Newsletter June 2024
We have passed mid summer’s day and are still waiting for some proper summer weather. I’m sure the bees are too as I heard recently that a beekeeper has had to feed his bees as pollen is in short supply.
So we were specially lucky on Saturday 29th June when many of our members gathered together on a warm and sunny evening for the Horticultural Society’s annual summer party. We are grateful to Val Ramshaw for opening her garden to members and guests who also had the opportunity to view her extensive collection of cacti. Perhaps some of you saw a recent episode of Gardeners World which featured a vast collection of cacti. Well Val is well on the way.
Our Show schedules are now available and can be picked up from local garden centres, D&G Hardware and the Library. Please tell your friends and start to think about what you might enter. We are also collecting tombola prizes. Don’t forget that anything which would make a suitable prize is very acceptable. A tombola is not just about bottles although they are very welcome. Tombola prizes can be brought to a meeting or delivered to Val Ramshaw at 1 Oak Hill. Money is also very acceptable as we usually buy things for the tombola and the lucky dip.
We are hoping to have more entries for our Hanging Basket and Container Competition. Please give your details to Benny Brundish if you are coming to the next meeting or contact any member of the committee. We will shortly be contacting you to arrange a viewing. The standard is not that of the Chelsea Flower Show, any colourful arrangement can be entered and remember that it is just fun to take part.
At this time of year we love to visit other people’s gardens and on Sunday 28th July there is a rare opportunity to visit a local garden at Armsworth Park Farm, Old Alresford, SO24 9RH, raising money to build a kitchenette and loo facilities at Old Alresford Church. The grade 11 listed house is surrounded by parkland and beautiful gardens. Entry is £5 (children free) and there are teas and home-made cakes.
Our next meeting on Wednesday 10th July will be a talk on butterflies by Rupert Broadway, a Conservationist. This coincides nicely with some butterfly field trips locally advertised – details as follows
Thursday 18th July – Magdalen Hill Down from 11am to 1.00pm. Meet in the gravel car park opposite the cemetery on Alresford Road. Target species are Marbled White, Brown Argus, Large, Small and Essex Skippers.
Tuesday 20th August – Magdalen Hill Down from 9.30am to 11.00am. Get close up to moths as different species are identified in a moth trap.
Janet Pooley
Chairman