This year seems to have gone in a flash and here we are approaching the last meeting of the Society in 2023. There will be no meeting in December so the next meeting will be on Wednesday 10th January when we have Kelvin Mason talking to us about Gardening for Climate Change. Kelvin has worked for many years at Sparsholt College and is currently the Secretary of the Hampshire Federation of Horticultural Societies as well as being the author of books on growing vegetables.
Hardly had we recovered from the Alresford Show in September when it was time to start thinking about next year’s Show. The Show Committee have had their first meeting which was an opportunity to reflect on this year’s experience and to start to look at the Schedule with a view to making any relevant changes or improvements. We would love to have your input so do let us know if there is anything you think we could improve on for next year. The 2024 Show will be on Saturday 7th September which means that we will be unable to rely on our grandchildren to help as they will be back at school. So, we will need more volunteer stewards. Please speak to Ann Winfield about any show matters and I know that Ann would be delighted to hear from anyone willing to take responsibility for collating names nearer the time and allocating the appropriate slots.
We might not be having a meeting in December, but we do have our annual Christmas Supper – this year at the Swan Hotel on Wednesday 6th December, 6.30 for 7.00pm. Val will have details at the November meeting and will take note of your menu choices. Please let her know as soon as possible. December 6th is also the night of late-night shopping in Alresford and the arrival of Father Christmas in Broad Street so you can start your evening in the local shops and then come to supper at the Swan. What better way to start the Christmas festivities.
For our November meeting we are delighted to welcome back Rosemary le Grande. Rosemary is an inveterate traveller and gives beautifully illustrated talks on the many gardens she has visited across the world. This time she will talk to us on the subject of Idyllic Italian Gardens. After a dismal, wet autumn we will be only too pleased to be transported to sunny Italy.
If I don’t see you at the next meeting or at the annual supper, I wish you a very happy Christmas.
Janet Pooley
Chairman