 - Spring Flowers
Class 3 - A Landscape

MAY MEETING 16 May 2007 will be held in the Mary Smithalls Room at the Community Centre

Please note change of venue.
Higher Denham Garden Club has a coach trip to Sissinghurst Castle Garden on Tue 5th June.
There are a few seats left. The coach departs from Higher Denham Community Hall, Lower Road, Higher Denham at 9.30am and will return to the hall at 6pm approx.
The cost is £14.50 per seat for the coach and £7.80 admission to the garden (FREE to N T M). If you would like a place on this trip please phone Christine Kearley on 01895 832145.
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"GARDENS OPEN FOR CHARITY."
Jolyon Lea who spoke to the Club in February informs us that his garden is open under the National Gardens Scheme.
29 April 07 at 6 Oldfield Close, Little Chalfont. From 2pm - 5pm.
Admission £2, Children, free. Teas and Refreshments will be available to purchase, with the proceeds going to Charity.

His superb Garden features many unusual spring bulbs, he will, no doubt, have some plants and bulbs for sale.

DOGS ARE NOT PERMITTED.

KEITH’S COACH OUTINGS:-MAY 23 visit to ‘AUDLEY END’ in Essex H.D.R.A. maintained gardens with a grand ‘English Heritage’ manor-house. Cost £17.00/members-£18.00/non-members. A valid ‘E/H ‘member deduct £6.00 when booking. Coach leaves Church Lane 9.30am. Late bookings for ‘Lacock’ please ring me ASAP on 01753 884012 I’m getting booked up fast.
‘Eden project’ I would like to remind members that my deadline for bookings for the 5day holiday in June’08 is the 20 April 07. Lack of numbers could mean that I have to cancel this bargain(£200/£20dep.p/p) KEITH
Audley End
Please book me……..seats @ £17 members/ £18 non-members
Name & Address ……………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………Post code………….Phone No……………………..Total £……………..
Cheques payable to Chalfont St.Peter Garden Club please send to:-
Mr K Gould 10 Leachcroft, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks SL9 9LG

Jane’s April Garden Tips:

As perennials start to grow, divide large or congested clumps, such as hostas and chrysanthemums replanting the healthiest outer portions. Push plant supports into the soil around taller growing plants. Plant gladioli and other summer flowering bulbs at regular intervals to extend their flowering season. Continue feeding with a general fertiliser established shrubs, roses, bulbs and perennials to replace nutrients lost during the wet winter, mulching as you go. Dead head spring flowers- primulas, pansies and bulbs. Tie in climbing and rambling roses. Prune forsythia and other spring flowering plants after flowering to a strong leafy side shoot pointing upwards and outwards, also prune lavender and other silver leafed shrubs to keep them bushy and compact. Continue sowing hardy annuals and plant out any raised in modules.
Prune trained fruit trees (espaliers, fan and cordon) prune while in growth to keep down size and encourage fruit bud formation.
Months of wet weather have caused moss to become a problem, action is needed to boost growth and improve drainage, the best way is to use a powered lawn rake to scarify raking out moss and debris, fork over to improve drainage, then apply a lawn fertiliser.
Sow under glass a wide variety of vegetables, runner and French beans, marrow, courgettes, sweet corn, outside begin to sow leeks, carrots summer cabbage, sow herbs. Winter brassicas cauliflower, and brussel sprouts can also be started in prepared seed beds. Plant main crop potatoes.

Note: If you were at the meeting you will have noticed the new chairs in the Parish Church Hall. The old chairs are going to a school in Zimbabwe

For Sale:
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.