Hello and welcome to the November meeting.
We’ve certainly had a lot of rain since our last meeting, and my lawn is getting very long! The plus side is there are plenty of flowers to admire when the sun comes out.
Before introducing our speaker tonight there are a few notices. First bookings are going well for the Annual Supper in the Swan on December 7th .There is a choice of two or three courses at a very reasonable cost of £20:00 or £25:00 respectively. This is the last chance to book, Val has forms available. We ae meeting at 18:30 for the meal at 19:00 and there will be a raffle during the evening.
Val is also arranging a holiday to Yorkshire, based in Harrogate, and visiting a variety of gardens. This will be at the end of June next year, booking forms are available tonight.
Anne Winfield has also asked me to mention that there are vacancies on the Alresford Show committee. This small group helps arrange judges, schedules, and stewards for the Horticultural “show within a show” in September. Anne would be happy to talk through what kind of help she is looking for.
Because of the supper next month, our next meeting here at St Gregory’s will be on the 11th of January 2023, so I’d better wish you a Happy Christmas! This will be an illustrated talk by Patricia Elkington of Little Court in Crawley, which we visited a few years back. Patricia will be taking us through the Garden in Spring,
Finally, on to our speaker tonight. I am delighted to welcome Fran Clifton, Head Gardener at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens. These nationally important gardens and arboretum are a real horticultural gem and I’m sure that most of you have visited. This evening, Fran is going to take us through the changing aspects of the garden throughout the year.
Stephen Morley, Chairman, Alresford and District Horticultural Society