Chalfont St Peter Garden Club Newsletter - January 2007
Chairman: Charles Flawn
Secretary: Linda Hills-Harrop
Garden Hut Manager: Cliff Thayer
Treasurer : Robert Bastin A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.
There is so much to look forward to, longer days, new
varieties of seeds to try, plans to be made and dreams to be
dreamed. The Club has a full programme of informative
and entertaining talks, competitions, Shows and outings. How
will we ever have the time to garden?
Please volunteer we need YOU. You are invited to attend any
committee meeting. These are held on the first Tuesday
evening of every month. The club wants to harness the skills
and creative ability you have to ensure the club meets the
needs of our nearly 600 members.
The Garden Hut will be open on Sunday 7 January 2007 from
10.30am to 12 noon and on Sunday 21 January from 10.30-12
noon These are the only dates that the Hut will be open in
January. From February 4 the Hut will be operating every
Sunday from 10.00am to 12 noon until the end of October.
Very important you must remember to bring your membership
card and show it when you make a purchase.
10% Discount on all sales of £20 and over in February and
March 07 Details of special offers from manufacturers and
wholesalers will be published when available at the Hut.
Cliff Thayer
Jane’s Garden Tips: As the New Year starts and if the
weather is mild, lawns will be growing slowly. They need an
occasional cut on a dry day, blades should be set high.
Repair and reshape the lawn edges for a neat finish. Lawns
that have become waterlogged and compacted need to be spiked
with a fork and some coarse sand and sieved soil brushed in
to keep drainage holes open. Dig over vacant land to prevent
weeds taking hold, annual weeds can be put on the compost
heap, but perennial weeds go in the green bin. Clear up any
lingering autumn leaves. Finish cleaning the glass in the
greenhouse, try to ventilate the greenhouse on sunny days to
prevent the air becoming stagnant, and clean any remaining
pots, trays and containers. Clean water butts inside and
out, this will allow plenty of time for them to refill.
Start to sow seeds of Begonia, Lobelia, Salvia and
Pelargonium in a heated greenhouse or propagator to allow
for maximum growing time. Cut the leaves back from
Hellebores to expose the flowers underneath. Continue
pruning fruit trees. Some salad crops, lettuce, radish, baby
carrots, spinach and salad onions can be started in the
greenhouse in modules for planting in the next few months.
To prepare for spring sowing and planting, cover areas of
prepared soil with polythene, secure firmly to the ground,
to allow the soil to dry and warm up. Save egg boxes as
these are useful for sprouting potatoes, it has been proved
that larger seed potatoes produce a higher yield, so choose
your own. Rhubarb can be forced to produce tender sticks a
few weeks early, choose a healthy crown, surround with straw
and cover with a large bucket or similar, it should be ready
in 6-8 weeks. Continue feeding the birds during cold
weather.
Keith’s Coach Outing’s 2007
All outings are on a Wednesday and normally leave from
‘Church Lane’ by 9.30am.
1. April 25 Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire- N/T
Abbey, gardens & village. (Venue change)
Fox Talbot` museum of photography, next to Abbey where part
of` Harry Potter` was filmed, refreshments in village (café
& pubs) used in filming `Moll Flanders` NT members free/
entry £7.50
£ 12.00 members / £13.00 non-members
2. May 23 Audley End, Essex English Heritage, house with
gardens maintained by `H.D.R.A.`
Free entry for members of either? Or ask me!
£18.00 members / £19.00 non ’members
3. June 27 Parham House, West Sussex set in an ancient deer
park near Pulborough, this award winning venue consists of a
grand house, walled garden, maze, lake, shop and `
restaurant. The house contains collections of paintings and
rare needlework
£ 18.50 members / £19.50 non-members. 4. July 25 R.H.S.
Wisley, Woking the new glasshouse is twice the size of the
old one and has three climate zones. We are an affiliated
club so there is no entry fee. Picnic area near the car
park, coffee shop, conservatory café, gift shop.
£ 12.00 Members / £13.00 non-members 5. Sept 5
Lullingstone Castle, Kent The tour of Castle and Gardens
will take approx .2 1/2 hrs.
£ 17.50 members / £18.50 non-members 6. Oct 3 Chartwell
House, Westerham- N/T - home of Winston Churchill. There is
a `hero` exhibition, and loads of his paintings on display.
The grounds contain lakes he designed and a rose garden and
water gardens
N/T free or £9.00 entry
£12.00 members / £13.00 non-members
Photograph Competition
Prepare for a new photographic class at the Annual Show the
title is
‘Chalfont St Peter in Winter’. Grace Hunter, Show Secretary
Ideas for January 2007
Farmers Market at Gerrards Cross 10 January 2007
Farmers Market at Beaconsfield 22 January 2007
Wisley On a cold winter’s day, try the library . On the
shelves over 200 magazines and some esoteric periodicals.
The staff are very helpful and there is a restaurant next
door.
Enrol on a RHS course at the Gerrards Cross Memorial Centre.
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.
The newsletter’s editor is keen to receive feedback and your
news. You can contact the editor at info@gardenclub.org.uk,
through a committee member at meetings or by letter to the
Chairman. Members’ comments will be posted on the website to
encourage the exchange of information and views.
Meetings: This months meeting will be on Wednesday 17
January at 8pm. The speaker is Nick Bowles with his talk
‘How to encourage butterflies into your garden’ |
