Did you know that this is ‘The Great Big Green Week’ – the UK’s biggest celebration of community action to tackling climate change and protect nature. Many of our recent talks have focussed on ways in which we as gardeners can make a difference. We have been invited by New Leaf to take part in the Winchester and District Garden Festival 2025 (20th – 29th June) which has been much publicised in local magazines and newspapers. On Sunday 29th June we will have a stall at the Garden and Green Fair in Broad Street celebrating horticulture and publicising our own Society and the Alresford Show. Please come along and support us and have a look at the many events which are planned for that week throughout the area.
Speaking of events, we had a very successful plant sale and seed swap at the beginning of May in the Community Centre and on a fine, sunny Saturday morning we were able to attract a large number of visitors and raised some much-needed funds for the Society. Thank you to all those who provided plants and refreshments and helped on the day. Then instead of our normal talk on the second Wednesday of the month we went to Wisley for the day and had an excellent visit. Climate change was much in evidence, and we were surprised to see many plants and shrubs flowering together as the seasons overlapped. The wisterias were particularly impressive as well as the early roses.
An early reminder that our July meeting this year is replaced by our annual Garden Party and once again Val Ramshaw has very kindly offered to host – Wednesday 9th July from 6.00 to 8.00pm at 1 Oak Hill. The details are in your programme and a plate of food would be welcome.
Also in July we have the hanging basket/container competition. There is no theme this year so you will have free choice over which of your collections to enter. Please pick up an entry form at the next meeting.
The Show Schedules are now available and the Show Committee are working hard behind the scenes to identify volunteers and collect tombola prizes. Prizes can be given to a member of the committee at any time but the deadline will be the last meeting before the Show ie Wednesday 13th August.
On Monday 9th June a group of us will be visiting Hinton Ampner by invitation to mark their Celebration of Flowers which will include a guided tour of the Garden. This is particularly apt as the speaker at our next meeting is Chris Skinner, the Head Gardener who will also judge our rose show. Please remember to bring a single rose stem to the meeting.
Janet Pooley
Chairman