Chalfont St Peter Garden Club Newsletter - May 2009

Chairman : Grace Hunter
Secretary : Susan Mills
Garden Hut Manager : Tony Gelder
Assistant Hut Manager : Keith Gould
Treasurer : Robert Bastin

Spring Show - 15 April 2008

The evening was successful with over 70 entries to the flowers, vegetables and photographic sections. Overall winner was Mrs Connie May who was presented with the Davis Cup by the Chairman, Grace Hunter. In total, 18 people shared the prizes. The complete lists is as follows:
1st 2nd 3rd 
Class 1 Polyanthus bowl of 6 stems. Mrs Doubtfire Mrs G.Hunter Mrs C. May
Class 2 Daffodils vase of 3 blooms Mrs Connie May Mrs Beecham Mrs Lafone

Class 3 Tulips vase of 3 blooms Mrs Greta Beane Mrs G. Hunter Mrs Lafone

Class 4 Pot Plant in Flower Mrs Greta Beane Mr Don Davies Mrs C. May
Class 5 Pot Plant Foliage Mrs Greta Beane Mrs C. May Mrs C. Overton
Class 6 5 stems of Foliage Mrs Hills-Harrop Mr Ross Tomas Mrs C. May 
Class 7 A Floral Arrangement Mrs DeCarle Mrs C. May Mrs Beecham
Class 8 Any Other Flower Dr A. Davison Mrs J. Hall Mrs G. Hunter

Class 9 3 Sticks of Rhubarb Mrs Doubtfire Mr G. Mitchel Mrs Hills-Harrop

Class 10 Any Other Vegetable Mrs J. Southam Mrs Hills-Harrop Mrs P. Graver

In the Photographic Section, Class 1 was won by C. Martin, Class 2 was won by Connie May, Class 3 by Allan Murrell and Class 4 by Claire DeCarle

Many thanks are given to all who competed and those who helped to organise the Evening. KEN HALL

No Speaker for May !

As it is the Plant Sale/Swop on Wednesday 20th May.
Come and sell/swop or buy at the Church Hall, Chalfont St Peter. Bring anything to sell or swop at 7.30 p.m. with the actual sale commencing at 8 p.m. No charge to Stallholders but Donations to Club Funds requested.

Jane’s May Garden Tips

Towards the end of May herbaceous perennials will have put on lots of growth, some gardeners now perform the “Chelsea chop” where some stems are cut above a leaf joint so reducing their height by about two-thirds. Pruning half the plant means that the uncut stems flower first while the cut ones will produce flowers later, extending the season. This can be done on a wide range of perennials - any that produce their flowers in clusters or have the ability to produce further flowers from side shoots- achilleas, asters, phlox, campanula, valerian, sedum.

Prune back clematis Montana after flowering and tie in other climbers. Prepare ground by digging in compost for Summer bedding and begin to harden off these plants for planting out towards the end of the month. Spread ornamental bark on planted borders to give a neat finish, suppress weeds and lock in moisture, this is particularly useful in areas containing bulbs as digging can damage them. After flowering trim doronicium foliage to promote fresh growth. Pile compost around the stems of lilies because they will form roots from extra buried stems, providing stability for taller varieties, watch out for the red lily beetle which are about now. Treat moss and weeds in the lawn. Continue successional planting of salad crops, rocket is very easy to grow from seed and will produce tasty peppery leaves for a fraction of the cost if you bought them. Leeks can be planted into individual holes. Plant out marrows, courgettes and squashes once the danger of frost has passed, plant into enriched soil allowing plenty of room for each plant. Plant out or sow in position all beans. Dwarf French beans produce good crops in deep patio containers try varieties of “Maxi” or “Safari” start off under glass, outside tomatoes can also be put in position. Earth up potatoes as the shoots appear. Pinch out the tops of broad beans to prevent black fly.

ITEMS AVAILABLE IN THE GARDEN HUT RELATING TO JANE’S MAY NOTES

55 Lt Mushroom Compost ; 40 Lt Organic Stable Manure
75 Lt of Composted Bark and Decorative Bark
360M2 Evergreen Lawn Feed & Weed
400M2 Evergreen Lawn Feed, Weed and Moss
Arthur Bowers Growbags
Provado Ultimate Bug Killer 400ml spray can (red lily beetle)

THE GARDEN HUT

The Garden Hut will be open every Sunday 10.00am to 12 noon. Growbags are on sale at £1.65 each, they are selling fast. Bags of Lawn Care products are all now in stock: lawn feed and weed, Lawn feed, weed and moss, Lawn Dressing, Lawn Sand and Lawn Food. Don’t forget the low cost way of killing moss in lawns - small bags of Iron Sulphate at the rate of 1oz to 1 gallon of water to cover 2 to 3 square yards (to measure an area I use long runner bean poles) This weeks deliveries include Sinclair SHL Potting Growing Medium 80 Litre bags; Roundup Weedkiller concentrate 175ml containers; Johnson Quick Lawn seed; packs of Supergell/Swellgell

Note: some products we sell SINGLE sachets rather than having to buy a whole box as in local garden centres .
Special offer prices are still available on marked up products such as some Chempack products, a variety of gardening gloves, s/s hand trowels and forks, 10” & 14” Hanging Baskets and on trays and inserts. Please show your membership card when you make a purchase.

Annual Summer Show: the schedule has gone to the printers and you should receive it with your June Newsletter. There are not many changes. We have dropped the organic classes and added the numbers to the Photographic Section. The four usual classes of Flower(s), Garden, Landscape with plant interest, plus the new ones, Gardener's tool(s) and Tree Study (whole or part of tree.) A reminder to 2008 Cup winners that the cups should be returned during June to the hut so that they can be cleaned and engraved ready for the Show. Grace Hunter, Show Secretary.

Soot: If you have room to store some soot for a year before using, Mr Sinclair, who advertises in our schedule, has some available, free if collected, small charge if delivered. Tel: 01753 887589.

KEITH’S COACH OUTINGS

You will be aware that we have two outings for June. The first on Wed. 10th June to the Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, Burford, Oxford. Loads of things to see and do in this 160 acre garden within a zoo, including a walled garden, tropical & reptile house (with crocs. of course!) scores of animals and mammals, flamingos, Canadian wolves, and the Madagascar project with 10 species of Lemur, (closes 3pm). For those who don’t like too much walking there is a narrow gauge railway trip for £1. The Oak Tree Restaurant is behind the Manor House.

The second trip is to Loseley House & Gardens, Guildford, where they have a thousand rose plants in the garden and a house built for Queen Elizabeth 1st to live in. As the house is tour only, I can offer lunch at group prices. You will have a choice of 3 salad menu’s / Coronation Chicken / tomato & basil quiche / delice of salmon / all for £7.00 ea./ all with salad / bread roll / tea or coffee. Puds are extra. Both outings will include tea/coffee on arrival.

Please book me ( ) seats @ £20 for club members and ( ) seats @ £22 for non members for 10th June to Cotswold Wildlife Park and/or ( ) seats @ £20 for club members and ( ) seats @ £22 for non members for 24th June for Loseley House- Grand Total of - £………………….
Salad lunches…….(1 ) (2 ) (3 ).please tick

Name @Address………………………………………………………………………………………...............................P/C…………

Tel /no………………………..

Make cheques payable to ‘Chalfont St.Peter Garden Club’ and either hand in at the hut on Sunday morning or post to - .Mr. K..Gould ,10 Leachcroft, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks,- SL9 9LG Tel. 01753/884012